The tragic events that unfolded in Orlando reinforce what sensible folks take as an article of faith: there are evil people in this world. The more that we, law-abiding American gun owners, learn about the killer, the more we recognize an equally simple truth: he is not us. We are not him. We would no more use our guns to kill gay nightclub-goers than we would use our cars to mow down innocent pedestrians.
So why should I or millions of law-abiding Americans be forced to disarm — to lose access to entire categories of firearms and/or ammunition magazines — when we’ve committed no crime? Gun control only works if it controls criminals. Evil people do not follow the law. Gun control doesn’t work. It can’t work.
I didn’t commit this crime. Neither did anyone else I know, and I’m not ready to listen to people who can’t tell the difference between a semi-automatic and a fully automatic firearm tell me which of my guns will or will not commit crimes in the future, and which firearms I should and should not be allowed to have.
Meanwhile, I’m not interested in banning Islam (whatever that means). And I honestly hope the LGBT community stands up for themselves and declare to the world “we are people too, and we should be able to defend ourselves!” LGBT lives matter. White lives matter. Black lives matter. ALL LIVES MATTER. All lives can and should be protected by Americans exercising their right to keep and bear arms. What else needs saying, really?