Saturday, August 15, 2009

President Obama got it right this time....

As I sit in my driveway tonight with a cigar and some Gin and Juice, I came across a story on MSNBC’s website that is calling President Obama signing of a bill allowing firearms in national parks as a hiccup. “There is still time for Congress and the president to take steps to keep loaded firearms away from valleys of Yellowstone, the cliffs of Yosemite, and the Statue of Liberty – but they need to act quickly” the article reports Paul Helmke stating. Paul Helmke is the president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Is this guy really naïve to believe that by allowing loaded firearms in national parks will lead to gun violence? I’d bet he change his tune if one of his offspring or family members were cornered by a wild animal and someone happened by with a loaded firearm to save that member. When will gun opponents understand that it is not the gun that kills or that by restricting access to a gun does nothing to curb the violence that takes place with such weaponry? If one wanted to, there are several corners in Minneapolis and St. Paul that one can purchase a gun right now. Restricting the freedom to own a gun or carry one in a national park does not curb gun violence.

Having that gun with you in a place like Yellowstone could mean survival. This doesn’t mean that one has to shot the beast that is attacking you. Most times one just needs to fire a shot into the air and the beast will run off. No one seems to understand that if one is injured the gun can become a lifeline to alert people to your position. So I hope that President Obama doesn’t cave and restrict the permitting of loaded firearms in national parks. Let’s just educate the masses to understand the deadly force and the enormous responsibility carrying a loaded firearm brings.

Now back to my regularly schedule Saturday night programming……

No comments:

Post a Comment