Replies from my representatives on gun control

With the recent events in this country including shootings and talks of gun and magazine bans I thought I would take the time to write to my locale representatives and voice my opinions. I am a strong supporter of the second amendment and i am glad at least some of my elected officials feel the same way. So far I received one reply. I'm sure all senators and congressmen are being inundated with letters and emails so one well written email reply was more than I expected. Here is what Lamar Alexander wrote to me.
January 8, 2013


Dear Drew,

Thank you for sharing your feelings regarding the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. I was horrified by this attack that left twenty-eight dead. My thoughts and prayers are for the victims and those who now live with their loss.

As we learn more about the tragedy in Newtown, I think we must look closely at the behavior of isolated young men who develop an obsession with violence. We should ask the leaders of the entertainment industry whether they would want their children--or those who might harm their children--to watch the increasingly violent video games and movies that they pour into our culture. This is not the only cause of violence in our society but it is one important cause. Connecticut has strong gun laws. The problem is not with the gun but with the person pulling the trigger.

This is a terrible event for our nation and we must find appropriate ways to respond. I’m grateful you’ve shared your reactions with me and will keep them in mind as we move forward.

Sincerely,
Lamar


The problem is not with the gun but with the person pulling the trigger. Very wise words.

A letter to a mother

Dear mom,

                When I was a baby and took my first steps you told me to be safe and held my hand as I figured out how to put one foot in front of the other.

                At age six when I got my first bike for Christmas all I wanted to do was ride it, but you told me to be safe, so I put on my helmet and watched out for traffic.

                When I got my first pair of roller blades I headed out to skate with my friends.  You told me to be safe again and I put on my helmet, elbow, and knee pads before I skated off.

                A few years later when dad brought home an old busted dirt bike I was ecstatic. Dad and I spend many weeks rebuilding it and getting it to run right. Finally when we had it running perfect I jump on and started to take off when you called out from the deck. The same words I have heard before but always seem to forget until I hear them from you. “Be safe” you said, so I hoped down and grabbed my motorcycle helmet.

                My sixteenth birthday came around and you gave me a set of shinny new keys to an older looking car. You wouldn’t let me drive it for the first couple days because it had snowed. But once the roads were clear I was ready to go. Before I left the house you had some more words of caution “be safe”. These words stuck with me as I got into the driver seat and buckled the seat belt and adjusted the mirrors.

                When I was eighteen and started bringing girls around you still shared those two words with me behind my girlfriends back. “Be safe” you would say and I knew just what you meant.

                After college I moved out with my future wife. You gave me a big hug and told me you would miss me. You said to take care of myself and I could always visit. Before I pulled out of the drive way with the last of my stuff loaded into the truck you told me one last time to be safe.

                Years later when I came home to visit for the holidays you met me at the door with a hug and a smile. You wrapped your arms around my waist and stopped with your hand on the bulge on my left hip. You looked up at me and asked why I carried a pistol with me. I looked into your eyes with a smile and said, “Just being safe like you always told me.”

For Freedom, For America

If there is one thing i know about being an american its that we should stand up for what we believe in. no matter what side of the fence you are on about guns please do not let this happen, our founding fathers gave us this right, don't let them take it away. even if you hate firearms that doesn't mean we all have to give them up. and its not just about guns, if they take this away from us whats next. to me its sad that this is the government the people voted for. please read and share. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States reversed policy on Wednesday and said it would back launching talks on a treaty to regulate arms sales as long as the talks operated by consensus, a stance critics said gave every nation a veto.

The decision, announced in a statement released by the U.S. State Department, overturns the position of former President George W. Bush's administration, which had opposed such a treaty on the grounds that national controls were better.

On Wednesday Obama Took the First Major Step in a Plan to Ban All Firearms in the United States . The Obama administration intends to force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for US citizens through the signing of international treaties with foreign nations. By signing international treaties on gun control, the Obama administration can use the US State Department to bypass the normal legislative process in Congress. Once the US Government signs these international treaties, all US citizens will be subject to those gun laws created by foreign governments. These are laws that have been developed and promoted by organizations such as the United Nations and individuals such as George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. The laws are designed and intended to lead to the complete ban and confiscation of all firearms.

The Obama administration is attempting to use tactics and methods of gun control that will inflict major damage to our 2nd Amendment before US citizens even understand what has happened. Obama can appear before the public and tell them that he does not intend to pursue any legislation (in the United States) that will lead to new gun control laws, while cloaked in secrecy, his Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is committing the US to international treaties and foreign gun control laws. Does that mean
Obama is telling the truth? What it means is that there will be no publicized gun control debates in the media or votes in Congress. We will wake up one morning and find that the United States has signed a treaty that prohibits firearm and ammunition manufacturers from selling to the public. We will wake up another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that prohibits any transfer of firearm ownership. And then, we will wake up yet another morning and find that the US has signed a treaty that requires US citizens to deliver any firearm they own to the local government collection and destruction center or face imprisonment.

This is not a joke nor a false warning. As sure as government health care will be forced on us by the Obama administration through whatever means necessary, so will gun control.

Please forward this message to others who may be concerned about the direction in which our country is headed."

We are being led like a lamb to the slaughter (Socialism/Dictatorship).

LAR Grizzly .45 mag.

For your viewing pleasure me shooting a friends LAR grizzly .45 mag. Damn thing had a hell of a kick and startled everyone at the range the first time it went off. enjoy.

Carry permit class

                                              

            So recently my wife and I finally signed up for a local conceal carry class. We have been talking about doing this for a year or two but I just couldn’t see spending the cash for the permit itself. The class was no problem at $65 a person, but add that to the bribe you have to pay the state ($115) and that’s what got me. I know that doesn’t sound like much but sometimes I just have problems dropping money on things I want when there are things I need.

            Well the stars aligned and the money was there so we took a class. I decided to go with a nice store in the next county over that had a sweet indoor range. Everywhere in town had outdoor ranges and damn it has been a hot summer. So for the same price why wouldn't I.

The class was such a joke. Don’t get me wrong the instructor and facility were excellent, but the material and test were so easy I don’t know why everyone doesn’t get a carry permit. There are people out in this world I hope wont but come on if you are a law-biding citizen and want to carry a gun without getting arrested why not.

            Other than the video made by the state troopers we had to watch everything else was just ask the instructor “what if” questions and him going over the test before he passed it out. I would have to agree with the instructor when he said the state really didn’t set the bar very high to get a permit.

            The written test was unbearably easy. Where should you store you gun? A. In your child’s toy chest. B. On the kitchen table. C. In a safe place. D. On the floor. Really? All 50 questions where like that.

            There were some strange people in our class that made my wife and I a little uncomfortable. We had the little Asian guy in the back row asking if he can carry on any school and college campus… no Mr. Virginia tech no. Then the two dudes that worked together that asking if they could take pictures of each other during the shoot part of the class. They wanted to blow up the pictures and use them to threaten their coworkers. Damn people take a hint please.

            The range portion of the class was the fun part of course. Shooting fifty rounds at 3, 9, and 15 yards. You only had to get 2/3 of the shots in the human silhouette to pass. So as long as you got all the rounds on target at the first two distances you could miss all of them at 45ft. Both of us got all of ours on target with my wife shooting the target man in the armpit but hey it still counted.

            Once the class was done it was off to the DMV. Two hours in line and a hefty fee was all we had to do there. Afterwards we had to call a number to register for finger printing. We were able to get an appointment the same day and zipped on over. And that was it, all over but the waiting. Everyone said 4 weeks was the minimum wait time with it taking up to 3 months, so I was shocked as hell when two weeks later the damn thing showed up at my door. My wife was pissed hers didn’t come but was happy when it showed up the next day.

 Now if they are anything like a drivers license, the day and month on the expiration date is also the day it was printed. So if I go off that it only took a week to be approved and another week for them to mail it to me (Damn pencil pushing bureaucrats). My best guess why it only took two weeks is because I had a very extensive background check to work where I’m at now so maybe that helped push it through, I don’t know but hey I’m not complaining.