Don't Shoot

If you have a license to carry a weapon I understand the law protects your freedom to carry one.  I get that.  I do not understand there being no law to protect me from the mental anguish I experience being near you.

I have heard people say they carry a weapon to protect themselves and others in the event of a mass shooting.  I do not recall that ever happening.  A shooter using an assault weapon would be finished with the deed by the time you could get your weapon out of your purse or off your body, check the safety, be sure it is loaded, and fire.  Assault weapons are very fast, their gun is much faster than your gun.

I do not want more than one set of bullets flying around me  You see I am pretty sure the mass shooter is practiced and ready for the deed he has come to commit.  Mentally he is prepared to shoot dead a living human being.

My chances with such a shooter are not good but they are worse if you also begin to shoot.  I have to believe you might be a bit nervous getting your weapon out and ready to use.  Have you been thinking you would like to shoot dead a human being or is that idea making you a little nervous?  I am concerned your aim may be off under such pressure.

Law enforcement officers are required to attend practice sessions firing their weapons to keep their skills sharp.  I think they also attend classes to prepare them psychologically for an event in which they might need to shoot a human being.

I know you attended a class before you were issued your license.  Have you visited a shooting range on a regular basis to keep up your shooting skills?  What have you done to prepare yourself mentally for shooting another person?

No, I am not comforted by the fact you are wearing a weapon.  I have no way to identify you.  I could cross the street or leave a building to protect myself if I knew your identity but I do not.

Are there service dogs that sniff out weapons?  Do you think my mental anguish would qualify me to have such a dog?

They Are Still There And I Am Mad

I am more than a little put out over the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.  No I do not live close to it.  To be frank it's over the mountains from where I live and might as well be in another country.  I do, however, pay taxes in the state of Oregon and use services provided by the state that could well be in jeopardy given the amount of money this little stunt is costing the state of Oregon.

I'm annoyed because none of these militia occupiers even live in Oregon.  They've come from Arizona, Utah, Nebraska, Montana, and other states.  Many of them are young men with large families to support and now they're sitting in jail for the state of Oregon to support.  One is dead. Who's taking care of their families?

The occupiers are demanding the refuge land be distributed to ranchers in the area.  Perhaps they should have studied a little history before this event.  The ranchers will have to get in line to claim that land.

The land has never belonged to the state of Oregon.  In the statehood agreement of 1859 that land remained in the hands of the federal government to be used by Oregon for certain purposes, education being one.

The federal government seized 1.5 million acres of the Paiute Tribe's ancestral homeland in 1879.  They are still waiting to receive compensation checks from the federal government.

These occupiers don't seem to understand Oregon can't give what they don't own. Ranchers may rightfully have complaints against the federal Bureau of Land Management but it is what it is.  The land belongs to the federal government not Oregon. They're not likely to turn it over to these occupiers or the state of Oregon.  Besides there are more effective peaceful means of protest.

We have developed a Wild West mentality in this country, you want something, get a gun and go after it. These occupiers claim they came in peace.  Sorry but you don't come armed to the teeth seeking peace.

How do you think militia occupiers should be handled?

Guns & Anger

We don't get a lot of snow so this little bit was welcome.  Our son took this photo in downtown Portland over the week-end.

This morning President Obama announced some executive actions he is taking to hopefully reduce gun violence in this country given Congress lack of action.  I support any effort to try to bring common sense to this issue.  I hope his efforts help.

I'm appalled by how vile this issue became once politics arrived on the scene.

I also know there's only one thing that will make a significant difference, personal responsibility.  To see real progress each person much stop and think before they speak words of anger  or enter such language on social media.  A person hanging onto the edge of the world by their fingernails may hear or read that angry language and be prompted to commit unspeakable acts.

We must encourage personal responsibility.