13 August 2007
13 August 2007
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Every year during the summer months a number of Chicagoans get killed because of gang violence. The politicians are always called upon to do "something." The most "media friendly" thing to do is to blame it all on gun ownership.
The media had a great time this month covering all the anti gun marches. They were staged by, none other than the "King of Political Correctness," Rev. Jesse Jackson, aided by his comrade, the pastor of Saint Sabina Church, Father Michael Pfleger. Chicago's Mayor, Richard M. Daley, threw in some anti gun rants of his own, while TV cameras rolled.
On one occasion Jackson and Pfleger marched on Chuck's Gun Shop in Riverdale. According to several sources, Father Pfleger twice threatened to "snuff out" the owner of the store. I'm all for free speech, but it's interesting how hypocritical "political correctness" can be. Don Imus just made a bad choice of words on his radio show. His mistake was spread by the media throughout the world and eventually resulted in his firing. Father Pfleger, on the other hand, threatened to kill a law abiding citizen, yet there was very little mention of it in the media. It seems that if you're on the "pro-media" side, you are allowed freedom of speech, otherwise, your reputation could be ruined.
Another headline grabbing program was the plea to turn in your gun at designated churches and police stations with no questions asked. For this good deed you would get a one hundred dollar debit MasterCard.
On Saturday July 22, 2007 the city of Chicago, collected 6700 guns from its citizens. This "event" gave the local media days of the "heart wrenching" news coverage they crave. According to the media, this year, Chicago's gun turn-in program was the largest ever, even beating all other gun turn-in programs throughout the country.
There are several reasons why I think such programs are bad for America.
1. The guns are turned in anonymously. Some of the guns could have been used in the commission of capital crimes. It will be harder to prosecute someone if the weapon he committed the crime with was turned over to the city and destroyed.
2. Guns that are old and don't work well can be turned in to get a down payment to buy a more modern weapon.
3. Instead of destroying all the guns, some may wind up as police secondary weapons known also as "throw aways." Recent events have shown that the Chicago Police Department can't be trusted.
4. Hardened criminals, who aren't concerned with ditching the evidence, will never turn in their guns.
5. Statistically, gun turn in programs do not reduce crime.
God-given rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution. One of the God-given rights is the right to life. It, then follows, that you have the right to protect your life. In the modern world, gun ownership is a reasonable means of protecting your life from criminal elements. Chicago's law prohibiting gun ownership in the city is not only unconstitutional, but violates a God-given right to protect one's self.
Chicago leaders insist that we can adequately be protected by the Chicago Police Department. This month the media discovered the existence of a list of hundreds of police officers that had more than ten complaints from the public. Recently, there were officers on trial for robbing drug dealers, beating up a female bar tender, and assorted other night club incidents. I've been told by a former policeman that there are a lot of alcoholic officers out there, but related statistics are hard to find. With such a reputation, it's hard to believe that the current police force can effectively act as our "guardian angels."
Even if the police force is perfect, officers only arrive after the crime has been committed. Having a weapon can deter the criminal and save our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Chicago's law, however, makes it illegal to save your own life if it's done with a firearm.
Taking guns off the streets does not reduce crime, but doing the opposite works a lot better. Everywhere concealed carry laws (laws that allow ordinary citizens to carry weapons) have been enacted the crime rate plummeted. Guns in the hands of reasonable people lower crime.
Kennesaw, Georgia is known as "Gun Town USA." In March 1982 the small town of Kennesaw unanimously passed an ordinance requiring each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Kennesaw's law was amended in 1983 to exclude convicted felons, those who conscientiously object to firearm ownership, and those with a mental or physical disability that would make firearm ownership dangerous. The crime rate fell after this law was passed, and even though the population grew five fold, the crime rate is still lower than the pre-1982 rate. This town has also remained murder free during the past twenty-five years.
Realistically, Kennesaw doesn't have street gangs like Chicago. The citizens of Chicago haven't been able to legally own guns since 1982, yet gang related shootings are still common. It is illogical for Chicago officials to think that stricter gun laws are going to stop the gangs. Gangs don't care about the law, and they'll still be able to get as many guns as they want. On the other hand, law abiding citizens have to depend on Chicago's highly flawed police force for their protection.
For the record, I don't personally own a gun. I've fired a rifle many years ago when I was in the airforce. Right now, I carry a small can of mace as protection. One day, I expect the city's control-freak lawmakers to even ban the mace. If it were legal, I'd get a small pistol and carry it in addition to the mace. I'd learn everything about my weapon and periodically go to a gun range so that I could practice hitting my intended target properly. Ever since I've been carrying my mace(30 years), I've never had to use it. The same would hold true if I was carrying a gun. The difference would be that I'd have a stronger sense of safety and more peace of mind.
It's time for Chicago politicians and preachers to wise up. Reverend Jackson, Father Pfleger, and you too Mayor Daley, more gun control will not affect the carnage. The nature of our corporate alien society is what drives the gangs. Rising poverty, dissolution of the family, "politically correct" schools, and "audience hungry" media are some of the real factors that need to be addressed
The media had a great time this month covering all the anti gun marches. They were staged by, none other than the "King of Political Correctness," Rev. Jesse Jackson, aided by his comrade, the pastor of Saint Sabina Church, Father Michael Pfleger. Chicago's Mayor, Richard M. Daley, threw in some anti gun rants of his own, while TV cameras rolled.
On one occasion Jackson and Pfleger marched on Chuck's Gun Shop in Riverdale. According to several sources, Father Pfleger twice threatened to "snuff out" the owner of the store. I'm all for free speech, but it's interesting how hypocritical "political correctness" can be. Don Imus just made a bad choice of words on his radio show. His mistake was spread by the media throughout the world and eventually resulted in his firing. Father Pfleger, on the other hand, threatened to kill a law abiding citizen, yet there was very little mention of it in the media. It seems that if you're on the "pro-media" side, you are allowed freedom of speech, otherwise, your reputation could be ruined.
Another headline grabbing program was the plea to turn in your gun at designated churches and police stations with no questions asked. For this good deed you would get a one hundred dollar debit MasterCard.
On Saturday July 22, 2007 the city of Chicago, collected 6700 guns from its citizens. This "event" gave the local media days of the "heart wrenching" news coverage they crave. According to the media, this year, Chicago's gun turn-in program was the largest ever, even beating all other gun turn-in programs throughout the country.
There are several reasons why I think such programs are bad for America.
1. The guns are turned in anonymously. Some of the guns could have been used in the commission of capital crimes. It will be harder to prosecute someone if the weapon he committed the crime with was turned over to the city and destroyed.
2. Guns that are old and don't work well can be turned in to get a down payment to buy a more modern weapon.
3. Instead of destroying all the guns, some may wind up as police secondary weapons known also as "throw aways." Recent events have shown that the Chicago Police Department can't be trusted.
4. Hardened criminals, who aren't concerned with ditching the evidence, will never turn in their guns.
5. Statistically, gun turn in programs do not reduce crime.
God-given rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution. One of the God-given rights is the right to life. It, then follows, that you have the right to protect your life. In the modern world, gun ownership is a reasonable means of protecting your life from criminal elements. Chicago's law prohibiting gun ownership in the city is not only unconstitutional, but violates a God-given right to protect one's self.
Chicago leaders insist that we can adequately be protected by the Chicago Police Department. This month the media discovered the existence of a list of hundreds of police officers that had more than ten complaints from the public. Recently, there were officers on trial for robbing drug dealers, beating up a female bar tender, and assorted other night club incidents. I've been told by a former policeman that there are a lot of alcoholic officers out there, but related statistics are hard to find. With such a reputation, it's hard to believe that the current police force can effectively act as our "guardian angels."
Even if the police force is perfect, officers only arrive after the crime has been committed. Having a weapon can deter the criminal and save our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Chicago's law, however, makes it illegal to save your own life if it's done with a firearm.
Taking guns off the streets does not reduce crime, but doing the opposite works a lot better. Everywhere concealed carry laws (laws that allow ordinary citizens to carry weapons) have been enacted the crime rate plummeted. Guns in the hands of reasonable people lower crime.
Kennesaw, Georgia is known as "Gun Town USA." In March 1982 the small town of Kennesaw unanimously passed an ordinance requiring each head of household to own and maintain a gun. Kennesaw's law was amended in 1983 to exclude convicted felons, those who conscientiously object to firearm ownership, and those with a mental or physical disability that would make firearm ownership dangerous. The crime rate fell after this law was passed, and even though the population grew five fold, the crime rate is still lower than the pre-1982 rate. This town has also remained murder free during the past twenty-five years.
Realistically, Kennesaw doesn't have street gangs like Chicago. The citizens of Chicago haven't been able to legally own guns since 1982, yet gang related shootings are still common. It is illogical for Chicago officials to think that stricter gun laws are going to stop the gangs. Gangs don't care about the law, and they'll still be able to get as many guns as they want. On the other hand, law abiding citizens have to depend on Chicago's highly flawed police force for their protection.
For the record, I don't personally own a gun. I've fired a rifle many years ago when I was in the airforce. Right now, I carry a small can of mace as protection. One day, I expect the city's control-freak lawmakers to even ban the mace. If it were legal, I'd get a small pistol and carry it in addition to the mace. I'd learn everything about my weapon and periodically go to a gun range so that I could practice hitting my intended target properly. Ever since I've been carrying my mace(30 years), I've never had to use it. The same would hold true if I was carrying a gun. The difference would be that I'd have a stronger sense of safety and more peace of mind.
It's time for Chicago politicians and preachers to wise up. Reverend Jackson, Father Pfleger, and you too Mayor Daley, more gun control will not affect the carnage. The nature of our corporate alien society is what drives the gangs. Rising poverty, dissolution of the family, "politically correct" schools, and "audience hungry" media are some of the real factors that need to be addressed
July 2005
