MILITARY & MOTORCYCLES_FEBRUARY 22, 2013

I Did Build It

I am almost 66 years old. I grew up here in Manatee County and “I did build my own life” through the teachings of God, my parents, neighbors, teachers, and supervisors over the years. I don’t need Washington to tell how to be a better person by my helping everyone else in the United States.

I have hunted and owned weapons for the vast majority of my life, that doesn’t make me a bad person. However, it does make me feel safer insomuch I can protect myself and my family and others around me should the need arise. The Second Amendment affords me the right to do so.

Here is where that right goes south. As of now no one can purchase ammunition in retail stores or online. Is this due to the massive purchases of the federal government? Maybe, maybe not—I don’t believe in conspiracies, but I don’t believe in coincidence either. You make the call.

If you could purchase ammunition for practice and/or protection, the cost is somewhat restrictive due to added taxes. I grew up when guns were not the target of those who may have never fired a weapon or who may never have actually hunted or been out in the woods.

The point I am attempting to make is this, weapons no matter what you or the mainstream press may title them are for three reasons; target practice, hunting, or protection of life—be it yours or someone in your family. The Second Amendment provides that freedom and should until the end of time. I have watched the pre programmed ‘talking heads’ who have never held a weapon tell me I should not have a weapon for any reason. And those weapons are the root of the problem in the shooting deaths that we as a Nation have experienced in the last 10-15 years. To that, I say, “BULL.” It’s not the weapons that are killing incident people; it’s the person behind the trigger who is. Notice I said ‘incident’ people in the previous sentence. A large number of the homicides which have occurred are in several categories, retaliation (gang related), committed by previously arrested persons with a track record, folks with mental health issues, and several other areas of concern.

As far as people out of touch with reality, I want to mention Chief Ken James of Emeryville, California who stated, “A gun is not a ‘defensive weapon’ but rather an ‘offensive weapon’ used to intimidate and used to show power.” What this amounts to is this simple statement (my opinion): “The government doesn’t need to tell me how and when to protect myself, my family, or even you as a reader should the circumstance arise. I have attended too many funerals for fallen law enforcement officers and been shot at too many times to have someone in Washington tell me about weapons!

God Bless America and those who serve to protect us.

Terry Longpre