National Review Online: Mother With a Gun
This story has garnered a lot of media attention. 18-year-old Sarah Dawn McKinley used a shot dead a would-be intruder. It has been touted – rightfully so we believe – as a true feel good story, even if a man is dead. We feel good about it because McKinley and her infant son are alive because they had a gun!
And National Review Online reported:
If the National Rifle Association had an award for Mother of the Year, it might already have a winner. When two men began to break into her home on New Year’s Eve, Sarah Dawn McKinley of Blanchard, Okla., popped a bottle into her crying three-month-old baby’s mouth and reached for her guns.
We agree. But we also ask… why isn’t more of the media reporting on this story? Could it be that it is too “pro-gun” for some?
MAGGIE GET YOUR GUN!!!
Frank Jack Fiamingo – President of NJ2AS:
Whenever I find another GREAT article about confident women engaged in the safe and responsible use of firearm. I like to share it with my readers. This week Maggie shares her experiences with us. Self-defense and defense of family is NOT a just male prerogative. More and more women are learning how to handle firearms and we should applaud their efforts – Frank Jack Fiamingo – President of the New Jersey Second Amendment Society.
Maggie writes: I’m always so excited when I get to pick up a new gun.
I look at my new purchase in awe thinking, “Wow, this is MINE”.
This time the newest member of the family was a Mossberg 510 mini shotgun. It’s my first shotgun and it will be perfect for me and to teach my kids with as well. As I look at it, all I can think about is taking it to the range, but it’s about ten o’clock at night now and the range won’t be open until 10 am tomorrow. Read more
West Virginia Citizens Defense League: Some Thoughts On Self-Defense And The Law In West Virginia
West Virginia Citizens Defense League:
Most of us who choose to carry a handgun for person protection would probably agree that it is better to carry a handgun and not need it rather than to need a handgun and not have it or, as it has also been stated more succinctly, better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
The basic rule of the use of deadly force in self-defense in West Virginia was articulated by our state Supreme Court in Syllabus Point 7, State v. Cain, 20 W.Va. 679 (1882). Read more
Gun Control Myth Four: Killing someone is the only reason to buy a handgun
If you believe this myth – that killing someone is the only reason to buy a handgun – then you probably would you also agree the only reason to buy a sports car is to speed and drive recklessly? But owning a handgun actually serves another purpose – it is there in case you need it. Most handgun owners don’t even need to fire it to make the point when the time comes when they need to defend themselves.
Morgan O. Reynolds notes in his study Myths About Gun Control:
“The vast majority of gun owners cite protection from crime as one of the main reasons they own a gun. And for good reason. Americans use guns for self-protection about one million times a year. In 98 percent of the cases, they simply brandish the weapon or fire a warning shot.”
Another aspect of this is that guns are collectible, as well as being enjoyable to take to the range to shoot. Both these points often are lost on gun control supports who offer the opinion “go collect something else,” and “why do you need to go to the range?”
Imagine if other hobbies or interests were so targeted (no pun intended). The simple truth is that handguns have many legitimate purposes besides just being used to kill someone. But sadly, in our violent world, there are times when the bad guys may want to do harm to the law-abiding, and the other truth is that handguns are very good for self defense. Yet, as Reynolds noted, in the vast majority of cases handguns are very good at sending a message without even firing a shot.
Women and Guns: Annie Got a Gun for Christmas
Writing for the News Real Blog, Lori Heine offers an interesting take on the issue of woman and guns. In the post titled “Annie Got a Gun for Christmas,” Heine notes – as we’ve found – that left leaning females really do tend to be anti-gun, and her response to “guns kill people” is one that should be remembered:
“Yes, they do. Mostly, they kill defenseless people. Quite often, they are used to kill us. When we are armed, at least we have a chance to save our lives instead of dying like deer in hunting season.”
This is a great point. And as we know quite a few “left leaning” people, we find that time and time again their argument boils down to “well, I just don’t like guns.” The problem is that because they don’t like guns, they don’t think anyone should have guns. Heine, understands this too. Those who don’t like guns, seem to think that guns – not criminals – are the problem. She writes:
“In the wrong hands, guns can bring nothing but more chaos. But in the right hands, they can cut through the chaos and – in one moment of decision – snatch survival from the jaws of tragedy.”
This is a very apt statement. This is something we’ve been saying for a year and a half. And this will continue to be our point. Guns don’t make criminals commit crimes. Guns are tools wielded by criminals, but guns can also be tools that can deter a crime.
Savannah Morning News Doesn’t Try to Peg Gun Owners
In reporting about the upcoming Southeastern Guns & Knives Show to be held at the International Trade and Convention Center on Hutchinson Island, writer Donald Heath offers a fair look at what these events really mean. In his piece for The Savannah Morning News, Heath is one of the few writers that doesn’t try to peg gun owners to a specific category.
He makes no mention of angry people, fearful of an impending government ban. Instead, he offers this compelling though:
“There is no typical gun buyer. Some are hunters. Some are collectors. Some like to shoot guns for sport. Some want guns for protection.” Read more
One Gun is Enough in Chicago Says City Lawyer
The Chicago Sun Times offered an interesting one-sided story that offered the city’s take on the recent SCOTUS ruling in McDonald vs. the City of Chicago. The city’s top lawyer, Corporation Counsel Mara Georges was quoted as saying:
“One handgun is sufficient for self-defense. We believe that a limitation on the number of handguns to one-per-person-per-residence would be consistent with Supreme Court.”
This is no joke. Apparently Mayor Richard Daley and his anti-gun cohorts are going to find any gun-ban loophole, any way around the ruling to enforce their would-be police state. We’ll be sure to follow these developments very closely.
Man Defends Home From Teen Gunman
Jonathan Stevens defended himself and his wife from an attempted robbery Friday night. The couple was watching a movie in their South Knox County, Tennessee home when their pet pit bulls started barking. Stevens grabbed his pistol and went outside to investigate. He saw someone kneeling behind a car pointing a gun at him. Read more
Cab Driver Defends Self
A cab driver in Mecklenburg, NC shot and killed an armed robber who posed as a passenger yesterday. The assailant, 17 year old Renaldo Smith wasn’t too creative in his method. He simply called for a cab to pick him up at an apartment complex and got in the car. Once seated, Smith threatened the driver with a gun. The quick thinking cabbie reached for his own gun and shot Smith dead. Read more
