America Needs Its Guns
March 5, 2020
A Pew Research survey concluded that three in ten American adults own a gun. That is roughly 99 million Americans.
If you are not one of them, you might consider becoming one.
Owning a gun offers self-protection. Every day in America there are innocent people harmed by criminals who illegally own and use guns. While police officers are a godsend to our great nation, they do not come to help you until after the crime is done. Having a gun offers defense until first responders reach you.
Illinois voters agree with the use of guns for self-defense; that’s why Illinois lawmakers passed a concealed carry law. According to the Chicago Tribune, residents “can own firearms but with several conditions: You must be 21 years old and possess a firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card and concealed carry license, both issued by Illinois State Police. Prior to getting a concealed carry license, residents must complete a 16-hour training course.”
Law-abiding citizens who are interested in making use of the concealed carry law go through an intense background check where law enforcement can decline their application. Furthermore, all carriers must have their FOID card and concealed carry permits on them at all times.
Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions that unfairly target supporters of the Second Amendment.
For one, they say Second Amendment advocates openly oppose all gun control. Personally, I have family members in the police force and military who support a three-day holding term when purchasing a gun. This is an appropriate and very fair law for citizens to abide by.
The vast majority of gun owners are in support of protection and safety laws. Both political parties agree. According to a Pew Research fall 2019 survey, nine out of 10 Republicans or Republican-leaning citizens (92%) agreed with Democrats or leaning Democrats (91%) to prevent people with mental illnesses from buying guns. And both Democrats (93%) and Republicans (82%) favor background checks.
Another misconception is that guns are used solely to shoot people.
Another misconception is that guns are used solely to shoot people. The vast majority of gun owners are lawful, respectable citizens. We need to start blaming the criminal owners of guns, not the guns.
After the Las Vegas massacre, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, touched on “crime guns,” a term that Chicago police say are “illegally possessed, used, or suspected to be used in furtherance of a crime.” Sanders highlighted the argument that President Trump has made in his previous presidential campaign: Chicago, with the strictest gun laws in the country, is not able to avoid the shootings and still remains a dangerous city.
About six in 10 “crime guns” recovered have been from outside the state of Illinois, which is why we need laws to stop illegal gun ownership but allow legal, self-defense, gun ownership.
If America made gun ownership illegal, law-abiding citizens would turn in their guns and risk enduring harm from illegal gun owners and criminals who hadn’t.
Gun rights give Americans and law-abiding citizens the right to self-defense. It is time to take action against the criminals with illegal guns and allow legally protected citizens to own guns.
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MMS • Jan 12, 2021 at 8:01 pm
What a well thought out and accurate opinion. Too many people are missing the point that “the police do not come to help you until after the crime is done. Having a gun offers defense until first responders reach you.” I am not going to let someone who thinks it is okay to invade my home do so and hurt me or my family. I will protect myself from people who think coming into my home uninvited, with the intention of hurting us. I believe MOST police officers are great people, but they cannot be everywhere, all the time. I sincerely believe it is MY responsibility to take care of myself. If you don’t want a gun, then don’t own one. If you do, then, LIKE THE MAJORITY OF LEGAL GUN OWNERS, do so responsibly. I cannot imagine any of the people who do not want legal gun owners to own guns are going to come to my aid, if needed. Great article, Catherine!
A patriotic citizen • Mar 11, 2020 at 2:07 pm
I am so glad that you wrote this article. For too long we have been stuck in a cesspool of liberal thought and by trolling them you are once again reminding them that this is America, not the EU(ssr). Law abiding gun owners have never broken any law, yet if you asked the libs, you would think that America is a rapidly declining superpower full of disease, crime and mass shootings.
I hope that in the future the forest scout will have more nonbiased, impartial, stories like this which are written simply to inform patriots, not to push a L I B E R A L agenda.
Thanks,
A patriotic citizen.
anonymous • Mar 6, 2020 at 1:30 pm
I agree with the comments above. Why is it necessary for a homeowner to own a gun? That’s only provoking more fear and turbulence within a household. Also, what you stated about the Las Vegas massacre is just false. 50 people were slaughtered in that shooting and the fact that you have the audacity to say, gun control isn’t needed…it doesn’t matter if they are “crime guns” they are STILL GUNS! Also, the reason why Chicago has the strictest gun laws but still shootings is because shootings aren’t all because of guns…there are socio-economic issues that play into crime. Chicago may have strict gun laws, but there is still a need for further control… Also, I’m sorry but the “stats” you used are not reliable…Sarah Huckabee Sanders is very far-right so next time, if you want to write an educated article, make it non-biased.
Jim Athanas • Mar 6, 2020 at 12:48 pm
First of all I’m adding my name so readers know who I am. I don’t believe in hiding behind anonymous or other usernames. I’m a retired Lake Forest Police Officer working security here at LFHS. I support the United States Constitution in its entirety, including the 2nd Amendment. I believe that law abiding citizens of the United States have the right to own firearms for lawful purposes including, but not limited to, hunting, sport, collecting, or self defense. If any individual chooses to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights, that’s fine. I only ask that those individuals educate themselves on responsible firearm ownership and SAFETY. I possess a Retired Officers Concealed Carry Permit which allows me to carry a concealed weapon nationwide. In the event that I am ever threatened with a weapon I will defend myself accordingly. Remember, I am a retired police officer with over 26 years of service to the City of Lake Forest. You are more than welcome to come speak to me at any time.
Defenseless Reader • Mar 6, 2020 at 9:59 am
Another misconception is that guns are used solely to shoot people? That’s literally what they’re built for. Why does it matter that most gun owners are lawful? They still buy them to shoot people in self-defense. Do you buy guns to scratch your back? To shoot nuts and crack their shells when there’s not a nutcracker nearby? Also, why do you say it’s time to allow legally protected citizens to own guns when they can already?
anon • Mar 6, 2020 at 9:22 am
Okay… So neither party wants to take away the second amendment. Understand, however, there are several problems with your statements. Gun control is needed. Guns are used to shoot people, or used for sport, so I don’t see your argument. Furthermore, what about police brutality? How can you say all police are “godsends” when black people have been targeted unnecessarily by gun violence at the hands of police. Obviously, most police are amazing and protect us, but we cannot generalize. Also, what mental health problems? Please specify as there is a large number of mental illnesses. While I disagree on some points, I respect your opinion and thank you for speaking out for what you believe in.