I'm an opinionated, retired, doting grandfather of 4. My firearms are tools, and as such are dangerous items. If they weren't dangerous, they would probably be useless just like any tool.
For nigh on 35 years now I've been beating my head against the wall trying to get firearms owners - and anyone else who will listen - to understand that the purpose of firearms is to preserve life.
Unfortunately, there is a large contingent of firearms owners who are either afraid to mention "protect life" in connection with firearms, or simply don't believe that it is appropriate to use firearms for anything but "sport."
Last tuesday the Calgary SUN published a letter to the editor in which words to the effect that why should such dangerous playthings be allowed? and I can't say I was surprised.
It is only a matter of time until the government drops the next shoe by stating that - as firearms are too dangerous to be allowed to potect life, they are certainly too dangerous for sport - and therefore are being banned.
It may be too late to stop our laws from following Britain's down the slippery slope, but there is some hope. Until the early 1980s the USA was seeing a lot of anti-gun success. It began to turn around when gun owners in Florida demanded and got a "must issue concealed permit system" to replace the "may issue" system that basically mirrored what we have now.
Since then, the number of states that recognize the right to carry for self-defence has risen to 48 and anti-gun legislation is difficult if not impossible to pass in most jurisdictions.
"To protect life" is the most important reason to own and use anything and, if we get off the stick and start saying so loudly and often, we just may be able to stop this train wreck.
'Nuff said for now.
For nigh on 35 years now I've been beating my head against the wall trying to get firearms owners - and anyone else who will listen - to understand that the purpose of firearms is to preserve life.
Unfortunately, there is a large contingent of firearms owners who are either afraid to mention "protect life" in connection with firearms, or simply don't believe that it is appropriate to use firearms for anything but "sport."
Last tuesday the Calgary SUN published a letter to the editor in which words to the effect that why should such dangerous playthings be allowed? and I can't say I was surprised.
It is only a matter of time until the government drops the next shoe by stating that - as firearms are too dangerous to be allowed to potect life, they are certainly too dangerous for sport - and therefore are being banned.
It may be too late to stop our laws from following Britain's down the slippery slope, but there is some hope. Until the early 1980s the USA was seeing a lot of anti-gun success. It began to turn around when gun owners in Florida demanded and got a "must issue concealed permit system" to replace the "may issue" system that basically mirrored what we have now.
Since then, the number of states that recognize the right to carry for self-defence has risen to 48 and anti-gun legislation is difficult if not impossible to pass in most jurisdictions.
"To protect life" is the most important reason to own and use anything and, if we get off the stick and start saying so loudly and often, we just may be able to stop this train wreck.
'Nuff said for now.
