Young adults challenge age-restricted gun bans

When I was a child, I could go to the local Western Auto store and drool over the rifles that were right there in floor-level racks for me to touch. I even bought and used a lot of .22 ammo. 

But, legislators, governors, presidents, and judges have long disrespected the Second Amendment (2A), treating it as the red-headed stepchild of the Bill of Rights. As a result, reams of legislation and court decisions have arisen that have denied citizens their 2A rights one way or another. 

Among these was the Gun Control Act of 1968, signed into law by Lyndon Johnson (D). That law, in addition to other things, created a dealer network, and prohibited dealer sales of long guns and their ammo to those under 18; and handguns and their ammo to those under 21. Dealers were required to keep a record of ammo sales. Being under 21, I could not buy pistol ammo. When I went to buy .22's, I had to state on the form that they were for a rifle. 

That has always stuck in my craw.

Simon says "NO GUNS!"

 You probably heard about the mass shooter who was stopped in 15 seconds by hero Elisjasha Dicken. More details on the chain of events will surely be released as law enforcement completes their investigation. 

Simon Property Group, owner of Greenwood Park Mall, has long posted their properties against weapons. Depending on the state, their weapons ban may or may not carry the force of law. In Indiana, according to several sources, their ban does not carry the force of law; whereas Tennessee bans do, if properties are properly posted. 

In view of the fact that Mr. Dicken was almost universally praised for his heroic action and remarkable marksmanship, I reached out to  Mr. David Simon of Simon Property group, urging him to reconsider their ban. After receiving no reply to an email, I sent Simon a snail-mail letter, reproduced below.* To date, I have not received a reply from him. . . .

I decided to contact Simon Property Group through their web site to a) clarify their weapons policy, and b) ascertain if there is any thought to changing the policy. My correspondence, edited for brevity is included below.**

Memphis murders

 Memphis, with a long history of violence, has received national media attention for a shooting spree in which four people were recently killed and three wounded. 

Just a few days earlier, Memphis jogger Eliza Fletcher had been brutally kidnapped and murdered. The suspect in this crime has additionally been charged in another woman's armed abduction and rape. It remains to be seen if there are other, currently unknown, victims.

Both suspects have been beneficiaries of Tennessee's sport fishing criminal justice system. By creating a system in which judges and parole boards repeatedly turn these societal predators loose on the public, legislators must take some responsibility for their actions.

But, Tennessee's legislature (and most other states') has also made it more feasible to carry a defensive weapon in public, either through shall issue permitting/licensing schemes, or permitless carry.

So, I encourage responsible adults to become your own first-responders. Start to carry a weapon of some sort. 

• Practically all knives* are legal in Tennessee (except where prohibited) . 
• Handguns** may generally be legally carried on the person or in a vehicle (except where prohibited).
• Consider pepper spray, too.

Any defensive weapon choice is a compromise. It seems that smaller and lighter handguns are becoming more popular; and they would be better than a snowball.

Arm up

Train up

Carry on

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*Keep up to date on knife laws with Knife Rights app.

** See Handgunlaw.us or the Legal Heat app.

Are pro-life and pro-gun positions compatible?

 Absolutely!

Here's why -

Let's start with the Declaration of Independence, which is available to read HERE. 

The second sentence of the Declaration reads,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

 It mentions three unalienable rights:

1. Life

2. Liberty

3. the pursuit of Happiness

I will only discuss the first one here. It is relatively easy to define, and the other two can have  potentially unlimited definitions.

Life (noun): the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.1

Life in this discussion then applies to all human beings (men, mankind, humankind), wherever situated, at whatever age, from conception until natural death. The pro-life and pro-gun positions generally adhere to the following definitions:

Pro-life (adj): the belief that all human life is created equal regardless of size, level of development, education, and degree of dependency.2 

Pro-gun (adj): favoring the right to own guns and opposing legislation restricting this right.3

Why are the pro-life and pro-gun positions compatible? 

Commonsense gun laws

 My friend John Richardson over at No Lawyers - Only Guns and Money has an interesting take on "Commonsense Gun Laws" - - -

"The cult of personality known as Giffords is making an effort to get gun owners onboard with their organization. They are calling it Gun Owners for Safety. I think you even get a fancy t-shirt like the one below.

I think when you get down to it that I and most of my readers do actually support commonsense gun laws.

Here are some of the commonsense gun laws I could and would support:

Removal of suppressors from the NFA. (Read the rest of John's post HERE)

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

I have often wondered how Republicans seem to be so adept at snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory. Now I know.

Today (8/9/22) on Fox and Friends, I heard Dan Bongino say, "If you remember this you will never be disappointed. Most Republicans on Capitol Hill are really Democrats. 

However, no Democrats on Capitol Hill, NONE, are really Republicans!"

The same can be said for the State Legislature in Tennessee. . . . and other states (looking at you, Florida!).