I really need to post more on this blog. Lately, every time I try to login I get the password wrong and end up having to look it up. Doh!Tonight I'm kind of treating myself to a night off. It's been pretty stressful at work lately with three different projects, incomplete requirements and occasional dead-ends when trying to find out how certain things get done.
Back in December I decided to exercise my right to bear arms. I visited a local gun show with the intent to make a purchase. I did my homework well in advance and settled on buying the .40 caliber Glock 27 ( pictured above ). However, I still haven't managed to find the time to take it to the range and actually use it. Tonight I'm doing it. I have a box of ammo - minus those I've already loaded into two magazines - and I'm going to expend those rounds downrange come hell or high water.
This is all in preparation for obtaining a conceal-carry (CC) permit. While I'll still have to take a one-day class and prove I can fire the weapon without killing everyone in the immediate vicinity, it's nice to be able to go and pop off a few rounds when I feel like it. I haven't visited this range before and actually I haven't fired a weapon in about 20 years. So, this should be interesting. Although I had quite a bit of experience in the military, my experience with handguns is limited to firing a .45 once and the .22 I still have stored away in my closet.
I imagine opponents of CC - or those who oppose firearms at all - would call me some kind of a nutcase. Believe it or not when the law regarding CC was passed here my first thought was that anyone who applied should be turned down outright. It's the people who want weapons that should be turned away. Anyone who thinks they need to carry a weapon on them needs to have their head examined.
I don't really feel that way anymore.
First off - it's a right. Exercise your constitutional rights or someone will find a way to take them away.
Second - it's a privilege. Felons and nutcases can't do it legally. Given the requirement to take a class, pass a test and a background check, it's people who demonstrate honesty, integrity and respect for legal channels that receive the privilege. It also costs some money - around $300 for the class, application and licensing fees ( not counting, of course the cost of the weapon, ammunition and gun range fees ).
Third - It has a way of keeping people honest. Let's face it, if you had any reason to believe the person the person you were about to assault might be carrying a loaded weapon would you do it?
Lastly - It balances the playing field. Bad guys don't generally go through the licensing process. Furthermore, their weapons, generally speaking, aren't legally purchased. If some nutcase walks into the same store myself and my family happen to be in and decides to open fire, at least I can fight back and not be a statistic on the evening news. Why be a victim?
Other opponents might believe that violence will prevail and we'll all go back to the days of the days of the "Wild West." We should be so lucky. If you look at the statistics comparing the today's murder rates per 100K people to those of the Wild West you stand a better chance of being murdered today. Given that the cops can't be everywhere, perhaps more people should be prepared to defend themselves by strapping on a sidearm.
