AN OPEN LETTER TO: Chuck Schumer, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer,
Dick Durbin, Frank Lautenberg, Michael Bloomberg, the Violence Policy Center, the Brady Campaign, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others pushing for the elimination of 2nd Amendment Rights:
Just after graduating from College in 1968, I volunteered for service in the United States Army. As an American Citizen, I felt it was my duty and an honor to serve my country.
The Army trained me to be a killer. It put automatic weapons in my hand and taught me how to utilize them to its full potential and then sent me to a far away land (Vietnam) to kill its inhabitants. Was it the weapons that directed the firepower or was it the Government that directed me and my comrades to kill as we had been trained to do?
In 2001, Terrorist struck on our soil killing thousands of innocent people. Once again, I served my country by becoming a Federal Flight Deck Officer while in the employ of a U.S. Civil Air Carrier. I was issued a semi-automatic handgun by the U.S. Government and trained to kill terrorist in a close quarters combat situation.
My point; it appears to be OK to protect ourselves and the citizens of these United States with the blessing of the U.S. Government but some of our lawmakers (U.S. Government) do not find it necessary for law abiding citizens to individually protect themselves with firearms. Making guns illegal to own would have to be followed with making it illegal to own an automobile because without a doubt, more people are killed each year by automobile than with a firearm. Further, the old cliché is absolutely right: When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
As the bearer of a Concealed Weapons Permit (CCW), I have been background checked by the FBI and Local Authorities, even though I have had a Secret Clearance while in the service of the Government. As with nearly all holders of a Concealed Weapons Permit, I take my responsibility seriously, have and will take continuing gun educational classes and practice marksmanship on a regular basis. My greatest hope is that I will never have to use my weapon to defend the life of a loved one and/or my own. I refuse to become a victim, as I would be defenseless as a law-abiding citizen if my gun rights were to be taken from me.
The law of averages dictate that there will be the occasional accident. However, I refer you back to the number of people that are injured, maimed, and killed each year on our nation’s highways.
I urge you to reconsider your position on gun rights. Push for enforcement of current legislation, not make more restrictions so honest, law-abiding citizens will be forced into being outlaws because they refuse to give up their means of protection. Endorse and approve full reciprocity for legal gun owners to protect themselves throughout these United States the same way a citizen can legally drive his car from State to State.
Respectfully and Sincerely,
Mark Schwartz
Dick Durbin, Frank Lautenberg, Michael Bloomberg, the Violence Policy Center, the Brady Campaign, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others pushing for the elimination of 2nd Amendment Rights:
Just after graduating from College in 1968, I volunteered for service in the United States Army. As an American Citizen, I felt it was my duty and an honor to serve my country.
The Army trained me to be a killer. It put automatic weapons in my hand and taught me how to utilize them to its full potential and then sent me to a far away land (Vietnam) to kill its inhabitants. Was it the weapons that directed the firepower or was it the Government that directed me and my comrades to kill as we had been trained to do?
In 2001, Terrorist struck on our soil killing thousands of innocent people. Once again, I served my country by becoming a Federal Flight Deck Officer while in the employ of a U.S. Civil Air Carrier. I was issued a semi-automatic handgun by the U.S. Government and trained to kill terrorist in a close quarters combat situation.
My point; it appears to be OK to protect ourselves and the citizens of these United States with the blessing of the U.S. Government but some of our lawmakers (U.S. Government) do not find it necessary for law abiding citizens to individually protect themselves with firearms. Making guns illegal to own would have to be followed with making it illegal to own an automobile because without a doubt, more people are killed each year by automobile than with a firearm. Further, the old cliché is absolutely right: When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
As the bearer of a Concealed Weapons Permit (CCW), I have been background checked by the FBI and Local Authorities, even though I have had a Secret Clearance while in the service of the Government. As with nearly all holders of a Concealed Weapons Permit, I take my responsibility seriously, have and will take continuing gun educational classes and practice marksmanship on a regular basis. My greatest hope is that I will never have to use my weapon to defend the life of a loved one and/or my own. I refuse to become a victim, as I would be defenseless as a law-abiding citizen if my gun rights were to be taken from me.
The law of averages dictate that there will be the occasional accident. However, I refer you back to the number of people that are injured, maimed, and killed each year on our nation’s highways.
I urge you to reconsider your position on gun rights. Push for enforcement of current legislation, not make more restrictions so honest, law-abiding citizens will be forced into being outlaws because they refuse to give up their means of protection. Endorse and approve full reciprocity for legal gun owners to protect themselves throughout these United States the same way a citizen can legally drive his car from State to State.
Respectfully and Sincerely,
Mark Schwartz