USA Today Article Presents Both Sides of Chicago Gun Debate
In a rather surprisingly unbiased piece, USA Today tackled the issue of the gun debate currently raging in Chicago, offering voices from both sides. There were however a few choice passages that show just how out of touch the anti-gun crowd has gotten:
The Chicago School Board, backing the city, counters: “We tolerate few restrictions on the right to free speech because of its salutary effects, and because ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me,’ as the children’s rhyme goes. Guns, on the other hand, will kill you.”
Yes, Chicago School Board, guns can kill you. That’s the point – and if you read the article 76-year-old Otis McDonald says he wants a handgun because he is fearful of the gangs and drug dealers in his neighborhood. Those young thugs likely are armed better than soldiers in some third-world national armies, but listen to the anti-firearm zealots and somehow keeping law-abiding citizens from owning what the Constitution guarantees will somehow make the streets less safe! We hope the Chicago ban on handguns is overturned so that Mr. McDonald can sleep a big better knowing that he can protect his wife and his home.
Who Guards the Guards: Homeland Security Loses Guns
USA Today posted a story that makes us truly ask again, who guards the guards. In fact, the people who at the frontlines of the war on terror maybe helping criminals instead as the paper reports:
“The nation’s Homeland Security officers lost nearly 200 guns in bowling alleys, public restrooms, unlocked cars and other unsecure areas, with some ending up in the hands of felons. The problem, outlined in a new federal report, has prompted disciplinary actions and extra training.”
The article further notes that more than a dozen guns, including pistols, shotguns and “military rifles” ended up in the hands of gang members! This is a concern both for the security of our borders, but also because it is putting guns on the street. Anti-gun zealots should also take note that NONE of these guns were ever actually legally owned by private citizens, and didn’t need straw purchases or gun show loopholes to get in the hands of some very bad people.
USA Today Find Real Gun Buying Issue
While New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others note the trouble with straw buyers and illegal firearms, there is a much larger threat, one cited by USA Today this week. The paper offered this ominous take, given that this is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year:
“In another terrorism case today, the FBI says it has charged five Lebanese men over an attempt to buy 100 shoulder-fired Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and 10,000 machine gun destined for Syria or Iran.”
This may sound like an everyday occurrence in war torn Africa, but it happened here in the United States:
“Dani Nemr Tarraf, a resident of Trnava, Slovakia, was arrested Saturday in Philadelphia.”
So what is the real threat? Law abiding gun owners who go to gun shows, or terrorists trying to obtain weapons that could take out a plane?
