With the season of Christmas now upon us, I am writing this post with Peace on Earth, and Good Will Toward Men in mind. No words of any political nature in this message.
To those of us who are Christian, and those who may be on the fence with the whole Jesus thing, I wish you all a Merry Christmas. Those of the Jewish faith, I hope you had a Happy Hanukkah. To all others - I wish you Peace. And I truly mean that.
I must admit that I am not a "religious" man, i.e. that I rarely attend church. I do believe in Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I believe in God, my Father. I believe in the Birth of Jesus, and in MY heart, Christmas is the celebration of that Holy event. God knows, I am a sinner, and I pray for His forgiveness all the time, as I don't know but what day might be my last and I will have to answer to Him. But, I also believe in a Heaven, and I do believe I shall be there some day.
All that said, I DO wish there to be Peace. But I also know that evil lurks in the land, and Peace may not likely come upon the earth anytime soon. So until then, we still have to rely upon good men and women to step forward and help do what they can to protect us, protect our freedoms, and provide emergency services to us.
In this spirit of Christmas, I am taking this opportunity to say THANKS to all those men and women, who provide emergency services, and are our protectors, at home and abroad.
I speak often of our men and women in uniform, of those in our military, who stand guard, and fight, in the name of freedom. I know what the Christmas season is like for our military. And for those in the harsh areas of a combat environment, it can be specially difficult. To all those folks, my deepest respect, and warmest wishes for your safety and peace of mind. So too, for the families of those men and women.
I want us to also focus on those in our own communities, who put on their uniforms, and take our calls for aid.
Those who carry a gun and wear a badge...and who would confront our home-grown bad guys for us...Thank you. I know too what it's like to be in a patrol car, instead of being at home with your families on a Christmas Eve or Day.
To those who wear the uniform of a firefighter or EMT, and answer the calls for medical help or threat of fire, Thank you too. I've never worn bunker boots and helmet, but have a deep respect for what you do. I know you too would prefer to be home with your families, instead of answering those dangerous calls.
For all of you, I wish you the best that you can have this Christmas. And may your families have you safely home as soon as your shift is over.
Thanks to you all, for ALL you do for us.
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Are You Anti-gun?
The world is not always a friendly place. With our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the constant threat to our very existence by terror groups, the world scene is scary enough. Throw in the drug wars just across our southern border, as well as the day-to-day victimization from hoodlums, it can be down right deadly right here at home.
So, with all that potential, let's say all hell did brake loose. A nation on our highest alert. Emergency services pushed to their limits. An attack has caused major black-outs of electricity. People panic and start looting the stores. Police are swamped with calls for emergencies. Cell phones quit working. Gas pumps won't work (no electricity), so leaving the city is not an option. ATM's can't work, so you can't get your cash out. City services, including water and sewer, stop working. Food is gone off the store shelves. Human predators start walking the streets, looking to take what they want from others, be it their property, or their lives.
(If you prefer - Just consider a major earthquake or natural Katrina-like disaster, if that helps you get the idea.)
You are now in fear for your family's safety. Police are NOT available. EMT's aren't available. Gangs of hoodlums are a block away, and you hear breaking glass and people screaming for help. Hordes of hoodlums comb the streets, carrying baseball bats, pieces of steel rebar from a nearby construction site, and knives, and they are coming your way. Your spouse has fear in her/his face. The kids tremble with fear. They are all looking to you ... someone ... to protect them.
Next door to your left, is a very out-spoken anti-gun neighbor, who has always been very adamant about gun control. "It's the Police's job to protect us, people don't need to own guns," has been a common chant of his.
The other neighbor to your right, has NRA stickers on his car windows. In past days, you've smiled and shook your head, as you've often seen him, the "gun nut", leave for the range each week, carrying his cased AR-15 and assorted other firearms, and ammo. You recall one of your conversations with him, an old Vietnam Vet and sport shooter, whom you had just told that you didn't think anyone needed an "assault weapon", and you "weren't interested in joining the NRA".
You don't own a firearm. And now, you have no chance to go buy one, practice with one, or show your family the safe uses of one. So, now ... what are YOU going to do? Are you going to run to the anti-gun neighbor, and hope the "Gun Free Household" sign on his door will protect you?
Or will you be going to your "gun nut" NRA member neighbor to the right, and ask if he could help protect you and your family?
I don't advocate firearms ownership for everybody. Some people will not be responsible enough to learn proper use and care of one. Some too, are simply not able to pull the trigger on another person, even if their own life depended on it. For those people, get a good dog.
Otherwise, I am a firm believer that each of us are our own "first line of defense", and should be prepared to act in the face of threat to your family or yourself. And I highly recommend joining the NRA. The NRA is our single most important advocate for the 2nd amendment, and for personal protection.
By the way, it doesn't take such a dire set of circumstances for that need to protect your family. Victims are made every hour of every day. If nothing else, know this - For all their desires to do otherwise, the Police respond to a call AFTER there has already been someone victimized. For that victim, it is often too late. THAT is where murder trials start from.
If you choose to not own a firearm, that's okay by me. But don't try to impose YOUR choice on me.
So, with all that potential, let's say all hell did brake loose. A nation on our highest alert. Emergency services pushed to their limits. An attack has caused major black-outs of electricity. People panic and start looting the stores. Police are swamped with calls for emergencies. Cell phones quit working. Gas pumps won't work (no electricity), so leaving the city is not an option. ATM's can't work, so you can't get your cash out. City services, including water and sewer, stop working. Food is gone off the store shelves. Human predators start walking the streets, looking to take what they want from others, be it their property, or their lives.
(If you prefer - Just consider a major earthquake or natural Katrina-like disaster, if that helps you get the idea.)
You are now in fear for your family's safety. Police are NOT available. EMT's aren't available. Gangs of hoodlums are a block away, and you hear breaking glass and people screaming for help. Hordes of hoodlums comb the streets, carrying baseball bats, pieces of steel rebar from a nearby construction site, and knives, and they are coming your way. Your spouse has fear in her/his face. The kids tremble with fear. They are all looking to you ... someone ... to protect them.
Next door to your left, is a very out-spoken anti-gun neighbor, who has always been very adamant about gun control. "It's the Police's job to protect us, people don't need to own guns," has been a common chant of his.
The other neighbor to your right, has NRA stickers on his car windows. In past days, you've smiled and shook your head, as you've often seen him, the "gun nut", leave for the range each week, carrying his cased AR-15 and assorted other firearms, and ammo. You recall one of your conversations with him, an old Vietnam Vet and sport shooter, whom you had just told that you didn't think anyone needed an "assault weapon", and you "weren't interested in joining the NRA".
You don't own a firearm. And now, you have no chance to go buy one, practice with one, or show your family the safe uses of one. So, now ... what are YOU going to do? Are you going to run to the anti-gun neighbor, and hope the "Gun Free Household" sign on his door will protect you?
Or will you be going to your "gun nut" NRA member neighbor to the right, and ask if he could help protect you and your family?
I don't advocate firearms ownership for everybody. Some people will not be responsible enough to learn proper use and care of one. Some too, are simply not able to pull the trigger on another person, even if their own life depended on it. For those people, get a good dog.
Otherwise, I am a firm believer that each of us are our own "first line of defense", and should be prepared to act in the face of threat to your family or yourself. And I highly recommend joining the NRA. The NRA is our single most important advocate for the 2nd amendment, and for personal protection.
By the way, it doesn't take such a dire set of circumstances for that need to protect your family. Victims are made every hour of every day. If nothing else, know this - For all their desires to do otherwise, the Police respond to a call AFTER there has already been someone victimized. For that victim, it is often too late. THAT is where murder trials start from.
If you choose to not own a firearm, that's okay by me. But don't try to impose YOUR choice on me.
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