Whenever something horrible happens, like the inexplicable senseless shootings in Aurora, Colorado, Congress postures, holds hearings and does nothing. I decided I really needed to write on this subject, but then I realized that I am woefully ignorant of what laws are on the books. Maybe I will figure some of them out before I finish this. I do, however, have strong feelings about gun control. I am satisfied that the NRA would consider me unamerican and the Brady gun control gang would think I am an idiot.
I spent 28 years in the Army and have never owned a gun. I think guns are beautiful. I just have no use for them in my house. I have qualified with both pistols and rifles. I’ve disassembled them, cleaned them, and reassembled them. That’s part of being a soldier. I guess the bottom line is that I have never lived in a place where I felt threatened. If I lived in an area where the safety of my family was an issue, I would damn well betcha get a permit for a gun and purchase something that would put a big hole in an assailant. I hope that never happens.
I strongly believe in keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. Tacking a lot of years on to the sentence of a person who uses a gun in the commission of a crime should have some deterrent effect.
We also need to keep weapons out of the hands of crazy people. But crazy people can, on occasion, act normal and that’s probably what they do when they are purchasing a fire arm. I have no problem with background checks. Who cares if it take three days or five days. It serves a legitimate purpose.
I am not an outdoorsman, whatever that means. But I respect their right to hunt, fish, drink beer and tell wild tales. But, certain weapons are not for hunting. I don’t think Bubba is going to take an AK-47 out to shoot squirrels. We need to figure out a way to restrict military weapons. I don’t believe the NRA will accept any restrictions. Something about a slippery slope. Well, that’s where I depart. I would prohibit automatic weapons and military semi-automatic weapons. I would also limit the number of rounds a magazine can hold. You don’t need 100 rounds to shoot Bambi.
This is a great country. When Mizzou plays Kansas and I am frothing at the mouth, I have to back away and remember we are all Americans. I got sidetracked there, but what I want to say is the country is too diversified to have the same gun control laws in Wyoming and New York City. I think states, and, in some cases, cities should set their own standards for gun control laws. I doubt if Wyoming has many restrictions and I am sure that New York City has quite a few. That makes sense. If you don’t think it makes sense read no further. I can’t help you.
I’m not a big gun control advocate, but I don’t believe the Government is staying up late at night trying to figure out how to take away our guns. If I am wrong, then the Government will have to issue me one before they can take it away from me.
In 1978, Tom Daschel was elected for the first time to the House of Representatives. He won a contested election by 139 votes in a recount. He brought his family to DC and then rented a house next to ours in West Springfield. We were neighbors for one year before I was reassigned to Fort Riley, Kansas. I never discussed politics with Tom. I did one snowy day push his car out of a snow bank. I have often wondered if this would have been a better country if I had left him there. I did, however, have a chat over the back fence with his wife, Laurie. She was taking me step by step through the Democratic agenda. All of a sudden it dawned on me that in South Dakota, Tom couldn’t have been in favor of gun control. I asked Laurie what Tom’s position was on the right to bear arms. She told me that Tom was in favor of the right to arm bears! I gave up.
Written by PJ Rice at www.ricequips.com
