U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- As the State of Florida mourns the loss of innocent lives on Wednesday in Broward County, I mourn too, but I am also angry. I am angry that the Florida Legislature has once again enabled an evil individual to take innocent lives because the Legislature refuses to acknowledge the fact that that evil people will not follow the laws it passes . . .
In the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, the Legislature acts as if the laws it passes will stop criminals. Laws punish wrongdoing, they do not stop wrongdoers. Yet Florida continues to prohibit licensed law-abiding citizens from possessing the tools to protect themselves and their children from mass murder.
Despite the repeated failure of so called “gun-free zones”, the Florida Legislature has taken no steps over the past seven years to protect our children. While the responsibility for Wednesday’s events rests solely with the actions of the evil person who committed this act, it is the Legislature that has enabled such tragedies to occur. It is the Legislature’s inaction that has made such tragedies worse.
The Legislature has ignored the repeated requests of Florida Carry, other civil rights groups, and the law-abiding citizens of this state to give up the fallacy of “gun-free zones”. This body has left our children and their teachers defenseless. It has kowtowed to anti-freedom groups and has blocked or refused to hear common-sense legislation to protect our children and the professionals to whom we entrust our children’s care on a daily basis.
It is a well-established fact from numerous such events that bad people with guns will only stop their carnage when confronted by an armed response. Every second until that response occurs allows the murderer to kill and maim more innocents.
From 1987 until now, every time the Legislature has acted to restore the rights of law-abiding citizens to protect those for whom they love and care, those citizens have responsibly exercised the trust placed in them. Every time, those citizens have proven the claims of the anti-gun forces to be lies. Every time, the claims of dire consequences for returning rights to the people have proven false.
This case was not a failure of law-abiding citizens to act responsibly. This was another failure of law enforcement to investigate and stop a deranged individual. People did SEE something, and people did SAY something, but law-enforcement failed to fully investigate and prosecute the shooter for prior crimes.
Just as in Sutherland Springs, law-enforcement’s failure is being blamed on law-abiding citizens and their legal firearms. Law-abiding citizens cannot rely on law enforcement to protect them and must be given the means to protect themselves.
The time for half-measures and incrementalism is over. It is past time to give ‘we the people’, our teachers, and the parents volunteering in schools the ability to defend themselves and stop these tragedies.
The time to act is now. For years, many in the Legislature have touted their NRA ratings. They have claimed to be on the side of the law-abiding citizens with licenses who, for over three decades, have proven themselves more law-abiding than even the police officers who heroically responded Wednesday. Why then, should these same citizens be left defenseless while they await law enforcement’s response?
In every state that has allowed law-abiding citizens to carry in schools, the citizens have proven equal to the challenge. None of these states have suffered what Florida suffered Wednesday. Those state have eliminated a favorite target of the deranged individuals who commit such evil.
Florida Carry hereby calls on the Legislature to immediately:
- Pass emergency legislation to eliminate gun-free zones for law-abiding concealed carry licensees;
- Pass emergency legislation authorizing all teachers in public schools who possess a CWFL to carry their licensed, concealed firearm if they so choose, without repercussion;
- Provide immediate funding of one million dollars in grants for county school boards and sheriffs to implement pilot programs of the Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response (FASTER) Program in the State of Florida.
Though the Legislature’s inaction enabled Wednesday’s events, errors of judgment can be corrected if good people are willing to admit they were wrong. It is time for those who support the Second Amendment, who recognize that armed citizens are an asset, and who truly want to protect our children, to recognize and admit that evil will not obey laws.
Evil will not respect gun-free zones. Evil will not be stopped by anything other than armed response. The longer that response, the more innocent lives lost.
I am reminded today of the teachers at Sandy Hook who died trying to shield the children they loved from evil. An unarmed person is just another victim. An armed person is a force who can stop the carnage. It is within the Legislature’s power to make sure that if it happens again, the response will be faster and fewer innocent lives will be lost.
As a father of two public school children I cannot wait any longer. I want my children to be safe when they are not with me. I will not rest until the Florida Legislature takes action to protect my children and their friends. If it will not be done by those already in the Legislature, it will be done by those who replace them.
About Florida Carry
Florida Carry, Inc, is a nonprofit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense. Their website is www.FloridaCarry.org.
And yet, what can actually be done? If no crime was committed, but someone’s “obviously unstable” (I’ll give you 2 nanoseconds to decide if there’s any potential for that criteria to be abused), then, what, lock em up? Due process means that sometimes evil goes free. Deal with it or leave for somewhere like Singapore, where it’s mind-numbingly safe but you have no rights and due process is extremely limited.
Pre-crime type policies ultimately work in one of two ways. Either they cast a deliberately small net, which won’t catch all the bad guys but is also highly unlikely to entangle anyone who is and will continue to be innocent. Or, they cast a deliberately large net, in which case they will catch more of the bad guys (though still not all) but also more innocents, and a wide net system has far more potential for abuse. As for myself, I prefer the small net and the extreme difficulty of getting someone involuntarily committed. Encourage people to, and let them, tool up. That’s the ONLY solution that is a net benefit to society.
Well said Ralph. May I add Soldier of allah and San Bernardino to the list. Oh and crazy boy in Oregon. Signs aplenty but “gunz”.
Excerpt:
In the beginning the organizer’s first job is to create the issues or problems.
Saul D. Alinsky, Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals
I received a one page response from our President, dated Feb. 12, 2018, regarding his understanding of the Constitution, replying to my letter of 7/29/2017, regarding my understanding of our Constitution.——–
His understanding,…..
“Thank you for taking the time to express your views regarding the Second Amendment. ——
As President, I have no higher obligation than to protect the safety of America and its people. In these efforts, my Administration will always be guided by the wisdom of our Constitution, which ensures the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. The Founders enshrined this protection in the Second Amendment because they understood that the ability of law-abiding people to defend themselves and their families is a hallmark of a free and sovereign people. ——–
Undermining our Second Amendment rights will not enhance our safety. Rather, we must redouble our efforts to prevent criminals from obtaining and using firearms to harm innocent Americans. My administration will always enforce Federal law and work with State and local officials to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and protect Americans from violent criminals.”——-
The Second Amendment …”A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”——-
Contrary to the Presidents misunderstanding of words, and the Second Amendment, substituting the word “individuals” for “people.,” there is no mention “which ensures the right of individuals” to keep and bear arms.” The fact is “individuals” is not mentioned in our Constitution. ———-
My letter to him stated my argument. The Constitution mentions “person/s” 49 times (Articles of Confederation 11 times), to explicitly describe, clarify and mandate a Constitutional legal standing as to a “person”, his or her Constitutional rights. ————-
Whereas in the Second Amendment, reference to “person/s” is not to be found. The obvious question arises, why did the Framers use the noun “person/s” as liberally as they did throughout the Constitution 49 times and not apply this understanding to explicitly convey same legal standard in defining Second Amendment’s right to bear arms as a “person”? The need and reason for “A well regulated militia, …” exactly… because we fight among ourselves.———
The president was not elected because he was an “individual”, but “..guided by the wisdom of our Constitution,..” on a Constitutional legal standing as to a “person.” Elected on the very word he does not believe in. 13 Constitutional references conditioning a “person” to the roll of the President of the United States. A condition the President ignores, refusing to acknowledge meaning of the Second Amendment or “the wisdom of our Constitution,..” relating to it’s 49 references to “person/s.”———-
“…The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President…” (Article 2 Section 1)
“…No person except a natural born Citizen or a Citizen,…shall be eligible to the Office of
President” (Article 2 Section 1)
“…they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President,…” (Amendment XII)
“…the person voted for as Vice-President,…” (Amendment XII)
“…all persons voted for as President,….” (Amendment XII)
“…all persons voted for as Vice-President…” (Amendment XII)…”
“…The person having the greatest Number of votes for President, …” (Amendment XII)
“…But no person constitutionally ineligible to the Office of President (Amendment XII)
“…No person shall be elected to the office of the President…” (Amendment XXII Section1)
“…and no person who has held the office of President,…” (Amendment XXII Section1)
“..to which some other person was elected President…” (Amendment XXII Section1)
“…shall not apply to any person holding the office of President…” (Amendment XXII Section1)
“..prevent any person who may be holding the office of President…” (Amendment XXII Section1)
“When government-adopted texts are given new meaning, the law is changed; and changing written law, like adopting written law in the first place, is the function of the first two branches of government—elected legislators and elected and elected executive officials and their delegates.” (Reading Law.Antonin Scalia/Bryan A. Garner)——
The President was so interested in my letter that he took the time out of his busy schedule to look up my middle name when addressing his reply. He did not have to go to all that trouble.
Was just out today and sighted in my red dot on my AR. God what a joy that was!! Taught my daughter-in-law how to operate it too. Should have seen the smile on her face! Give that up? No Way in Hell! Bought my first rifle , an 1894 Winchester .30-.30 rifle, octagon barrel, manufactured in 1904 . Sweet shooter with that long barrel. That was in 1967 when I was 14, with money I saved up mowing yards all summer. I won’t, and don’t give an inch on my rights when I am able to stop the encroachments. Instead of bitching about what may happen, get involved and let the politicians know where you stand and be a pest about it! Don’t give them an inch, if we do, then they will want the mile!
At the end of the day, liberals, if you want to take our guns away, you’re going to have to come do it yourselves. Good luck with that ????
I bought a new Black Eagle 2 years ago and it never would shoot the El Cheapo LED shop during dove season here in eastern North Carolina in fact I had missed out on a hunt because of it I ended up going back to the Old Faithful A5 made in Belgium Browning it shot anyting that I could shove in it but it’s heavy and slap Happy however it works fine duck hunting in the salt water but I have to use high brass loads I will try not holding it so tight to my shoulder as I read in the other post I was wondering do I need the 28-inch barrel can I change it to 26 since the chokes or what they say makes the pattern also is it a cryo Barrel I love my Benelli it’s like issues great I bought it back when they were $1,200 that was big money back then for long range shooting I have an old Spanish double barrel 10 gauge all the boys with the 2 and 3/4 2 3 & a half inch just have to leave there’s in the corner that 10-gauge double-barrel reach out there and get them at 80 yards no need to pick up the 12 gauge but boy does it put a hurting on your shoulder
“all of you great big macho types who want to buy stuff like the Remington R15 VTR Predator”
Were they just looking at ARish guns that had a scary sounding name? I don’t know that the Remington R15 VTR predator is really at the top of the list for aspiring operator types or AR fans in general. I mean it is made by Remington, and looks like a hunting gun, advertised with a 5 Rd mag. Not exactly a milspec M4 or railed super AR. Trying to get some credibility”I can Google an AR model!” but failed. I am obviously not the macho type as I would only like to win the said gun at a raffle so I could sell it, otherwise wouldn’t buy it.
Another one for the list is Nidal Hasan who was an obvious danger that was ignored for political reasons.
The author of this piece did a good job identifying NYT’s falsities, but there’s actually another level of intellectual dishonesty on NYT’s part that may be less obvious.
The experts are quite clear that most mass shooters are not “crazy” in the sense that they are paranoid schizophrenics who, say, think that their dog has told them to stop Armageddon by killing everyone at the local elementary school. Sure, some mass shooters fit that definition of “crazy,” such as the man who shot Representative Giffords. However, it is completely dishonest to suggest that experts on the topic of mass shootings believe that most mass shooters are in any way mentally well.
Almost invariably, mass shooters follow a similar pattern and present similar psychological problems. Namely, the overwhelming majority of them are social outcasts who suffer from serious depression, anti-social tendencies, and narcissism to the point of psychosis. So, sure, they are not “crazy” in the sense that they are hallucinating, which is what people typically refer to when talking about crazy people, but they are by and large highly delusional. Practically all mass shooters have found it incredibly difficult to participate in society. For years, they engage in mental gymnastics to rationalize their failure. At some point, they can no longer explain away why girls won’t sleep with them, why they can’t succeed at work, why everyone finds them obnoxious, why they aren’t recognized for their supposed brilliance, etc. When they reach this point, when the thin justifications they’ve relied on to get through the day are no longer enough, they become furious. They double down on the “it’s not my fault, it’s everyone else’s fault” rationale, and, in doing so, they delude themselves into feeling that they are justified in punishing the people who have treated them so unfairly. Have you ever tripped and fallen in front of a crowd of people who then laughed at you? If you have, you probably didn’t think it was funny. Instead, you probably felt an irrational sense of anger. The situation is, of course, funny to most people. It would likely be funny to you if you were to watch video footage of it later. But in the moment, all you know is that people are laughing at your pain and you become instantly indignant. Imagine that your whole life was episode after episode of being in this position, feeling that feeling. That is essentially what the experts say is the driving force behind most mass shootings. They’re people who feel like losers. They eventually run out of excuses, so they delude themselves into thinking it’s fair to hurt people right back.
Again, there are numerous exceptions to the rule. But the experts all agree that this is the model that most often describes the motivation behind mass shootings. Only a cynical person or someone with an agenda would dare say people who fit this mold are mentally well.
Agreed about the enforcement of existing laws.
And any new law is just “feel good BS”.
The same crybaby behavior that has closed so many public sandpits in so many states. Where the general public could access and target shoot for free…Then the same crybabies, Anti-Freedom Politicians, and STASI Law Enforcement community killed access to sportsman in the general public for Off-Road -SUVs, Trucks ????, Dirt ???? Bikes, ATVs, etc…Of they added these folks along with Hunters….Or suspicious persons like day hikers (or in other words…Just another reason for Paramilitarized Law Enforcement to perform a “Stop ✋ and Search ????” on any citizens for perceived contraband of the day…)
I’m 100℅ anti aircraft gun, it’s a bitch finding an IWB holster that fits
Perfect for the naval officer accused of sexual harassment in the early ’90s who likes shooting PCCs.