I think by now the proponents of the permanent gun ban move have come to realize the enormity of the opposition to the idea. When this was floated as a serious consideration, responsible gun owners were galvanized into solidarity. They formed an alliance so quickly even I was stunned by the rapid events. They shared a common thought worth fighting for – their constitutional right to defend their life and property.
You would be surprised at the demographics of the membership. Many of them are lawyers, prosecutors, judges, legitimate businessmen, media practitioners, showbiz personalities, even government employees.
The operative word is RESPONSIBLE. Only with responsible gun owners will we have a democratic, peaceful society.
I have been receiving a lot of letters from readers – feedbacks on my previous columns on the issue and their thoughts and inputs on it as well. One of the more compelling (and long!) one hits it right on the head. Strangely enough, it comes from a foreigner who said, among other things, that he enjoys hunting and pleasure sport shooting in the United States and owns a variety of arms, from Browning and Weatherby to Walther, Beretta and Smith & Wesson. Being an avid sports shooter, he also enjoyed our coverage of the recent 2010 AFAD show.
I am reprinting hereunder parts of his letter which constitute valid arguments against the permanent gun ban. He says these “are his personal thoughts” though he admits not his own words. Apparently, these are from the internet, but worth reprinting here anyway.
I don’t carry a gun to kill people. I carry a gun to keep from being killed.
I don’t carry a gun to scare people. I carry a gun because sometimes this world can be a scary place.
I don’t carry a gun because I’m paranoid. I carry a gun because there are real threats in the world.
I don’t carry a gun because I’m evil. I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the world.
I don’t carry a gun because I hate the government. I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.
I don’t carry a gun because I’m angry. I carry a gun so that I don’t have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.
I don’t carry a gun because I want to shoot someone. I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed, and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.
I don’t carry a gun to make me feel like a man. I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.
I don’t carry a gun because I feel inadequate. I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three thugs, I am inadequate.
I don’t carry a gun because I love it. I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.
“Police protection is an oxymoron. Free citizens must protect themselves. Police do not protect you from crime, they usually just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.”
The last part may be a little too harsh, and though I have made it clear from the start that they are not my words, for the most part the above mirrors what many responsible gun owners feel and think. My apologies to the members of our police force who get lumped unfairly with the rest of their rogue cohorts. I know quite a few of our PNP officials are honorable gentlemen but the scalawags in the force have given the entire force an unsavory image. I also know that the current top brass led by Gen. Jesus Versoza is leading by good example and trying to clean up their image.
Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.
For comments: (e-mail) businessleisure-star@stv.com.ph