The Question Of Gun Control

Answering the inquiry of a voter in Piedmont Kansas who asked what my stand is on the issue of gun control.

01/05/06

Dear Friend,

Thank you for writing to me and asking how I stand on this issue. I am more than happy to not only tell you where I stand but to explain my stand on gun control.

When I was 5 years old my family was living in the small Nebraska town of Ithaca. One day my Dad took me down to the creek which ran behind our home and taught me how to shoot with a single shot, bolt action 22 cal. Rifle. One week before my Father passed away in March of 1993 he presented me with that very same rifle, the one he had taught me to shoot with 31 years previous. I take that rifle out to a target range once a year and fire 100 shots through it. That rifle is one of my most prized possessions.

My wife and I both were in the Army. My wife qualified Sharpshooter and I qualified Expert with the M-16A1 rifle in basic training. We have a secured, registered pistol within our home for personal protection and I believe strongly in our Constitution including the second amendment, “…. the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” One of the things that separates us, as Americans, from other countries is the fact that we have that right. If the only people that were allowed to keep firearms were officers of the law or the military then we would dissolve into a police state and we would lose our Democracy.

I am a firm believer in Education before Legislation. Gun registration in and of itself is a good start to helping make gun ownership more responsible but it is not enough. With responsibility comes accountability and the gun owner must be accountable for the proper handling and usage of this most deadly of tools. Programs such as Hunter Education are good starts but I feel there should be more. We do not put an untrained driver behind the wheel of an automobile without training and we do not issue them a license unless they can pass the exam. When you go through basic training in the Military they do not just hand you a rifle and some bullets and say, “Here, go shoot.” There is extensive safety training and then you must take a test and pass it before you can qualify for weapon usage. I feel that private gun ownership should be no different. If you are going to own a gun then you should not, as a responsible person, have any problem with taking a firearm safety course.

You ask where I stand on the issue of gun control? I stand with my family! Heaven forbid, should the time ever come that I should have to defend my family from an unwelcome intruder I thank the good Lord above that I was born in a country where I can have legal access to the tool that might save the lives of my loved ones. I honestly wish that we did not live in a world where that was even a possibility but unfortunately that is not the case. I would just like to see honest people be more educated and responsible about guns and maybe then there would be more safety minded people and less firearm related accidents.

I hope this has helped to answer your question. If I can be of any further assistance or if you have any other questions concerning my stand on the issues please do not hesitate to ask. May God bless you and yours.

Sincerely,
Jim George