December 16, 2012
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DO NOT tell me I don’t NEED a gun!
I love my kids! I love the 6 year old boy sitting in the chair with me. THIS is a great age! My favorite age, I think. He is currently telling me how to spell certain words. I love this bossy child.
There was a senseless shooting of 20 precious 6 year olds a few days ago. I say senseless because it doesn’t make any sense, it just doesn’t. Lots of people blame guns in an effort to make sense of it. I tend to think there is a terrible problem with mental illness and there are too many people untreated. 20+ elementary children in China were stabbed by a man the same day. Crazy will find a way. It is my opinion, the focus needs to be on helping the mentally ill…resources for good mental health are so slim. People need to slow down and be kind to one another. The world can be a stressful place and it causes people to CRACK. Like I said and like the Chinse man made clear, guns or no guns, crazy will.find.a.way.
Besides, we NEED guns down here in Texas. Border violence is spreading north…and it seems like the media and the majority of America has turned a blind eye. These aren’t crazy, sick, gun wielding people causing problems down here. They are hard core, stone-cold, killers. To a lot of Mexican bandits, life is assigned little to no value. It’s not uncommon for a 12 year old boy in Mexico to take a life and feel NO REMORSE.
In northern Mexico, a personal friend had his truck stolen from him at gun point. This same man’s son was also murdered…because he refused to let the cartel take his land in Mexico. The cartel has the land now. I hear stories like this all of the time. Everyone here knows someone, who was affected by border violence. Mexican bandits chop the heads and limbs off of women & children like it’s common place. The violence has spread to south Texas. AMERICANS, of all races, that stand in the way of a Mexican drug cartel are faced with REAL THREATS to the lives of their family. It’s freaking scary. Not much at all is being done about it. Hell, we rarely get more of a blip about it on the news and we live damn close to the violence. It will take a mass casualty to make the rest of America wake up and realize there is a real, BIG, PROBLEM at the Mexican border.
In my hometown, a man was murdered, had his hands chopped off, and left in a field a few years ago. It was cartel related. The murderer is found…she happened to live next door to one of my best friends & across the street from another one. Guess what? She is out on bond for the holidays. She does drugs. She is a murderer. Screw you, if you don’t think my friends shouldn’t have the right to continue being responsible gun owners. The justice system lets a killer come home for the holidays.
Until something is done about violence down here, you’ll be hard pressed for my family to EVER give up our right to bear arms. EVER. In the town where I work, an illegal Mexican man was picked up and deported for trying to lure young boys into his van. A man in this town was doing business near the border, he refused to give the cartel what they wanted. They took his daughter and held her ransom until he paid them $20K. They told him where in Mexico to find his 8 yr. old daughter, he found her headless.
If I lived 200 miles south, the threat of a mexican bandit coming into my home and murdering my family would be very, very REAL. And like I said, the violence is creeping north. Unless something is done, I fully expect that threat to be very real here in the next few years. I don’t personally know anyone who doesn’t have a fire-arm in this area. If someone were to ever, EVER, EVER, EVER come to my home and threaten the lives of MY adorable SIX YEAROLD, MY precious THREE YEAR OLD they would have to get through my husband & I first.
That’s nice that Australia & Canada don’t have to worry about violence from an unsecure border spilling into their country full of un-armed citizens. If American’s didn’t have our right to bear arms…I believe the border violence would be MUCH, MUCH further north.
In response to all of the articles, posts, blogs, Twitter messages about banning the right to bear arms. I say step out of the picturesque, predominantly safe world you live in and move down here. Right here in America, I can take you places to change your mind. Where it’s not American gangs who could actually be affected by the ban of guns that make you scared. But where soul-less eyed, illegal immigrants who can NOT be affected by anti-firearm legislation can make you piss your pants with a cold glare . I can make you second guess your opinion that all of us American cowboys ought not own guns…and make you wish you had one, too.
I hate that crazy Americans can get their hands on guns and can do horrific things. I can see how you see something like what happened in CT and scream for gun control. I honestly get it. But it’s not that simple. Yeah, if it were a country like America that shared our southern border. I might, just might agree with you whole heartedly. But we border Mexico people, and it’s a different world. A much, much different world. Oh you say you took a cruise to Cozumel or spent a week in Cancun and know all about Mexico? You don’t. You don’t know a damn thing about Mexico if you’re basing it off of your vacation to the Yucatan. Ha, take a vacation to Juarez, and IF you live to tell about it, then I will agree you know all about Mexico.
Not all gun owners and supporters of the NRA are gun-toting hillbillies who are pushing for the continuance of their way of life. For me and my family, owning a gun isn’t just about being sportsmen and preserving time honored traditions. My American brothers & sisters who live FAR from the violence taking place on OUR SOIL need a good education. Until something big and awful happens to put it on your t.v. screens you will never, fully comprehend why I will give portions of our HARD, EARNED money to the NRA to keep lobbying for MY right, my NEED to have fire arms.
(In addition, not all illegal immigrants are bad and associated with the cartels. Many of them are trying to escape the horror they face in their daily lives. They are simply refugees and I welcome those folks with open arms.)
Comments (19)
I am up here in the Panhandle, Amarillo and the illegals are running over us
Whoa there!!! In all the discussion, I’ve not heard a preponderance of people saying you can’t have your guns. It seems the conversation is much more about what type of guns, how much ammunition in a magazine, and so on. As time goes on, the discussion will likely expand to include such things as mental health and media coverage, all part of the controlled usage of guns.
@TexasTidbits - It’s shocking sometimes.
@slmret - Hey lady!
There have been a select few comments and articles that obviously fired me up. I’m most bothered by huge influx of flippant, arrogant comments that basically say people who don’t own guns are superior and more sophisticated human beings than gun owners. I’m very angry with comments that insinuate gun owners are ignorant. I despise the large number of comments that say hunters are uncivilized.
I used to be a far right republican. However, I realized that you can’t just view issues from your point of view. I actually consider people on both sides of most all issues these days. I no longer have blinders on and I do my best to see both sides of all issues. I’ve been infuriated by people on the left that wear blinders regarding this issue and make it a black and white problem. It ISN’T black and white and further regulation ISN’T going to fix gun violence at this particular place in time. I’m sick of people ignoring border violence…which is the #1 reason my husband & I possess weapons of all sorts. I wrote this post because I feel passionate about it and because I want people, even if it’s my grandchildren, to just CONSIDER my point of view. The majority of comments I read today give no CONSIDERATION to gun owners point of view…only what they think gun owners think.
I personally feel increased gun control laws will simply increase trade on the black market. I’m so over increased regulation of almost everything these days . Where are the funds going to come from to pay for big brother to further regulate gun control? Our country can’t operate in the black as it is. As a state, Texas does and one of the reasons for our economic success is that the state government doesn’t legislate the hell out of the residents.
I’m not saying increased gun control, registration processes, and what not aren’t warranted, my friend. But my goodness, we have bigger fish to fry. Spend that money on health care and make it less easy for the mentally ill to slip through the cracks. CT has fairly strict laws regarding firearms and it didn’t stop Friday from happening. What happened in CT struck a huge chord for me and I shed tears. People say that they can’t imagine but they do…I’ve imagined what it would be like not to pick up MY six year old…and it makes my stomach churn and my heart ache. There aren’t easy answers to how it happened and there certainly aren’t easy answers to fix it. It’s a crying shame there aren’t. I understand why people want to ban guns, or ban certain guns, or make big brother pry into your life history before being able to own a gun…I’ve thought about it. I just want people to actually think and simply CONSIDER why some of us “rednecks” aren’t so quick to jump on the bandwagon. I sincerely appreciate you considering me and my point of view, nothing but love for you!
@whit1980 - Whew — I’m so glad you took my comment as I meant it! I think your last paragraph in this response says it all — yes, we need to spend the money on mental health issues, and the media needs to STOP the sensationalism of their 24/7 reporting. In my mind, “gun control” means a much broader approach than just banning guns, as my last sentence says — and perhaps it’s even a misnomer. I do think there are cracks that need to be tightened (for example, what civilian needs to carry around 60+ rounds of ammo, or to be able to shoot them off in 2 minutes, and why do we really need to know every detail as it happens or doesn’t, rather than summary articles, unless we are directly affected?) — and perhaps if we had less instantaneous “information,” we might not have had an interrupted mass in Newtown, or a shooting last night in an upscale mall near my home (fortunately nobody injured). BTW, in So Cal, the illegal immigration issue revolves around panga boats (large dinghies) being used for drug or human smuggling — they’re finding groups of cold wet people, or empty panga boats as far north as 300 miles from the border. Fortunately, though, the drug wars have not come this far, and I had no idea it was that bad in southern TX (and I might even consider owning a gun if I lived in that environment)! Your post, and this response are very well thought out, and a much appreciated view of th eneed to bear arms! I, too, have shed many tears over the weekend — even without kids of my own, it is unfathomable to me that this tragedy could have happened in this country, and I think everybody in the country lost innocence on Friday!
On a different note, it’s been a while — I hope you and your little ones are doing well — and your mom, too! Happy holidays to you all!
Oh I think I may have touched a nerve…
I obviously know nothing about your living environment. You are in Texas, I live in Ontario Canada…What do I know? I learned a lot from your very well written post.
Well BFF, I do know this…YOU SHOULD MOVE!! If your environment is that unsafe, then fuck it, and get the hell out. I don’t care about jobs or careers, if you’re living in a fear filled environment where you NEED a gun…then get the hell out. You want to bring up your gorgeous kiddies in that situation? Seriously?
My love to you and your extended family…Merry Christmas!
I Love You So Stinkin Much!!!! We got your package in the mail yesterday, if your going to move anywhere you should move to cave town, just think of the money you’d save on postage and the hugs and kisses and love you’d be the recipient of. I believe in the right to bear arms, I also don’t think a ban on guns would solve any problems, the problem as you so well put is way bigger than gun control. Hug the kiddo’s for me!
Great post I totally agree with you and I know in your area guns are for protection the cartels are a real live dangerous problem and I agree if I were to have a real threat to my family I would use many means I had to protect them…I do know how to use a gun and we do have them but ya know I hope like crazy they do not become a needed thing to be safe…
I truly believe that people with mental health problems should be cared for… and if the government wants to do something good and healthy for our country they should have a way people can get help without going bankrupt…
As far as poltical opinions go, i pretty much follow my liberal colleagues. But not on gun control. Maybe because i was brought up around them, taught to take them apart and shoot and clean them, and taught gun safety, or how to have respect for a dangerous machine like a gun. The only difference, i guess, is that i never developed a superstitious fear of them.
Yes, there are times when you absolutely have to have a gun to protect you and yours; in fact it would be irresponsible not to. If i lived where you do i’d really need a gun. And sometimes moving somewhere else is simply not an option.
@SisterMae - amen!
After reading some other forums, blogs, and comments about “gun control” in America, it dawned on me that perhaps a great number of people do not know or understand the federal gun control laws that are already on the books. So here is a but a tiny minimalistic peek.
It is against federal law to sell a gun (except at gun shows/swaps) without completing a form 4473 on which a significant amount of personal biographical information is provided about the purchaser. Then, law enforcement must be notified, and at law enforcement’s discretion they may do a background check, approve, or disapprove the purchase within a certain number of days/hours.
By federal law it is illegal for any gun store to sell guns to:
1) anyone but the actual end owner of the gun (you cannot buy a gun “for” someone else)
2) anyone under indictment for a felony
3) anyone convicted of a felony
4) a fugitive
5) a current user of illegal drugs
6) anyone who is or was mentally ill
7) anyone dishonorably discharged from any armed forces branch
8) anyone having a restraining order against them
9) anyone ever convicted of domestic violence, including hitting a spouse or child
10) anyone who has renounced their US citizenship
11) any illegal resident in the US
Moreover, fully automatic weapons (i.e. machine guns where you pull the trigger once to fire multiple bullets) require a stringent federal license application, review, and approval process lasting about a year and including a substantial amount of money (generally several hundreds of dollars).
Generally, semi-automatic weapons (pull the trigger once to fire one bullet, then the gun places the next bullet in position and awaits another trigger pull) are regulated by the various states, most of whom outlaw semi-automatic rifles for use in public hunting sports while allowing them for use on private grounds and at shooting ranges.
Single shot weapons (which require the user to manually move the next bullet into position before pulling the trigger…like bolt action or lever action rifles and revolver handguns) have the least number of restrictions on them in use state by state.
Fnally, the US constitution guarantees the right to citizens in good legal standing to not only own firearms, but to bear them (i.e. use them) wihout infringement but within certain limits. To place a virtual ban on guns (such as England and Australia have done) will first require changing the constitution in order to make such a move constitutionally legal. I am not in favor of tampering with the Bill of Rights while the current administration is in office.
I know it’s bad down there, but Ididn’t know it was that bad, just like I knew that children are being drugged by the school system in concert with psychologists and doctors, but I didn’t know how bad until I spent most of yesterday doing research because of the shooting. It’s impossible to keep up with everything that’s going on these days and especially if it’s not mentioned on the regular news, you may never hear of it. I used to hear more about the situation near the border a while back, but it’s faded from the news. Most Americans have no idea how bad it is down there and probably don’t care. I retired a few months ago and since then I’ve spent major portions of my days educating myself to what’s going on behind the day to day workings of life in this country. I live in northeastern Ohio and I’ve watched this area go to hell in a handbasket since the ’70s. We didn’t lock our doors when I was young and we played freely in the neighboorhood. Now there’re kids breaking into homes everyday, stealing stuff and stripping metal off of things to sell for drug money, shootings every other day in the larger towns and rampant drug use. Down there isn’t the only place were there are beheadings…it’s happened here too. Some years ago, it became crystal clear to me what the situation was and got my first gun. Seems to me that there a very few, if any, places left in this country where you can live where you won’t need a gun sooner or later. Be safe.
@Bricker59 - My darlin’…your post was so mild in comparison to other comments, blogs, media reports etc! Like I told Janet, I really just wanted people to consider the other side. While we certainly don’t live in fear every day, we are cautious. I’m very wary when we travel to a certain town 70 miles south. My husband has turned very, very lucrative job offers in south Texas. I wouldn’t mind being closer to the gulf…but losing peace of mind isn’t worth it. I’m afraid if we moved each time the violence moved closer we would end up being your neighbor!
This is home and my town is safe in comparison to others in the area, one of the advantages of living in a small community. I love you! I’m hoping to get my cards in the mail tomorrow or Friday…I’m running soooo behind this year.
@mlbncsga - The only place I want to move is Wheeler…but you’ve got a great sales pitch!
Wait, I take that back…I’d move to the beach in a hot minute! I can’t imagine what a laid back person I would be if I lived by the ocean. I wish we could all be together for Xmas. I told Lanette that I haven’t been in the spirit this year and needed a big dose of familia. However, since ya’ll aren’t going I think we’re going to stay here and relax. I love you!
@whit1980 - I’m pretty sure my holiday spirit is in Wheeler this year too, it helps some that Nash is so excited. Sarah and her new bf are coming in the 26th so we’ll do a late Christmas…If you move to the beach I’ll come too.
thank you so much for always making my christmas so special, you and Bam are my hero’s =) Nash is amazed at the star fish on my wrist and finger… we need a trip to the land of salt and sand! ILYM so much M
In France guns are forbidden excepted for the hunters with a permit .
Each country has its traditions . In France the government has fear for long from armed people because we had in the history three bloody revolutions . Even the militaries out of service have no right to wear a weapon..
I hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
Love
Michel
YOU are part of the PROBLEM. Calling mentally ill people “crazy”. There is this bullshit thing called stigma. There is SO MUCH stigma in this country too many people go untreated because of the fear of being called crazy. Mentally ill people aren’t crazy. I challenge you to meet someone who has a mental illness and become their friend you will find THEY ARE HUMAN and NO DIFFERENT than you. Mental illness is no different than any other illness and therefore should not be treated any differently by society and so harshly judged. So stop being part of the problem. Stop spreading the stigma and making mentally ill feel likek they can’t get help for fear of being labeled “Crazy” “different”‘ etc.
@thatiskittytoyou - Thank you so much for your comment. I did not EVER intend to refer to mentally ill people as crazy, honestly. Please don’t read too much into it. I was very upset with people not understanding my point of view. What I was trying to say is that down here, the drug cartels are NOT mentally ill. It’s just a fact of life for these bandits…and to me that is freaking crazy! I have friends (plural) and family that have been diagnosed with mental illness and believe me, it isn’t just depression I’m talking about. I LOVE those friends & family. I myself had a long battle with depression. I swear to you, I don’t view the mentally ill as crazy AT ALL. I’m also a nurse and work with many people who have mental illness. NOT ONCE, not one single solitary time have I referred to my patients, friends, or family as crazy. I still refer to that period of my life as when I went “crazy.” And when I was suffering I would call myself “crazy.” Therefore, I get your point and understand your sensitivity. I will watch how I refer to myself during that time from now on. I was very embarrassed and only let close family and friends in…well, I also blogged about it here to my friends to try and work through it. I firmly believe there is not enough support from the gov’t for the mentally ill. There needs to be more public education for the general population and much, much more support and treatment for those who suffer. That’s why the push for gun control was so upsetting because I could see how much money and resources that would go into that…when people in my area have a legitimate NEED for a weapon. The gov’t should instead use the money & resources to HELP the mentally ill, instead. AND again, down here it isn’t the mentally ill people I’m fearful of…it’s the freaking cartel. Thanks again for your feedback. I apologize for offending any mentally ill person, it was NOT the intent of this post.
@whit1980 -
Oh my apologies then. And you are right there isn’t enough support. That is what I’ve been saying since the tragedy happened it’s not about guns its the lack of care that those who need it most aren’t getting. And I also understand the drug cartels and violence. I’m in Texas too so I understand it’s a very scary thing living close to the border. Luckly I’m more north east and we don’t see so much of the drug cartel related violence. But I can understand needing to protect yourself and your children living down south near the border. And I wasn’t saying take away the right to protect yourself. It’s just this countries mental health system is a freaking joke. And those who don’t have money and are suffering are the ones who end up slipping through the cracks and then end up acting out. Once again my apologies. I didn’t mean to be so rude and harsh. I really took it the wrong way.
@thatiskittytoyou - No worries! It’s hard to convey meaning with the written word only! Do I ever understand about people slipping through the cracks. It’s VERY upsetting. No doubt the kid in CT was one of the mentally ill people who slipped through the cracks. Our society & gov’t fails these people.every.single.day. It’s just sad and frustrating.