Last weekend’s shooting in Aurora, Colorado left 12 families with a massive holes in their hearts. An armed gunman walked into a crowded movie theater during the premier of “The Dark Knight Rises”, the latest of the Batman movies. When he opened fire on the innocent people inside the theater, he left an entire nation bruised, angry, and sorrowful.
You may recall, I published an article earlier this week, posing the question of whether this shooting made a case for more stringent anti-gun laws. I argued that the citizens of the nation have the right to protect themselves against criminals and other threats to their well being. Today, it would seem that much of the country feels the same way.
Firearm sales in Denver have gone through the roof this week, as many citizens fear for their safety. The state of Colorado has approved background checks for 2,887 people who wish to purchase firearms since Friday. This report comes from the Associated Press, via Newsday. With the feeling that anyone is vulnerable to an attack like this, many citizens are taking steps to make sure they’re prepared to defend themselves.
Dick Rutan is the owner of the Gunners Den in Arvada, Colorado, and he stated that he has had double interest in his state required 4 hour safety course, which is designed for those who wish to carry a concealed weapon. He says of the customers in his shop: “They want to have a chance. They want to have the ability to protect themselves and their families, if they are in a situation like what happened in the movie theater.”
Colorado isn’t the only place where firearm sales have gone up since Friday. King county, in Washington state, saw twice as many requests for concealed carry permits, as in the same time period last year. Florida is also reporting a rise, as they processed 2,386 background checks, which is 14% more than the previous week. Oregon and California also reported a surge of 11% and 10% over the prior month, respectively.
Many citizens have expressed the fear that lawmakers might try to pass stronger laws in the wake of this tragedy, therefore, they have begun purchasing weapons before such laws can go into effect. If this atrocious act makes a case for anything at all, it’s a case for looser restrictions on citizens being able to defend their lives and their property.
If we, the law abiding citizens are restricted even more from purchasing and using weapons for self defense purposes, we are left exposed to people such as the perpetrator of the massacre in Aurora. No matter how strict the law becomes, criminals will still be able to find and purchase weapons to use against us- and they will. Criminals don’t obey the law anyway, so making a law stricter on law abiding citizens will not inhibit criminal activity. Making the laws more strict, will only inhibit people, like you and I, from being able to legally defend ourselves.
My heart goes out to all of the families affected by the shooting in Colorado. I wish only that myself, or one of my friends had been there. We here in Texas, exercise our 2nd amendment right to keep and bear arms, and we believe in the use of lethal force, if necessary, to preserve innocent life. I weep for the families of those injured and killed, and I pray for our nation, as we all need healing. Friends, fellow Americans, don’t let your hurt and anger be wasted by directing it toward the perpetrators of such crimes as the Aurora shooting; use it instead as renewed energy to stand up for our rights to defend ourselves and our families. Contact your congressmen and senators, let them know you appreciate them defending your 2nd amendment rights.
In regards to taking action after this shooting, I ask you to remember one thing:
” Bad things happen, when good people do nothing.”-Batman
