When in Texas, do as the Texans do.Last weekend I exercised my Second Amendment right and purchased a Taurus 24/7 Pro DS 9mm at a gun show in Dallas. Despite being a longtime advocate of gun rights in America and an occasional member of the National Rifle Association, this is the first firearm I've owned. I had no intention of buying a gun that day, I was just looking around in order to educate myself, but my wife really wanted to buy one right away, so I let her pick out a handgun she felt comfortable with. She chose the Taurus over 9mm over similar S&W and Glock models; I would have preferred a sub-compact .45 as a carry weapon (I like the Glock 36, but the Taurus Millennium 145 is tempting...) but she thinks a 9mm might be easier for her to handle. Probably right. Taurus is a Brazilian company; I figure any nation that produced Ayrton Senna is perfectly capable of producing quality firearms.
So now I'm a gun owner. My leftoid pal up north is beside himself with the prospect of me turning into a gun nut. "Why do I need a gun," he asks? "Why does anyone need a gun? Their whole purpose is to kill people!!!" He attributes my desire to arm myself to "fear of boogeymen"; I attribute his anti-gun politics as "fear of gun owners". He thinks the Second Amendment is outdated and no longer applies; I consider the Second Amendment as a guarantor of our fundamental rights. And 'round and 'round we go -- no amount of reason or facts will change the mind of a fully indoctrinated leftoid, especially on the topic of guns. Ultimately, my decision to exercise my right to keep and bear arms is simple and needs no defense: Because I can. FYNQ.
As the current administration chomps at the bit to further government limitations on our Constitutional rights, including (but not limited to) the Second Amendment, I felt it was time to act. Anti-gun zealots in our government are either incapable of comprehending that pesky "shall not be infringed" language or (more likely) they simply don't care. Obama's record on gun rights is dismal; his Attorney General is on the record stating that he does not believe an individual's right to keep and bear arms is affirmed by the U.S. Constitution; and Congressional Democrats have already announced their intentions by introducing legislation to restore the so-called "assault weapons" ban -- which, as we have learned, bans pretty much any firearm they find to be scary looking and instantly turns thousands of law abiding citizens into criminals with the stroke of a pen. If the left's early actions on taxation and spending are any indication, I expect they'll rush new gun control legislation through Congress before they can be held accountable in the 2010 elections, by which time the laws will be on the books and, given the scrotumless, roll-over nature of elected Republicans, will have little chance of being overturned.
America is stocking up: Glock is reported to be unable to keep up with the demand for their handguns; premium ammunition is becoming scarce; political uncertainty looms ahead. Some may see this as paranoia; I merely see it as a matter of practicality. If guns and ammo are to be restricted or heavily taxed in the near future, it makes fiscal sense to buy early and buy often -- I did the same thing when the FCC outlawed full-coverage VHF/UHF receivers back in the 90's; I would do the same thing if I knew there was going to be a hike in the price of bottled water.
So with this in mind, I intend to purchase as many firearms and as much ammo as I can afford while I still can; I am not alone on this. I shall strive to become as proficient as possible with all types of firearms; I will take advantage of the liberty afforded me by the great state of Texas to become a licensed concealed weapon carrier; and I will urge others to do the same. History has proven -- repeatedly -- that a right not exercised soon becomes a right lost.
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