Like most of you I get a lot of emails from friends, organizations and entities that are trying to sell me something, mold my thinking, or provide me with information that they believe is important that I receive. And like most, I get a lot of 'spam'. Some of it's good, some of it's educational, some of it's interesting, and of course, some of it is utter bullshit. I think the email I got from a friend this weekend falls into all these categories, depending upon your perspective.
I'm not a gun owner. I've never felt the need or the fascination that many have with weapons. But that's not to say I'm in any way against them. I just have had other things to occupy my time. There are a lot of things like that in my life. Motorcycles, boats, season tickets to my favorite team, wine tours, etc, etc, etc. So much to do, so little time. I think guns fall into that category for me. I'm a supporter of the second amendment, concealed carry laws, and allowing law-abiding citizens to own guns. I believe in the popular saying, "when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns". But that's not to say I don't also believe in some reasonable 'rules' when it comes to guns. I think background checks are important. I think things like this bump-stock device that turns semi-automatic weapons into automatic weapons should be controlled. I'm in favor of turn-in programs to try and rid the streets of guns. But all those things are on the margin. The right to own a weapon is fundamental to our Constitution and our culture.
So I thought this email was interesting. It's obviously one of those things that goes around and has a ring of truth and is designed to anger gun supporters and cause them to hunker down in their beliefs. And that's okay. Since I'm sitting in the suburbs in SoCal and don't own a gun, I can't really relate to the whole concealed carry thing, but I'm sure that it resonates with many. But the numbers in the gun history really got my attention. I have not idea if they are real, but I don't have any reason to doubt them. And even if they are exaggerated, they are pretty sobering. As Americans, we tend to think 'it can't happen here'. I know I catch myself thinking that sometimes. But it can happen here. Just because something is one way, doesn't make it a hard and fast rule that it will always be that way. Nothing lasts forever. So we have to be on guard. We have to understand history and what has happened in other places, at other times. And we have to ensure that for as long as we can, we protect the rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution. Because they can go away...faster than you think.
Subject: Why Grandpa carries
> Why Grandpa carries a gun
>
> The quintessential reason why Grandpa carries a gun.
> Please take time to read this and pay particular attention to "A Little Gun History" about half way down “ staggering numbers!
>
> Why Carry a Gun?
>
> My old Grandpa said to me, "Son, there comes a time in every man's life when he stops bustin' knuckles and starts bustin' caps and usually it's when he becomes too old to take a whoopin'."
>
> I don't carry a gun to kill people; I carry a gun to keep from being killed.
>
> I don't carry a gun because I'm evil; I carry a gun because I have lived long enough to see the evil in the World.
>
> I don't carry a gun because I hate the government; I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government.
>
> I don't carry a gun because I'm angry; I carry a gun so that I don't have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared.
>
> I don't carry a gun because I want to shoot someone; I carry a gun because I want to die at a ripe old age in my bed and not on a sidewalk somewhere tomorrow afternoon.
>
> I don't carry a gun to make me feel like a man; I carry a gun because men know how to take care of themselves and the ones they love.
>
> I don't carry a gun because I feel inadequate; I carry a gun because unarmed and facing three armed thugs, I am inadequate..
>
> I don't carry a gun because I love it; I carry a gun because I love life and the people who make it meaningful to me.
>
> Police protection is an oxymoron: Free citizens must protect themselves because police do not protect you from crime; they just investigate the crime after it happens and then call someone in to clean up the mess.
>
> Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take a whoopin'!
>
> A LITTLE GUN HISTORY
>
> PLEASE DON'T THINK FOR A MOMENT, THAT THIS COULDN'T HAPPEN IN OUR COUNTRY ALSO !!!!!!
>
> In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control:
> From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated
> -----------------------
> In 1911, Turkey established gun control:
> From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
> -----------------------
> Germany established gun control in 1938:
> From 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
> -----------------------
> China established gun control in 1935:
> From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
> -----------------------
> Guatemala established gun control in 1964:
> From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
> -----------------------
> Uganda established gun control in 1970:
> From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
> -----------------------
> Cambodia established gun control in 1956:
> From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
> -----------------------
> 56 million defenseless people were rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control..
> -----------------------
> You won't see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information.
>
> Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.
>
> With guns, we are 'citizens'; without them, we are 'subjects'.
>
> During WW II, the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!
> Gun owners in the USA are the largest armed forces in the World!
>
> If you value your freedom, please spread this anti-gun control message to all of your friends.
>
> The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense.
>
> The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either.
>
> SWITZERLAND ISSUES A GUN TO EVERY HOUSEHOLD! SWITZERLAND'S GOVERNMENT ISSUES AND TRAINS EVERY ADULT IN THE USE OF A RIFLE.
> SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!
> IT'S A NO BRAINER! DON'T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.
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