By reader LC Judas
Everyone is worrying about the politics and possible future bloodbath potential of trying to limit scary black weapons and big magazines. That’s all understandable given the current climate, but something that’s been lost in the discussion are the warrior families among us that have defined this nation. Simply put, we are heavily reliant on the police and military in this country. They’re the ones who keep order and safeguard our way of life. But here’s the rub: if the president and the dedicated gungrabbers in Congress like Diane Feinstein succeed in prohibiting civilian use of “military style” weapons, they’ll also reduce the number of future recruits to these critical professions . . .
Like every other kid, when I was younger I used to watch TV and movies — cowboy shows and police dramas. And it helped inspire me towards my law-enforcement career. Having the ability to train with some of the same weapons used by the cops and the military helped me hone my skills long before I made my career choice. And mine is a story that’s similar to those of many of my coworkers.
The far more important consideration now, though, is those who will be following in their fathers’ and grandfathers’ tradition of military and police service. A significant portion of departments and battalions in the police and military services are staffed by people doing what members of their families have done before them. All of my uncles are ex-military and several of their sons are currently serving, too. Under a new assault weapons ban — one that’s even more restrictive than the last one — the tradition of teaching the new generation will be severely curtailed.
This country has a warrior tradition. That spirit is what freed us from British rule and made the US the global military presence it is today. And that tradition has been passed down from generation to generation.
But you can’t pass that down without exposure to and familiarity with weapons. The same weapons (or the civilian equivalent) as those used on duty, whether in the military or a police force.
There’s obviously a lot more to these career paths than firearms, but the weapons are intrinsic to the purposes of both vocations. If you can’t learn to love the ways of life that both jobs entail, you’re less likely to be the kind of cop or soldier this nation needs.
Restricting the kind of firearms in civilian hands will make recruiting for both institutions a lot harder. Despite what you’ve probably been reading lately, America doesn’t raise mass murderers with its gun culture; it trains our protectors and first responders.