| Western Missouri Shooters Alliance | |
  http://www.cassconservative.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=972&SectionID=27&SubSectionID=91 |
| It's Not About Duck Hunting |
| 12/27/2007 By Sheila Stokes-Begley |
| Every election
cycle I watch with amazement, though not amusement at the number of
politicians that try to convince the voters that they "support the
second amendment" because they are a "duck hunter", a "life long
hunter" a "deer hunter". We are regaled with stories of deer hunts,
crawling on their belly through the woods with their trusty shotgun.
Nope, I didn't make that one up, a former candidate said it. They seem
to think that they can con people into believing they aren't a gun
grabber by uttering such lines while fervently praying that the
unwashed masses (us mere mortals) won't actually check their voting
records, or worse, belong to a second amendment rights group who keeps
track of such things and makes the information available, or endorses
candidates. You never seem to hear much from a candidate about them
being a high power shooter, bullseye shooter, a member of the
International Defensive Pistol Association or Cowboy Action shooter.
You know the other thing they seldom mention? Self defense. Oh, you
will hear talk about how they only support "common sense" gun laws. But I wonder, whose common sense? If common sense were in force, there would be no gun free zones. All of the mass shootings that have been in the news recently have happened in "gun free zones". Schools, churches, malls. All gun free. Well, of course, except for the one the deranged killer walked in with, knowing he was in a target rich environment. While some of the maniacs plan to die, they want to take as many innocent people with them as they can. If you think about it, murder, rape, car-jacking are all against the law, so why would anyone think that a little sign says "Firearms not permitted" is going to stop someone? There was a proposal defeated in the VA. Legislature shortly before Cho went on the rampage at Virginia Tech. It would have allowed students who were concealed carry permit holders, to carry their guns on campus. When it was defeated Tech spokesman Larry Hinkler said "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions [banning guns on campuses] because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus." (Roanoke Times, 01/31/06). What Mr. Hinkler and many others fail to grasp is the huge difference between "feeling safe" and "being safe". In November of this year many college students across America united to have a "empty holster" week to protest not being allowed to carry on campus. I would guess they are feeling a bit vulnerable, with darn good reason. Churches are another institution that people typically think of as "gun free", although I understand you can carry in a church with the permission of the Pastor. An article I read listed 11 church shootings since April of 1999, with two of them being in Missouri, at Neosho and Conception. This did not count the 2 that took place in Colorado. But the last one, at New Life church in Colorado Springs went very differently. The killer had already attacked at Arvada Colorado and killed 2 before he went on to Colorado Springs. He shot people in the parking lot, and was heading into the church when he was stopped by a church member. Now this church was pretty far-thinking because it has members who are concealed carry permit holders and volunteer as security. It was one of those church members who saved the lives of hundreds of her fellow worshipers that day. Even if the church didn't have the organized volunteer security, having a concealed carry permit holder with their weapon with them can literally make the difference between life and death. The Second Amendment is a right, given by our Creator, enumerated in the Bill of Rights. It is a right, not a privilege. When our founding fathers wrote the bill of rights, we were becoming independent of England, and set to determine our own fate as a nation. They knew what it was like for the populace to have no means of defense from a cruel tyrant, so they made sure that we would never again be forced to endure some of the hardships they did. Just like parents want to give their children better than what they had, and share their experiences so they can spare their children some of the pain they had, our founding fathers did not want us to have to endure soldiers quartered in our homes, being thrown in prison or killed for speaking out against the government, and so, by the second amendment, they put teeth in the bill of rights. The one amendment that works to ensure that all the others can stay intact. Of course we know the threat that gun grabbing politicians pose to the Second Amendment, but what about government agencies? Can they pose a threat? Well, the surprising answer to that one is yes, and a big yes! The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Enforcement (BATFE) is a heavy hitter on this one. How would you feel if you went to a gun show, came home and found out BATFE agents had gone to your door to ask your wife or husband if they knew you were at a gun show, or asked your neighbors? They did this to every single person who bought or attempted to buy a gun at one gun show in Virginia last year. How would you feel if someone suddenly burst into your home at 2 in the morning, shining a light in your eyes and yelling at you? You try to defend yourself and you are shot 4 times. You just pray the police catch the assailant, right? Well, what if they assailant were a government agency? They got the wrong house? Oopsie! Do you realize that Missouri has lost about 75 % of its gun dealers since 1994? Yes, it has. Not all big, not all small dealers, but it seems the BATFE doesn't want "kitchen table dealers" so you have to prove that you are doing business as a gun dealer. It doesn't matter if you keep your books in order, and do everything as instructed, they don't want small dealers. My question would be, as long as you engaged in a legal business, whose business is it how much business you do? These are all facets concerning the second amendment that have nothing to do with duck hunting, and they are all just as important. This is why Western Missouri Shooters Alliance is sponsoring a showing of the documentary The Gang produced by the Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership. They have another documentary called Innocents Betrayed that has won awards, and this one is suppose to be every bit as good. The film will be shown at the Glenwood Arts Theater at 9575 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212 on January 24th, 2008 at 7:30 PM. Tickets will be available from their web site http://www.fineartsgroup.com/ or you can purchase them at the box office. Come and see the movie. If you are not a member of WMSA (membership is $25 a year and includes an excellent monthly newsletter) and join that night before the show, we will treat you to the movie! |
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