You Just Don’t Know I sat in my car next to you at that confounding red light this morning but you did not know. I yelled next to you Saturday morning cheering on our kids in the soccer game but you did not know. We sat beside you at the restaurant last night, you ordered the pasta dish with the sausage, it looked good and smelled great but you did not know. I was the guy who found your dog that was missing. I live right down the road and we never met but I recognized your dog and brought him home to you but you didn’t know. I drive the school bus that takes your kids to school I have been doing this for years but you did not know. I helped your grandmother today at the grocery store. She could not reach the top shelf and I was able to get what she wanted for her but you did not know. I parked next to you at the mall last weekend but you did not know. I stopped to help your wife change a flat tire but she did not know and neither did you. I gave your son a ride when he ran out of gas today but you did not know. What you did not know was that I have a concealed carry license and I had a gun on my person. I carry it every day but you do not know. What you may not know is that I am not the only one. What you should understand is that on any given day you may sit, stand or park next to a licensed gun owner. Why is this important? The media can only tell you about the crimes of people who are usually not legal gun owners or not licensed to carry a gun. They speak of the horrors that the guns cause, but I stood next to you with mine and nothing happened. They cannot let you know how many of your fellow citizens are carrying a gun in your presence and nothing happens. They only focus on the bad, unlicensed people who have evil in their hearts or no sense of reality. If provoked, I am trained on how to use my gun. I can unload all the rounds into a 4 inch circle every time. I will use my gun only if I have to and yes, I would use it to protect your family as well as mine even though you may think I am an extremist for carrying one. My gun is a tool and much like a carpenter who carries a hammer I will use this tool only for the defense of my life and if need be yours. I spend more time at the gun range practicing than most police officers do, yet when you see them openly carrying a gun you think nothing of it. My state has issued my license after a four moth process of classes and in depth background checks. It cost me hundreds of dollars and many hours to obtain; we who have gone through this process do so in an attempt to be followers of the law, we are not criminals. Criminals steal guns and buy them from other criminals, how many of them are you sitting by with your family? Who would you rather be near a licensed and trained gun owner or a criminal with a stolen gun? I hope that I never need to use this tool but I am glad that the founding fathers had the sense to ensure my rights to carry one. Any tool in the hands of a person with evil intent can be used to hurt others, people are murdered with guns, knives, hammers, baseball bats, rocks, rope, poison, cars, screwdrivers, electricity and even bare hands. The killer is the problem not the inanimate object they choose to use. Just remember when you sit down at the theater or at the restaurant that we are sitting next to you. We are law abiding people who are trained to use a tool, we are licensed and we are not the problem, we are the solution. Do not fear the gun but the person who would kill with any tool available. Signed, Your neighbor, Your co-worker, Your friend, Your doctor, Your lawyer, Your kids coach, Your mechanic, Your pizza delivery guy, Your carpenter…you get the idea
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 00:11:29 +0000