USA – -(Ammoland.com)- “Another school shooting” has rocked America, once more bringing out how divided the country is on guns. As we’ve seen before, angry words are being hurled by raging zealots manifesting their hatred of those who believe in the right to keep and bear arms, and accusing NRA of having “blood on its hands.” As usual, we see opportunistic and strident “progressive” politicians, cheerleading “journalists” and foaming-at-the-mouth “celebrities” egging that on, and posturing loudly for new “gun laws.”
“Debate” with fanatics vested in citizen disarmament is a wasted effort. At best, those attempting to inject reality into the public discourse may help enlighten those who may not have given the matter close scrutiny and retain open minds. As for those whose minds are on lockdown, ask what laws would have made a difference in the atrocity at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. You’ll get the same tired old platitudes.
Background checks? How have those worked at “stopping the violence” in places like Chicago? Besides, the suspect reportedly passed one.
Banning so-called “assault weapons”? Those represent only a small fraction of homicides committed with firearms, so anyone seriously proposing that needs to also demand a ban on handguns.
Nancy Pelosi finally admitted the “slippery slope” gun-grabbers used to ridicule as “paranoid,” but which the founders of the modern disarmament movement freely admitted to. And lest you think banning all guns hasn’t been a long-term goal, check out what I found from the Jan. 1968 issue of GUNS Magazine while doing some research:
So much for the lie that “No one is talking about taking your guns.” Of course, they are. That’s the endgame, or at least the beginning of the endgame. And that’s why some of us will resist giving another inch.
OK, so if guns are at a stalemate, what about identifying common factors to stop killers before they can strike? Really? A Department of Precrime…?
There are plenty of conflicting reports about the suspect’s mental state, temperament, politics, and ideology, the latter being brought out by some simply to play “Gotcha!” And people are naturally curious about such aberrations in their midst, so some information gets put out that later turns out to be inaccurate. We’re still finding out much about him, not that the finger-pointing matters in terms of resolving anything. And our finding out is being hampered anyway now that the suspect’s social media presence is being taken down, forcing the public to rely on major media passing along what civil authority wants them to know.
The only relevant ideology is that he is twisted and evil. No one in his right mind advocates killing innocents.
Speaking of “right mind,” how about the “fact” that “everybody knew” the suspect was a likely school shooter? Even the FBI had been informed and they didn’t follow up properly!
While we don’t know what they legally could have done, it’s tempting to believe they could have taken the suspect out of the general populace and saved lives.
On what grounds? We can’t throw away due process. Recall that despite “three interactions,” cops from a few years back say they didn’t have enough evidence to remove the Isla Vista killer from circulation (which, among other things, was a spectacular admission of how California gun registration has proven useless at preventing anything.)
So I’m saying that’s just the way it is? Nothing can be done?
Not at all. There is one “gun law” that at least had the potential to make a difference, but it was being infringed by “gun free school zone” edicts. Broward County Public Schools, of which Stoneman Douglas is part, explains on its website:
But don’t look for the Second Amendment to be recognized any time soon by our representatives or the courts as “being necessary to the security of a free State.” Instead, look for renewed demands to enact even more citizen disarmament edicts.
We’ll see if this puts the kibosh on Republican stomach for nationwide concealed carry reciprocity with the midterms coming up. And don’t be surprised if some “gun rights leaders” — prone to endorsing “compromises” on things like “bump stocks” or “Fix NICS” — decide it’s time to offer another olive branch to those who want nothing less than everything.
The proper response of course, fromr those who would “guard with jealous attention the public liberty,” is to respond to gun ban demands with one word:
“No.” You can add “Your move” for effect.
For those who still insist on the disarmament we see so many calling for, I have one question:
How many men who resist are you willing to see killed in order to make that happen?
Don’t be surprised if some of the more emotion-driven and restraint-challenged reply “All of you.”
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
It’s a shame that these kinds of discussion, for the most part, are only found or allowed on pro gun sites. What has happened to a true discussion or debate? Our parents had debating teams in school and they learned, for the most part, how to present an idea and to listen! The public on the East and West Coasts say, Don’t allow us to protect ourselfs, Call the professionals, that’s what they are for. So do we ever hear them calling to take away the fire extinguishers, we have professionals to do that? Of course, that would be crazy,… Read more »
You’re right that real discussions only seem to happen on pro-gun sites. I’ve also noticed when someone is insulting & immature acting with their comments it’s usually from the gun control side. I prefer having civilized, respectful conversations because that’s the only possible way to get your point across & have your opponent actually consider your point of view. Though I’m not holding my breath I’ll change anyone’s mind. I tried to post on ABC news’ site the other day. Someone corrected a commenters false assertion of 18 school shootings this year. The corrected commenter’s response was to insult the… Read more »
I DON’T GET IT. I HAVE BEEN READING BLOGS, HISTORY, NEWS AND LOOKING INTO WEB SITES TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF OWNING AND USING GUNS. MANY TRY TO CLAIM IT IS THEIR “GOD GIVEN RIGHT”, THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE GOOD BUT THEY ARE NOT GOD. A FRAME WORK FOR OWNING AND THE USE OF GUNS WAS ESTABLISHED SO THERE COULD BE A PROCESS TO SET GUIDELINES, RULES, SAFETY MEASURES AND A PROCESS OF MONITORING EACH OF THESE. WE CALLED IT THE 2ND AMMENDMENT. AT THAT TIME IS WAS PROBABLY NECESSARY TO HAVE GUNS. NOT A SINGLE VONS OR… Read more »
MANY TRY TO CLAIM IT IS THEIR “GOD GIVEN RIGHT”, THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE GOOD BUT THEY ARE NOT GOD. The right to self defense, self preservation is god given. We have the right to use whatever means are at our disposal for this purpose. It is also necessary to the security of a free state. You can argue against that if you like but we’ll agree to disagree. The FF enumerated the right to keep and bear arms. ALL arms. They didn’t make it a right. They listed it so that the government could not infringe upon it. However,… Read more »
@Jolle Shredder, The Civil Right has been recognized in many S. Ct cases as a pre political Civil Right. You can educate yourself on the subject by reading Tennessee Law Review, vol 62, no. 3. or “The American Freedoms Primer by Les Adams or U.S. v Miller 307 U.S. 174 (1939)
Given the stream of consciousness nature of the post it’s difficult for me to know what the meaning behind it is, other than you shouldn’t cut the grass on Tuesdays. There really is a reason for rules of grammar. They contribute to clarity.
I really think that we, as 2A protectors, are missing the boat. When a person “bans” our right to carry a concealed (or unconcealed) weapon then we should be immediately be suing them for infringing on our rights. We would do this if they said you could not go there if you were gay or said you could not talk if you were conservative so why this part of the constitution is ignored is beyond me. The school board does not own the school property and therefore cannot make rules in regards to that property. I am a retired LE… Read more »
Good article Mr. Codrea. The survivors & other anti 2A members of both the right & left who are claiming the NRA & supporters have blood on their hands need to look in the mirror. It is the disarmament of those who would carry a firearm for self-defense in these “gun-free zones” that allows these events. I won’t go so far as to say it’s the cause of such actions, but it definitely increases both the likelihood of such events & the death toll from them. So all of those fighting to implement “gun-free zones” are the ones with blood… Read more »
@Wzrd, When you write, “Obviously none of us are suggesting giving guns to completely inexperienced novices. Adequate training would be part of the program.” What program do you have in mind? Because most of us teach our children and grand children gun safety and how to shoot long before giving them a gun.
It was meant as a proactive rebuttal to the opponents of such ideas, who instead of having an intelligent discussion on it would claim that we are advocating handing out guns to every adult & child in the school with no regard for their level of competence with firearms.
They make the same argument against national reciprocity. As if it would immediately lead to an epidemic of “Wild West” type shootouts & deadly accidents. Like we are trying to forcibly put a loaded gun in the hands of every man, woman & child even if they’ve zero experience.
@Wzrd, Oh, I understand now, and thank you.
Just read at World Net Daily that the sister of the perp’s mother has come out with the information that the perp has been on psychotropic drugs for his “fragile emotional state”. That brings the count to all but two mass shootings in rcent years were perpetrated by an individual who was or had recently been taking such meds. COULD there be a link here? Could the fact that the sun has risen in the east every day I have looked to check, might be a relatively solid indicator that it will rise in the east tomorrow? WHEN will gummit… Read more »
@Tio, But there is no payday for the professionals in letting the children be free for awhile. I would be very interested in reading that article if you have a reference, Tio!
In the State of Ohio there has been a partial solution partially implemented. It was conceived in the aftermath of the Scammy Crooks shooting in Newtown. The plan was well thought out, eventually gained the support of both the school system and the state legislature. Buckeye Firearms Associatioin folks were at the centre of it, and widely promoted it. That is one of the best state associations anywhere. The plan? Very simple… design and implement a series of specific training exercises carefully tailored to the school shooting scenario. Prepare seasoned firearm, defense, survival instructors in the system of training once… Read more »
Could you offer source information for this? I’d really like to read what I can about this and add it to my counter argument aresenal.
https://fastersaveslives.org/ Great people, great organization. Started in Ohio and have branched out to other states. They offer training to teachers for free, and will even keep the teacher’s name out of it if they do not want their school board to know (can easily see an anti-gun board member or members trying to get a teacher dismissed for merely “planning” to be qualified to concealed carry at school). Reminds me of when I carried on my job at a large gas/convenience store chain who absolutely prohibited weapons, even if you were working alone 3rd shift! I always thought I would… Read more »
@ Tionico, I distinctly remember a while ago a county in California started a program very similar to what you described in your post. The capital was highly upset when this county began this program. Since reading about this I haven’t seen or heard of anything else regarding the out come. Sorry, I guess my memory is effected by age, but I’m pretty sure some digging would uncover more details than I can provide.
Great article, I agree but would like to add this. I keep reading and hearing in the news that they want more background checks. I can only explain it in simple terms. A background check only reveals your current background. Simpler–If you have not been caught you have no background to check on. A background only looks at your current criminal record, it cannot see into the future and predict what you are going to do. For example you have teachers having sex with their students, yes they passed. You also have nursing staff stealing patient belongings, their drugs, and… Read more »
Just wondering how many of the anti-gun politicians are veterans?
Not many, but, surprisingly, more than you would think. This may be because the military is accepting a whole different strata of American society than they once did. We once had people who were quite religious and knew the difference between right and wrong. People who didn’t grow up in such a permissive society where illegals are to be protected while the law abiding are to be punished. It was a time before Presidents could openly lie and be considered great heroes. Where the Constitution meant something to each person’s soul. A time when things like Sousa marches, the flag,… Read more »
@DaveW, Yes, we are victims of our own success. Perhaps Trump will prove to be a restart.
Someone had to be sleeping at the switch. How does a guy walk into a school with an AR15 and a backpack full of smoke bombs and magazines and not be noticed. This is just plain ludicrous and the fault falls back on the school system for allowing this to happen. I have not been around any school in many years that doesn’t have security of some kind to keep people out when the don’t belong there. In the area where I live there are Resource Officers assigned to each school. These are trained police officers who wear a uniform… Read more »
Hear ! Hear!!
In Fridley, MN (suburb of Minneapolis) the same day (14 Feb) a gent was involved in a minor fender bender on a main highway. Although it appears he caused the crash, he got out and got verbally abusive to the other drivers (several cars involved). He then pulled out a knife and started chasing one driver. An armed fellow citizen driving the other way stopped and attempted to intervene. As soon as he was challenged by the gent with the concealed weapon, he quit chasing the other driver and immediately attacked the gent with the gun. The gent with the… Read more »
@JDC, If I remember correctly the security guard at the school never entered the school. I don’t remember if it was Fox News or One America News where I heard this. He took up a position outside the school. Not a very good guard if you ask me, sit outside while a gunman just shoots everywhere with no intervention? Too damned many didn’t do their jobs, FBI, local police. Perp was reported 3 times and no one did a damned thing to investigate. I’m also fed up with the term “slipped through the cracks”.
@JDC, I just read a story on Fox News. There was an armed deputy on duty at the school. He did not enter the building. he took up a position outside the building, for 4 minutes. The shooter had 6 minutes before other police arrived and went in. This Deputy has since retired. When this story broke the Sherriff placed the deputy on unpaid leave until an investigation was completed.. He resigned right after he was informed of the pending investigation. His home is now being guarded by Broward County deputies. Again, a failure of Broward County to prevent this… Read more »
The ONLY solution is to place armed professional volunteers in schools. NRA National School Shield. Sadly it won’t be allowed because it doesn’t make enough politicians and admins in DOE’s rich.
@Core, Well, public hanging is also a solution that works every time. Why not just place armed professionals in schools. They would deserve to get paid.
we NEED to do like Israel does.
since they have allowed their teachers to be ARMED, NOT ONE SHOOTING PERIOD.
and how about US VETS’ HELL WERE ALREADY TRAINED, AND WOULD GLADLY PROTECT SCHOOL KIDS FROM MANIACTS.
AND NO MORE SO CALLED GUN FREE ZONES.
Israel’s model is a good one to use. That said, it is the law in Israel that every adult between 18 & 50 enlist in the IDF, serve active duty then remain on reserve. All teachers in Israel are armed and are also military trained in armed and disarmed combat. This is where they are doing better because the vast majority of US school teachers have no military or combat training. It’s obvious that teachers who are trained veterans would provide better security. One more option is to use US veterans, vetted for PTSD, to provide security either paid or… Read more »
Funny the New York Post had an editorial wanting to apply Israel’s gun laws here. The down side is it restricts civilian ownership to a large degree. Carry permits are for law enforcement, military, etc only (for the most part). Quantity of ammunition is restricted as well as private ownership is restricted to certain types. The article said that their crime is much lower. Well, duh. They don’t have the cartels pushing drugs , or the hood rats gunning each other down over drug trade, or gangs like here. Our political correctness will prevent us from being proactive . Besides,… Read more »
Damn straight. Until we do something about radical depression and the widespread overuse of brain-altering anti-depression pharmas, these atrocities will continue, regardless of any gun law changes. The libs want nothing to do with this topic however. Until they do, we’re screwed.
Not sure about the latest Lakeland School shooting. (Yet). But ALL of the other shooters including the Las Vegas shooter were all on “SSRIs”. We don’t have a “gun control” problem. We have an over-prescribed “DRUG” problem.
Damn straight. Until we do something about radical depression and the widespread overuse of brain-altering anti-depression pharmas, these atrocities will continue, regardless of any gun law changes. The libs want nothing to do with this topic however. Until they do, we’re screwed.
@David Lowe, For what is SSRI an abbreviation?
SSRI = Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitor. Also known as “psychotropic medications.”
@pc, Oh… and thank you.
You mean government-approved shooting the criminal shooter by a civilian before the cops arrive? Gasp! That would mean the government would be endorsing independent thinkers and actors set on their own defense and that of others. If the government allows that, what will the police have to do, besides follow-up after crime activities like they often do now? What happens to the argument/lie that the police will protect you, if you can call them and if they decide to show up? What happens to the lie of vigilante law when a civilian protects themselves? What happens to the grandstanding democrat… Read more »
Precisely my friend. BRAVO ! You’re 100% correct. Today , We The People ,must find & vote in true ,honest patriot politicians , such as our Founding Fathers were, and rid ourselves of those who oppose the governance permitted to us by our US Constitution,the Bil of Rights and who obviously are against the natural rights & freedom of We The People. There are those politicians who took a solomn oath to uphold our precious documents of freedomt, but when elected choose to instead ,bring about it’s demise one step at a time. These are the traitors. Beginning when Trump… Read more »
Well said.
HerbT: Then why don’t YOU become a police officer and show us all how it SHOULD be done? Put up or shut up.
Is Clark Kent the Nikolas Cruz of Ammoland?
@OV, It is almost as if Clark sobers up every once in a while and stumbles to the computer terminal, then comments with only half of an understanding of what is being discussed. Best regards to Sammy.