Counterpoint: Don’t let evil win. Put power back in the hands of law-abiding citizens
Today the importance of the Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights is finally becoming real to the citizens of America. Yes, some already knew that, but more than 8 million U.S. citizens only bought their very first gun over the last several years. Why?
Oklahomans are seeing places across the country that are now havens of crime and lawlessness. Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore just to name a few. When criminal acts become accepted, tolerated and even encouraged by political leaders, it’s now up to citizens to protect themselves and their families.
It is no overstatement to say those “new millions” and more added each day now insist on change. Well-intentioned folks in the past put in place legal boundaries, such as the so-called “gun-free zones” and limits like “magazine capacity,” but these restrictions just made it easier for bad folks to do bad things, while at the same time limited the abilities of good folks to defend themselves and their families. They believe, as do I, that this needs to be fixed.
Another take: Point: Lawmakers, don't wait for tragedies; put forth policies to protect us
We are shaken by evil events such as the recent Nashville school shooting that took the lives of three adult staff members and three young students. Within tragedies such as this, often what also happens is the cast of misguided blame. While it is natural to look for the problem and cast blame, far too often we start looking at the things they use, instead of the perpetrator of the crime. The person is 100% responsible for the actions they take. Blaming the many different items used in committing that evil is just plain wrong. When emotions are high, we look to calm chaos around us. If only there were an easy "just do this” or “that,” everything will be fixed. Unfortunately, people are much more complicated than that. Incidences of murder of the innocent happen all around the world. When we debate changing things that affect the atrocious acts, we don’t stop them, we only change the manner in which they are done.
Oklahoma and a growing list of other states are working to put the power back in the hands of the law-abiding citizens, empowering folks so they will not be easier targets or victims. Our elected leaders have close to 100 bills introduced this year to address the multitude of injustices. Will these elected leaders for our state and others get it right every time? No, for that is the nature of humans. They, however, made the decision to serve and fix matters. They were elected and, despite the sacrifice, are striving to do the best they can.
The life journey we are all on is a bumpy one at times. There are those who are misguided at best and deeply evil at worst, using power maliciously in the world we are part of. Selective enforcement, prosecutions and cash free bail, just to name a few, have made the criminal life far easier and, sadly, resulted in lots more victims. Don’t let the misguided and evil win. Get involved, share your voice, vote and remember the Bill of Rights was made for a reason, and you were that reason.
Miles Hall was founder and president of a multi-million-dollar retail store and gun range in Oklahoma for 36 years before selling his business in 2016.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Don’t let evil win. Put power back in hands of law-abiding citizens
