I enjoy gun ownership. However, I do not enjoy mass shootings. I enjoy teaching gun safety. However, I do not enjoy being called a monster for owning a gun. I enjoy the responsibility that comes with being able to be a clear minded adult. However, I do not enjoy being mocked for perceived evil. I enjoy the ability to defend my home, homeland, and my family from invaders, foreign and domestic. However, I do not enjoy when people would vote to strip me of my rights to self defense, and the liberties that come with being an American. I enjoy sleeping comfortably at night, knowing that I can be a first responder, who could possibly stop a mass shooting. However, I do not enjoy having a cop on the phone, rather than a gun in my hand to stop the violence.
When seconds count, the police are minutes away. If you're someone who is afraid of guns, or someone who believes that none of us should have guns, your vote is harming decent, stable minded Americans. Your ideals create target rich environments. Oops, I meant, "gun free zones." How will you be able to look your child in the eyes, while they're bleeding to death in your arms, explaining to them that everything will be OK? No one denies the gazelle the right to it's horns and hooves, when it comes to defending itself from a lion. So why would you put your own family, and those around you at risk?
Are you someone who thinks that, just because you own a gun, and have a child, that they're going to get into it and hurt themselves? Well, this is a statistical possibility. However, proper care, and storage of a firearm, has been proven to stop the little ones from even coming close to harming themselves. Key locks are a bad idea. Number locks with rotating wheels is superior.
Are you someone who is afraid of mass shootings? Well, arm yourself! Go get training on gun safety. Get proficient with aiming, and pulling the trigger twice. Over, and over. Get proficient at drawing your pistol, from where ever it is, and readying yourself. Become someone who has the ability to fight back, and be a first responder. In seconds, many people can be mowed down by a would be mass murderer. Don't allow yourself to become a victim of someone else's insanity.
Are you someone who is angry at gun manufacturers? Honestly, you're fighting a very steep, uphill, expensive battle. There are literally so many guns in the world that, restricting them from people like me, sound minded, and educated, is not going to stop criminals from owning guns. Guns don't have to be new, in order to achieve the same effectiveness.
Are you someone who is afraid of "military grade assault rifles"? You're wrong about civilian sold, semi automatic weapons. First of all, an AR-15 cannot fire 700 rounds per minute. Semi-automatic means that, I have to pull the trigger repeatedly, in order to achieve this. I doubt with all of my heart that, anyone can pull the trigger 700x per minute. It is a statistical impossibility. A magazine holds bullets, the gun does not fire magazines. A clip goes into a clip fed rifle, or pistol, only. Of which, many people own clip fed weapons, such as deer hunters, or professional marksmen.
Are you someone who is afraid for their families' safety? Then be the reason that the intruder in your home, is the one who gets hurt, not you, or your family. Hanging signs on your home, or lighting the porch with "anti-gun" propaganda, is telling the bad guys that you're defenseless. Do you know what I hang on the doors to my house? "Caution, protected by second amendment security." Why do I do this? Hmmm, maybe it's because bad guys don't want to have to fight someone, who has one, or more guns. Even if you don't own a gun, it's better to camouflage yourself, than show blatant disregard for your families' safety, and well being.
Are you someone who thinks that gun ownership should be banned? In the recent Orlando aftermath, gun sales, and ammunition sales have skyrocketed. People are arming themselves, and getting trained on self defense. This is entirely a wise idea. Yes, it can end in violence. However, I'd rather see a gun in a hand, than a cell phone, and a hiding place. Getting armed, and educated, is the only way to survive.
Life is messy, and we must not cower in fear, thinking that everyone is out to get us. However, there will be those who slip through the cracks. No amount of laws, or regulations are going to change the fact that, criminals will always find a way.
Don't become a victim, due to your own ignorance, and cowardice. Don't let your family become targets, when you could have been the one who saved their lives. Don't let foreign, or domestic invaders do harm to anyone around you.
A Japanese commander, during World War 2 once said, "It would be impossible to invade the mainland of America. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass." Taking away guns leaves the homeland entirely open to attack. It also allows the government at large, to do what it wants with it's citizens. Look at history, look at the lunatics, who have done the most harm. Look at the reasons for World War 1, and 2. Look at how the world bled, and how we should have learned from it. Look upon yourselves, and look hard in the mirror. You're allowing yourselves to let history repeat itself.
Are you someone who is afraid of terrorists? They come in all flavors, shapes, and sizes. Be a first responder, if you can. It could save a lot of lives some day.