Tweet
I didn't know where else to put this, if it should be in another place, feel free to move it.
This is a letter that I recently wrote, and sent off to my Congresswoman. I fully expect that it was trashed by some minimum-wage aide as soon as it arrived in her inbox. But it felt good writing it, and sending it off nonetheless.
The op-Ed that it is referring to was discussed before, but here is my own response to it.
Not only do I donate to Calguns, I also haven't missed and election since I turned 18, and I also write to my representatives as well.
Please feel free to critique it, I'm always open to constructive criticisms...
This is a letter that I recently wrote, and sent off to my Congresswoman. I fully expect that it was trashed by some minimum-wage aide as soon as it arrived in her inbox. But it felt good writing it, and sending it off nonetheless.
The op-Ed that it is referring to was discussed before, but here is my own response to it.
Not only do I donate to Calguns, I also haven't missed and election since I turned 18, and I also write to my representatives as well.
Please feel free to critique it, I'm always open to constructive criticisms...
Dear Congresswoman Speier,
I am writing to you in regards to a recent Op-Ed that you penned.
In short, Congresswoman, please stop tap-dancing on the coffins of the young victims of Newtown.
You say: "The NRA leadership would like nothing better than for us to forget the image of 20 tiny coffins in Newtown, Conn..." That couldn't be further from the truth, Congresswoman. The NRA has been at the forefront of gun safety since its founding in 1871.
The NRA is one of the few organizations in our nation that recognizes the reality of guns in our society, and has actively worked for, and championed, gun safety. The NRA has set up programs that range from the "Eddie Eagle" program, teaching young children to not touch guns and to find an adult, to hour-long classes that teach individuals how to become range safety officers for gun ranges.
You also state: "We measure the unspeakable in numbers. There is a mass shooting somewhere in America every two weeks..."
How do you measure a "mass shooting", where is the cutoff for the statistics that you are using for that statement? Of those victims of "mass shootings", how many of them were affiliated with violent street gangs? Of those victims, how many were killed with guns bought legally verses illegally?
You also state: "Between 10,000 and 11,000 Americans die from gun shots every year. Every day, 32 people are killed by bullets."
Every death is tragic, but those numbers are 10 times less than medical malpractice each year:
"An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors..."
There are about 115 deaths each day from car crashes, along with 42,000 deaths from car accidents each year as well.
One is more likely to die in a car, or on an operating table than from a firearm in their lifetime.
The victims in Newtown, Conn did not have to die.
The Federal Government, of which you are an employee, prevented the teachers from being armed, and being able to defend themselves and their precious students thanks to the Federal Gun Free School Act of 1990.
You, along with your colleagues in both the House of Representatives as well as the Senate, must assume your share of the responsibility for the tragedy at Newtown, Congresswoman.
Lawyers are allowed to possess weapons to defend themselves in their officers. Doctors are allowed to possess weapons to protect themselves in their officers. Store owners are allowed to carry weapons to protect themselves in their stores. Teachers, the last line of defense for our children, are not allowed to possess weapons to protect their themselves or their students, Congresswoman.
It is a national disgrace that we protect slips of green pieces of paper with the pictures of dead men on them with more security than we do our own children. We protect shiny gold and silver rocks in the shapes of squares with more security than we protect our children.
You also write:
"We need to pass a universal background check, a ban on large magazines, a ban on assault weapons, crack down on gun trafficking, remove the handcuffs on law enforcement, remove the gag order on gun safety research, keep illegal and unwanted guns off the streets, invest in gun safety technology research and development, close the holes in our mental health system and take steps to enhance school safety."
I will deal with each of your suggestions in turn:
"We need to pass a universal background check..."
This is an unworkable proposition. Criminals have never undergone background checks since they were instituted, and they won't undergo them when they are made mandatory by the stroke of a pen.
"a ban on large magazines..."
The magazine size makes no difference to criminals. Cho, the shooter at Virginia Tech did not use "large capacity magazines" nor did the shooters at Columbine. One can reload a 10 round magazine just as fast as reloading 30 round magazines. 30-round magazines are also in "common use", being the most common magazines for the most common type of firearm, the AR-15, in the nation, and are therefore protected by the Heller decision of the US Supreme Court.
"a ban on assault weapons..."
The DOJ's own study of Assault Weapons Ban from 1994-2004 stated that it had no effect. Crime was already falling before it came into effect. It also did nothing to prevent the North Hollywood shootout, nor the shooting at Columbine.
"crack down on gun trafficking..."
May I suggest you first turn to Attorney General Holder and President Obama and question them about operation Fast and Furious? It is ridiculous to talk about gun trafficking, when our own government are allowing Mexican Drug Cartel members to buy guns, over the objections of gun store owners mind you, and allow them to turn around and use those guns to shoot our own Border Patrol Agents like Brian Terry.
"remove the handcuffs on law enforcement..."
Those "handcuffs on Law enforcement", also called the US Bill of Rights, are there for a reason, Congresswoman. Police cannot just kick down doors whenever they feel like it, and they likewise cannot just open fire on two women in a car who are mistaken for a 6 foot tall african american former member of the LAPD. We can no more ignore the 2nd or the 4th Amendment to our Constitution than we can ignore the 3rd, the 5th or the 6th or any other part of the Bill of Rights. To do so would make the US nothing more than a two-bit banana republic.
I pray that that is is not your intention to begin repealing other parts of the Bill of Rights, Congresswoman.
"remove the gag order on gun safety research..."
Guns are safe, Congresswoman. Modern firearms are made to such a high degree of precision, that they will fire only when the safety is off, and the trigger is pulled. Are there mistakes in the manufacturing process? Yes, like any other mechanical device it can break and malfunction. But those are extremely rare, and thanks to the amount of regulation that the firearm industry has, the quality control operators in the factories where guns are assembled are highly trained, and qualified men and women who know exactly what to look for. Thankfully, we also have groups like the NRA which emphasis gun safety, Congresswoman, as another level of safety.
"keep illegal and unwanted guns off the streets..."
Again, please refer back to the botched program by the name of "Fast and Furious". It would be great if the Federal Government did something about that program, and brought those responsible to justice.
"invest in gun safety technology research and development..."
Guns are safe, Congresswoman, it is the user which is the cause of 100% of gun fatalities. Adding more gun safety technology would be redundant at this point, and the technology would be cost prohibitive, and subject to failure as well with the type of high-stresses that guns undergo when they are fired.
"close the holes in our mental health system..."
This is the one suggestion that I, and all guns owners can get behind 100%. The Newtown shooter needed to be on medication, under observation, and maybe even committed to a mental facility. Those are something that our tax dollars should be going towards. While you are at it, you can also start helping our veterans who are currently killing themselves faster than the Hajjis in Iraq and Afghanistan ever could.
"take steps to enhance school safety..."
Adding armed guards in schools, such as we have in banks, in office buildings, and your own buildings run by the federal government would be an excellent start, Congresswoman. Allowing teachers to carry weapons so that another Newtown is prevent would be another way to keep our children safe.
In conclusion, Congresswoman, your Op-Ed is full of Argumentum ad Populum, which is something that I would not accept in a paper from a Freshman in college. You are demonizing guns and gun owners in your Op-Ed, many of whom are your constituents, and who vote. We do not appreciate being painted with the same brush as the Newtown Monster. Your proposition are borderline unconstitutional, and with the exception of one, would have done nothing to prevent the Newtown Shooter.
Kind Regards,
OneLoneShooter
I am writing to you in regards to a recent Op-Ed that you penned.
In short, Congresswoman, please stop tap-dancing on the coffins of the young victims of Newtown.
You say: "The NRA leadership would like nothing better than for us to forget the image of 20 tiny coffins in Newtown, Conn..." That couldn't be further from the truth, Congresswoman. The NRA has been at the forefront of gun safety since its founding in 1871.
The NRA is one of the few organizations in our nation that recognizes the reality of guns in our society, and has actively worked for, and championed, gun safety. The NRA has set up programs that range from the "Eddie Eagle" program, teaching young children to not touch guns and to find an adult, to hour-long classes that teach individuals how to become range safety officers for gun ranges.
You also state: "We measure the unspeakable in numbers. There is a mass shooting somewhere in America every two weeks..."
How do you measure a "mass shooting", where is the cutoff for the statistics that you are using for that statement? Of those victims of "mass shootings", how many of them were affiliated with violent street gangs? Of those victims, how many were killed with guns bought legally verses illegally?
You also state: "Between 10,000 and 11,000 Americans die from gun shots every year. Every day, 32 people are killed by bullets."
Every death is tragic, but those numbers are 10 times less than medical malpractice each year:
"An average of 195,000 people in the USA died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors..."
There are about 115 deaths each day from car crashes, along with 42,000 deaths from car accidents each year as well.
One is more likely to die in a car, or on an operating table than from a firearm in their lifetime.
The victims in Newtown, Conn did not have to die.
The Federal Government, of which you are an employee, prevented the teachers from being armed, and being able to defend themselves and their precious students thanks to the Federal Gun Free School Act of 1990.
You, along with your colleagues in both the House of Representatives as well as the Senate, must assume your share of the responsibility for the tragedy at Newtown, Congresswoman.
Lawyers are allowed to possess weapons to defend themselves in their officers. Doctors are allowed to possess weapons to protect themselves in their officers. Store owners are allowed to carry weapons to protect themselves in their stores. Teachers, the last line of defense for our children, are not allowed to possess weapons to protect their themselves or their students, Congresswoman.
It is a national disgrace that we protect slips of green pieces of paper with the pictures of dead men on them with more security than we do our own children. We protect shiny gold and silver rocks in the shapes of squares with more security than we protect our children.
You also write:
"We need to pass a universal background check, a ban on large magazines, a ban on assault weapons, crack down on gun trafficking, remove the handcuffs on law enforcement, remove the gag order on gun safety research, keep illegal and unwanted guns off the streets, invest in gun safety technology research and development, close the holes in our mental health system and take steps to enhance school safety."
I will deal with each of your suggestions in turn:
"We need to pass a universal background check..."
This is an unworkable proposition. Criminals have never undergone background checks since they were instituted, and they won't undergo them when they are made mandatory by the stroke of a pen.
"a ban on large magazines..."
The magazine size makes no difference to criminals. Cho, the shooter at Virginia Tech did not use "large capacity magazines" nor did the shooters at Columbine. One can reload a 10 round magazine just as fast as reloading 30 round magazines. 30-round magazines are also in "common use", being the most common magazines for the most common type of firearm, the AR-15, in the nation, and are therefore protected by the Heller decision of the US Supreme Court.
"a ban on assault weapons..."
The DOJ's own study of Assault Weapons Ban from 1994-2004 stated that it had no effect. Crime was already falling before it came into effect. It also did nothing to prevent the North Hollywood shootout, nor the shooting at Columbine.
"crack down on gun trafficking..."
May I suggest you first turn to Attorney General Holder and President Obama and question them about operation Fast and Furious? It is ridiculous to talk about gun trafficking, when our own government are allowing Mexican Drug Cartel members to buy guns, over the objections of gun store owners mind you, and allow them to turn around and use those guns to shoot our own Border Patrol Agents like Brian Terry.
"remove the handcuffs on law enforcement..."
Those "handcuffs on Law enforcement", also called the US Bill of Rights, are there for a reason, Congresswoman. Police cannot just kick down doors whenever they feel like it, and they likewise cannot just open fire on two women in a car who are mistaken for a 6 foot tall african american former member of the LAPD. We can no more ignore the 2nd or the 4th Amendment to our Constitution than we can ignore the 3rd, the 5th or the 6th or any other part of the Bill of Rights. To do so would make the US nothing more than a two-bit banana republic.
I pray that that is is not your intention to begin repealing other parts of the Bill of Rights, Congresswoman.
"remove the gag order on gun safety research..."
Guns are safe, Congresswoman. Modern firearms are made to such a high degree of precision, that they will fire only when the safety is off, and the trigger is pulled. Are there mistakes in the manufacturing process? Yes, like any other mechanical device it can break and malfunction. But those are extremely rare, and thanks to the amount of regulation that the firearm industry has, the quality control operators in the factories where guns are assembled are highly trained, and qualified men and women who know exactly what to look for. Thankfully, we also have groups like the NRA which emphasis gun safety, Congresswoman, as another level of safety.
"keep illegal and unwanted guns off the streets..."
Again, please refer back to the botched program by the name of "Fast and Furious". It would be great if the Federal Government did something about that program, and brought those responsible to justice.
"invest in gun safety technology research and development..."
Guns are safe, Congresswoman, it is the user which is the cause of 100% of gun fatalities. Adding more gun safety technology would be redundant at this point, and the technology would be cost prohibitive, and subject to failure as well with the type of high-stresses that guns undergo when they are fired.
"close the holes in our mental health system..."
This is the one suggestion that I, and all guns owners can get behind 100%. The Newtown shooter needed to be on medication, under observation, and maybe even committed to a mental facility. Those are something that our tax dollars should be going towards. While you are at it, you can also start helping our veterans who are currently killing themselves faster than the Hajjis in Iraq and Afghanistan ever could.
"take steps to enhance school safety..."
Adding armed guards in schools, such as we have in banks, in office buildings, and your own buildings run by the federal government would be an excellent start, Congresswoman. Allowing teachers to carry weapons so that another Newtown is prevent would be another way to keep our children safe.
In conclusion, Congresswoman, your Op-Ed is full of Argumentum ad Populum, which is something that I would not accept in a paper from a Freshman in college. You are demonizing guns and gun owners in your Op-Ed, many of whom are your constituents, and who vote. We do not appreciate being painted with the same brush as the Newtown Monster. Your proposition are borderline unconstitutional, and with the exception of one, would have done nothing to prevent the Newtown Shooter.
Kind Regards,
OneLoneShooter
Comment