Four Fire Fighters Shot in New York

As a volunteer firefighter, I understand the risks involved when that tone drops and you jump aboard a speeding fire truck headed for a burning building. I know that all the training, and all the experience in the world can't fully prepare a firefighter for what they may encounter at the next call. This reality became even more painfully true today, Christmas Eve in Upstate New York where firefighters were dispatched to what appeared to be a car and home fire. Upon arrival what they discovered was a sick and twisted booby trap laid by an ex-con.

When the first firefighters stepped out their vehicles, William Spengler, who was hiding near the property opened fire. Four of them were hit, 2 of which died. The first police officer on site chased after Spengler and exchanged fire. Police had to use an armored vehicle to rescue the survivors and evacuate neighboring residents while the situation was resolved. The gunman eventually took his own life but several homes were destroyed because firefighters were unable to fight the blaze during the incident.

William Spengler, the gunman, spent more than 17 years in prison for beating his 92-year old grandmother to death with a hammer in 1980 in the house next to where the Christmas Eve attack occurred.

This terrible tragedy that ended the lives of two heroes is the sole result of a broken system. A system in which a convicted murderer is released into society after committing one heinous crime, later allowing him to commit another. As politicians in Washington rush to introduce bills threatening the second amendment even further, one has to question how an ex-con, barred from owning a firearm, was capable of committing this atrocity. I have always said that laws don't stop bad guys from getting guns, and once again I am proven right. If our police departments can't enforce existing laws, what good are new laws going to do? The answer is not more laws but more resources. Give the police the resources they need to fight the illegal gun trade and arm the citizens who need protection.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.

It's Time to Play Defense, Not Chicken

So our elected officials think that America wants choking gun control in the aftermath of the most recent shooting. NRA membership has increased at 8,000 members a day since the Connecticut tragedy. American's who respect the constitution and our second amendment right to bear arms are stepping up to the plate and doing something to help fight off future attempts at tougher gun control. The NRA who had for the most part remained quiet following the event issued a press release today. During the conference NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre talked about the 4 million mothers and fathers who are members of his group. He talked about how banks, airports, government officials, courts, and sports venues are all protected by armed security yet we leave our schools unprotected and vulnerable to attacks.

As a member of the NRA I agree with Mr. LaPierre. Our children are the most important things in our lives. They are the future generation of this country. What type of an example are we setting, by tirelessly protecting politicians and sports stars while leaving them helpless. We all know that bad guys don't care about laws. Adding more to the books when we half heartedly enforce the existing ones is senseless and only gives America a false peace of mind. Mr. LaPierre said it best during the conference when he said "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun!"

Just look at the Clackamas Mall Shooting. After reading all the media reports did you find yourself asking how, during the busiest shopping season, Jacob Roberts opened fire and only managed to kill two people and himself? Well the reason is actually quite simple. Nick Meli, a shopper at the mall that day who holds a concealed carry permit confronted the shooter. He elected not to take the shot however because it would have put another bystander in jeopardy. Instead he took cover and according to Nick, the last shot he heard after confronting the shooter was the one that took his own life. Nick Meli's presence saved lives that day and he didn't even fire a shot. In fact he did exactly the opposite of what anti-gunners across the country claim concealed carriers do. He identified a situation in which his actions could potentially injure someone else and stood down.

How can a government who let hundreds of illegally purchased guns flood into Mexico, later used to kill countless people, effectively comprehend what is best for this country when it comes to firearms. Our own government broke their own laws by allowing Fast and Furious to happen and now they think they have a right to tell law abiding citizens different. The hypocrisy in Washington is alarming, and the fact that American's are being fooled in the process is frustrating.

NRA Calls for Armed Police Officers in Every School

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's largest gun-rights lobby called Friday for armed police officers to be posted in every American school to stop the next killer "waiting in the wings."

The National Rifle Association broke its silence on last week's shooting rampage at a Connecticut elementary school that left 26 children and staff dead.

"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," the group's top lobbyist, Wayne LaPierre, said at a Washington news conference.

READ MORE HERE.



Clackamas Mall Shooter Faced Man With Concealed Weapon

PORTLAND -- Nick Meli is emotionally drained.  The 22-year-old was at Clackamas Town Center with a friend and her baby when a masked man opened fire.

"I heard three shots and turned and looked at Casey and said, 'are you serious?,'" he said.

READ MORE HERE.



Newtown's Firearms Tradition Clashes With Gun-Control Push

Anguished families are still burying the 20 children and six women who were shot to death by a lone gunman last Friday just after the morning Pledge of Allegiance at Sandy Hook Elementary School. But a surprising local undercurrent has emerged: Many gun owners here say the slaughter has sharpened their view that guns alone aren't the problem.

READ MORE HERE.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-newtown-gun-culture-20121221,0,6710027.story

A Reason to Thank Obama

In his emotionally charged decision to pursue changes in America's gun control polices, President Obama unintentionally fueled a storm of firearms sales, largely AR-15s. Gun stores across America have been slammed with sales on firearms similar to that of the one used in the Sandy Hook shooting. The reason, because Obama and his minions want the guns banned along with high capacity magazines that hold more than 10 cartridges. Over the last week, I have vented on this blog about why guns shouldn't be restricted and how our government needs to work on enforcing existing laws on the books. I have talked about statistics, and case studies in other countries where stricter gun control has resulted in elevated violent crime rates. In the end though, all that matters is what politicians want and vote on. There are millions of Americans who are fed up with the gun violence as of late. They want something done, but what they are demanding will not solve the problem. In the last several days, how many AR-15s have been sold? The states run background checks for gun sales, but they don't all record what type of weapon was sold to who. So even if the government effectively bans these weapons, there is no way to track them down. The government doesn't have the man power, or the authority to go door to door and illegally search people's homes. This whole agenda, may well stop future sales of these firearms, but there is already existing firearms in American homes.

In closing, I find it appropriate to thank Mr. Obama for his single handed push of firearms sales. His lack of support for the firearms industry inadvertantly boosted the firearms economy and armed even more citizens. With more legal guns on the streets of America I feel safer knowing that Americans will have the ability to protect themselves and their families. I know this isn't the first time government threats of stricter gun control have sent panicked customers to guns shops nationwide. However I do find it ironic. A final note about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, the state of Connecticut has the 5th toughest gun control laws in the country, yet this still happened. Food for thought.



Piers Morgan Attacks GOA Director, Obama Assembles Panel

Piers Morgan has proven just how incapable he is of having a serious, productive debate about firearms in America. On his show "Piers Morgan Tonight," he invited several guests on to discuss gun control including Larry Pratt, the Executive Director of Gun Owners of America. Approximately two and a half minutes into the interview Morgan started to make it clear that despite asking the questions, he had no interest in the answers that Mr. Pratt was trying to offer. Cutting his guest off and talking over him time and time again Piers continued to let the viewers know just how he wanted to see things with little to no respect for Mr. Pratt's views. Piers Morgan is an imbecile. I think the most shocking comment made by Morgan during the interview, or should I say personal attack, was "You're an unbelievably STUPID man aren't you!?" I do give props to Mr. Pratt for having the backbone to go on Morgan's show, but clearly arguing with a fool who is open to nothing but his own foolish opinions is pointless. If you would like to view the whole interview check it out on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Understanding the frustration of American's fed up with the violence is important. When a tragedy is fresh in people's minds they respond with emotions, not with forethought and intelligent fact finding. It is obvious that because the Sandy Hook shooting involved a semi-automatic rifle with high capacity magazines the obvious response from those angered is to ban those weapons. Sure Obama is sticking a little tid bit in about mental health care access but let's be realistic. The atttack on ARs, semi-automatic firearms, and magazines that hold more than ten bullets is on. If the Obama administration and other anti-gunners have it their way they will strip us of every weapon possible to defend ourselves and our families. They will criminally rewrite the Constitution of the United States of America and dictate every aspect of our lives.

Already in response to Sandy Hook, President Obama has assembled a panel to evaluate new ways to implement gun control. He wishes to find ways to evaluate individuals psychological health prior to gaining access to a firearm. Additionally he wants to look at television, movies, and video games in relation to gun violence. Headed by Vice President Joe Biden, I already think this "panel" is traveling down a slippery slope. Obama wants progress in just one month, with voting on new issues in congress next year. Emotional decisions are going to be made. Liberty's are going to be stolen. America is going to be divided.

It seems to me the decisions are already made. How can a panel, in just one month decide a better way to control guns without violating the Second Amendment? Why aren't we working to better enforce existing gun laws? How come our government, in the 21st century, fails hundreds of thousands of American's with mental health issues but can manage to support an unsustainable welfare system and provide free cell phones to those milking the system? Gun control isn't a debate to anti-gun liberals, it's an agenda that they believe will pass whether the American people support it or not, because after all, the government knows all the answers, and they are here to protect us.