I’ve received several messages recently from readers concerned that we have politicized SSD by our coverage of Second Amendment issues. To that I have this to say. Just over a month ago now I was fat, dumb and happy, legally enjoying my right to bear arms when a madman used a firearm to kill innocent children with a gun. He was a criminal and as far as I am concerned, insane. Not even a day passed before anti-Second Amendment forces used this tragedy to begin to say that I shouldn’t have a right to own the type of a gun that was used in that heinous act. Never mind that I, along with millions of my fellow gun owners, have never committed a crime with a firearm. Never mind that the maniac who killed 26 victims on December 14th violated numerous standing firearms laws. Never mind that the American cities with the toughest firearms laws are the most dangerous. No, instead of using reason, the anti-gun movement chose to politicize this tragedy as a means to take away our constitutional rights. As long as there are those that wish to strip our country of our right to bear arms, I will discuss it on SSD.
I’m not going to take this laying down. I’m going to be vocal. I’m going to say, “No!” I’m going to counter their lies with truth. I’m going to ask you to join me. And through it all, I’m not going to apologize for it.
Sally forth and conquer.
Good for you! Nothing to apologize for or explain your actions on. No other part of your constitution is under attack. You aren’t debating social health care or dog licenses. Despite what some here may say, this issue touches a lot of visitors to this site. Not everyone who comes here is interested in camping stoves either, so skip over those blogs, too easy.
Preach it brother. We’re all in this together.
Agreed.
Exercise your 1st while you still have it!
Never mind, the vast numbers of readers of this site and our country who have years of training and have carried similar weapons into harms way who have the ability to wield these weapons much better than many responders.
I see no mention of exceptions to these members of society in the anti 2nd Amendment proposals, experienced and well trained people vetted with security clearances that many of those who are trying to take away those rights would be able to obtain under the same scrutiny, who would choose the same weapons they are most familiar and trained with to defend their loved ones, but then again, unlike law enforcement, are unable to have tax payer funded unions to lobby on their behalf.
I am only pointing out the hypocrisy, I am not saying I support any violation of our 2nd Amendment RIGHT.
UNable to obtain
Why should there be any exception? There’s no such provision in the 2nd amendment. Everyone is equal under the law in the United States. That is one of the basic tenets of a free republic.
I take it by this that if the laws proposed had exceptions for veterans, you wouldn’t bat an eye and let them pass them?
Did you fail basic reading comprehension?
“I am only pointing out the hypocrisy, I am not saying I support any violation of our 2nd Amendment RIGHT.”
Jelly,
Exactly my point, thank you.
And should there be an exception for vets, my eye would still bat.
Will
Well considering the Bushmaster AR type carbine and the shotgun were in the trunk of the car…I have no idea why we’re talking about long guns and not pistols. That said, 2nd Amendment is clear.
I stand with you 100%. Thank you and all the other BTDT dudes for everything you have done and continue to do. We’re talking the Constitution. This is serious business.
Debo agrees and supports SSD 100%.
The message I’m getting from people that are against so called “assault weapons” is that NO American citizen should be able to own them. No matter if it’s similar to the weapon I’m trained to use on a day-to-day basis if necessary? No matter if it’s similar to the weapon that’s supposed to be on me or within an arms reach at all times when abroad? Pay no attention that I have been through 14 months of training and psychological evaluation for my particular job? I am still not “fit” to own one of these weapons? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?
I agree completely. There is no need to apologize to ANYONE for taking a stand and defending Liberty. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are truly the foundation by which this great nation was built upon, and currently there are groups desperately working on destroying that foundation. If they succeed and the foundation completely crumbles, we as a nation are lost.
Please continue to cover the important 2nd Amendment issue of the day.
Together we can hold the line against these assaults.
Bravo SSD! Keep up the good work.
Spot on. As a LEO of 17 years, i find it odd that it seems the most vocal 2nd amendment supporters are my fellow LEOs who would not be significantly affected by the ban anyway! Step up people! We want to to exercise and defend the rights that built this country. We dont want your guns if youre a sane, law abiding, non-doper citizen! The lib politicians do. Freedoms are easy to lose and nearly impossible to regain.
Steve,
First of all, thank you for your 17 years of service, I’ve always admired and respected law enforcement. I have a couple friends who work as LEOs and they are very vocal about the 2A and I very much appreciate it. I appreciate it because liberals in my family have given them a sort of “get out of jail free” card when it comes to voicing their opinions on guns.
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My wife and I voiced our opinions and several members of our family have all but disowned us. A lot of Liberals have reached a point where they do not want to hear any argument for the 2A, regardless of how well informed it is.
.
We will continue to try and defend our position of course, but I just wanted to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thanks to you and other LEOs who speak out. Because whether you know it or not your voice carries MUCH more weight than mine or my wife’s and many other civilians.
Bravo Zulu SSD!!!
Exercise your 1st Amendment and protect our 2nd Amendment!
You’re in good company with over 1000 Green Berets and millions of other Americans.
The drew first blood…
-John Rambo
They drew first blood…
-John Ramboo
Amen. I kept my mouth shut for a week after the tragedy, out of respect. I didn’t engage, didn’t argue, didn’t defend. I expressed my condolences and offered prayers and kind words.
On the other side of the aisle, most of my ‘progressive’ friends were frothing at the mouth about guns either that night or the next day.
We did not make this political.
Glad to hear it. I have had a few responses on my social networking site, telling me that speaking out is dangerous- and to stop before everyone thinks i’m “Gun Crazy”. This is how far the Protectionist/Socialist Liberal influence has affected people. It has changed how many americans think and act. After millions have died, to give them a freedom they no longer deem neccessary, you sir have taken that step forward in employing your right to argue to the contrary. I thank you, and stand with you! It is Americans like you, who make me proud of my own service- a devotion to our country that will never die. Thank you for opposing tyranny, and keep up the good work!
Well said.
I see nothing wrong with utilizing the First Amendment freedom of speech to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Keep it up SSD.
These are the times that try men’s souls…Stand up for your rights!
If they don’t like it, it’s because they themselves don’t feel the need to fight for what’s being taken, therefore don’t deserve your help in keeping it. They want to stay blind and ignore the elephant in the room, and hope it doesn’t gore them.
Pro-SSD,
Pro-2A!
We can’t afford to silent on this.
Well said and carry on.
I posted this on FB with no logical reply from any anti-gun folks.
“Why do businesses display the ‘no guns allowed’ signs? Sure, it is their right…but to what end? Who do they hope to keep out of their establishment? The person intent on robbery or violence? The person carrying a gun illegally, but keeping it hidden? Or the law-abiding citizen…the only one who would obey the sign. And then they (or supporters) cry foul when a gun-owner voices his note to patronize a different establishment. Are we awash in random shootings involving legal gun owners having chicken wings? Are too many gun-owners having theirs guns stolen IN these locations and then used against themselves or others? If the signs are ANYTHING more then a political statement and a desire to keep away legal gun-owners, what are they?”
Great work SSD! I appreciate all you do and your dedication
Eric, mind if I borrow your text? Great stuff.
By all means
Do they really want a national discussion? Ask them how many of their other civil rights they would not mind if they were infringed. After you hear crickets or nonsense in response, offer the opinion that any infringement of our 2nd Amendment rights is unconstitutional and the current gun control laws are not followed by the criminal and the mentally ill. Start with a proposal to revoke the NFA of 1934 and the GCA of 1968 with others to follow. Dismantle the NICS as it only gives a false sense of security at a high cost. Modify the the mission of the personnel of the BATFE just like occurred in 1933 with the repeal of Prohibition. The overhead costs of the current system can no longer be justifiably sustained because the system does not work. Stop throwing legislation, executive orders and money at the problem. If anyone complains that they want to feel safer, offer to buy them a pair of footie pajamas (with their money, of course) and to read them a bedtime story.
http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-4.pdf
You keep up the good work, this issue is IMPORTANT, we might have even more of our Second Amendment violated and pissed on “this time”, but this fight needs to be fought. We need to fight it. If this country is disarmed, it will be freedom that is lost. I think the problem is that people who just plain don’t understand the purpose of the Second Amendment are mentally, spiritually and physically incapable of seeing the utility and the brilliance of it. I can agree to disagree with anti-gun people most of the time, but they are bringing this fight to us right now and I don’t think it wise to do anything other than to fight back fucking hard!
Right there with you. It’s unacceptable that we are under attack as a community for the actions of a limited number of criminals.
The site has been a valuable resource for eloquent and well-reasoned support of gun rights. I’d say more, but the point is: thank you, and keep up the good work.
Amen brother, stay in the fight. Sheep will always be sheep.
Amen
Thank you sir.
It’s your damn site, brother. And probably over 99% of your readers feel the same as you do. To hell with the nay sayers!
That’s exactly how I feel. Good work.
Keep on keeping on….
You must be effective, hence the complaints…
Legit… keep it up.
You swore an oath to defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The current situation is no less than all-out political assault against the constitution. Why should you *not* post about it?
Frankly, I’d be upset if you WEREN’T posting about it. This matter is too important to remain idle. This is the time we need to be counting our allies as well as our opponents. SSD will continue to be one of my sources for no-nonsense industry information and the fight for our 2A Rights.
I’m glad you decided to pick up your sword. How can you not when you’re being attacked? If the enemy stopped the attack, I suspect the political issues on this site would soon slow down. But for what it’s worth, I like the political discussion. I learn alot from this site.
Aye!
Bravo for standing firm!
Given the climate of intimidation this “national conversation” about guns is proceeding, I think it takes a lot of courage to speak out for citizens’ rights. And I personally appreciate the info. So, please, don’t care about the critics and keep posting. Thank you.
This is why SSD has such value to us all…it’s a whole lot easier to accept a sales pitch from someone who exhibits depth of character.
” Not even a day passed before anti-Second Amendment forces used this tragedy to begin to say that I shouldn’t have a right to own the type of a gun that was used in that heinous act.”
CORRECT! And they have been using “For the Children” for the past month or so as a valid reason to disarm the nation.
You know? Hitler said the same thing. Then disarmed my people, then put us on trains, then put us in camps, then f’cking killed us.
I’ll be screaming before they disarm me, before they put me on a train/bus/whatever, I’ll be screaming all the way to the camp, but if they wanna kill me… I’m gonna be standing. I’d rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.
Keep it up as you are putting out the truth and the anti gunners will not relent to facts. E.
Amen brother… right behind you and heavily armed!
Politicized? I don’t see you promoting any political party or politician – in fact, you are always scrupulously fair and objective. You have no need to apologize or explain your actions or your content to anyone – least of all the chattering extreme minority who might take “offense”.
Bottom line; this is a civil rights issue that affects us all as individuals, and its also an industry issue that affects many of the companies that feature here, so that makes it an economic issue as well. Finally, its also a public safety issue as the actions of the banners will actually make us (and our children) less safe.
So you rock on Eric – rock on.
“Its always democrats that want us to disarm but, no one is armed to protect themselves from republicans.” BB
Every patriot should be using all platforms available to shout to the world our insistence to maintain our freedoms. From reading these other comments, I believe we have your back. Keep posting.