Random Thoughts: "Gun Control"

I keep seeing that Pres. Obama is going to work with both sides of the gun control/ownership issue.  But I'm not sure where he stands. Or what ideas he is bringing to the table.

Gun control is an interesting topic and most folks seem to polarize when it comes to taking a position. My personal view is that any law abiding citizen who wants to own a gun should be allowed to own a gun. Further, I believe any of the latter, who are willing to train and prove a moderate level of competence, common sense and good judgement should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. The second and third criteria seem to be in shorter supply these days but that's a topic for another day. My argument isn't based on any constitutional argument or God given right. It's based upon the idea that I should be responsible for defending myself, my family and my community, with deadly force if needed. I'm happy to give our public safety personnel, a group I greatly respect, the lead. And when it comes to conflict, I'll trust Grand Master Sun Tsu. He believed that if one could win by avoiding conflict one should. But that is not always possible and our public safety personnel may not be available to protect us at any given time.

So what does this have to do with gun control? It's a series of simple questions really. To whom do gun control laws apply? Who is going to abide by these laws? How do these laws protect us? My answers are: "all of us," "law abiding citizens," and "they don't," respectively. It's the answer to the second and third question that disturbs me. Law abiding citizens are going to follow these laws. But what of the people who don't? In my experience people who want guns are going to get them. Peace officers and citizens are assaulted almost daily, if not daily, by people with firearms. In California automatic weapons or weapons deemed to be of the "assault" variety are outlawed. But it hasn't stopped the criminals from obtaining them. And it is my honest belief that no law will ever accomplish keeping firearms from those elements. The outcome then is dangerous folks being armed while the rest of us are left to hope we are never confronted with the business end of a firearm. That just doesn't sit right with me.

Am I saying that everyone should be armed? No, absolutely not. It's a very personal choice. And anyone who asks me about it get's this question in return, "Are you willing to take another person's life to protect your own or that of someone you love?" If the answer is, "No," then don't arm yourself. However, if you're like me and the answer is, "Yes," then arm yourself and train, train, train.

All I want is the choice. The freedom of choice to do what I think is best for me and mine.

Dor