Re: Re: gun laws

> Sure, because they will be STEALING them from YOU!  Or else, one of your
> fellow "Law-abiding" citizens (honest folk) will be selling HIS to them
> out in the parking lot of the local 7/11.  If this is your BEST agument,
> it has holes in it I could drive a TRUCK through.  I spent 16 years in
> the Marine Corps, and I have nothing against guns as Guns.  My problem
> is with people who put their own personal values (what's got for
> themselves) ABOVE what's good for society.  If you honestly believe that
> the free and unrestricted "right" to own a gun is good for Society, then
> there is nothing more I can say....

1.  Some of the illegal guns on the street are stolen from homeowners.  Many
are products of the illegal arms trade.  Most of the private weapons end up
in pawn shops, the selling of which is governed by the federal laws.  You
don't move many pilfered weapons in that fashion.

Break-ins of the NG armory, hijacking of manufacturer shipments, illegal
contraband coming through customs, these are where the majority of illegal
weapons are coming from.  There is money to be made in that trade.

2. The U.S. was founded on the concept of freedom of movement and decision.
Laws had to be made to keep things from going totally chaotic.  But knowing
this, a Bill of Rights limiting those laws was added to keep control from
over-running individual decision.  One of those was the right to keep and
bear arms, specifically.

There are societies where the welfare of society as a whole is more important
than individual protections.  Japan is one, willingly by its citizens.  China
is another, under communism, but as individuals they constitute the state
only.  Certain fascist societies, not to be mentioned, hold that the state is
the most important thing and the individual has no rights against it.

3. As a military person, I understand the need to submit individuality for
the greater good of the service.  That was your decision.  No one forced it
upon you because they thought that everyone should be that way.

But being a civilian again, I need to remind you that this country is not
made up of just military personnel.  As a Marine, you were sworn on your
first day to uphold the Constitution, not just the provisions you personally
agreed with.

And finally, I have to wonder why, after 16 years, you couldn't stick it out
for another 4.