I believe in the NRA

There are radicals on either side of the gun control issue.  I am a member and a strong supporter of the National Rifle Association.  Here’s why I believe what I do.

The NRA supports responsible gun ownership and firearm education.  I have taken at least three classes developed and sponsored by the NRA:  Basic Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, and Personal Protection Outside the Home.  I have taken many more classes through a very reputable company here in Rochester, all taught by NRA sanctioned instructors. . . Defensive Pistol I and II, Home Invasion Defense to name just a few.  That Home Invasion Defense class lasted two whole days and left me bruised and physically tired for over a week.  But I wouldn’t trade all the skills I learned in that class for anything.

If you own a handgun, you owe it to yourself to take Basic Pistol. 

The NRA does not support pulling out a gun and shooting at every bump in the road.  Instead, they teach awareness and prevention.  Just one example, use common sense.  Don’t go to an area you know is unsafe.  If you wouldn’t go there without a gun, then don’t go there with a gun.  If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, walk away before it escalates.

Everyone who carries a concealed weapon for personal protection hopes the only time they will ever pull the trigger on that gun is at the shooting range.  I’m one of those.  But if I find myself in a situation where the only way out is to defend myself with deadly force, then I am ready.  I am ready because of hours and hours spent in class and even more hours in practice.  If you are going to carry a firearm for personal protection, you better be able to make many decisions in a split second.

   

        A bad guy is coming at me.  The only defense I have in this situation is to draw my gun and fire at him.  BUT, before I pull that trigger, I need to ask myself – Are there innocent people in the line of fire?  A bullet can travel a great distance even after going through several barriers (walls, humans,etc.)

        Can I reasonably avoid this situation by running?  Are there people nearby that could help me?

        Do the laws of the state I live in allow me to shoot this bad guy given this set of circumstances?

And those questions are only the tip of the iceberg, folks.

Without looking in my gun file, I probably could not name every firearm class I have taken – there are that many.  Every time I take another class, I find lots more things that I didn’t already know.

As for the numerous idiots on TV (mostly liberal Democrats who have little or no knowledge on intelligent gun ownership) who criticized the NRA this week for calling for a qualified armed guard in every school in America, I have absolutely no respect for their short sightedness.  None.  Zero.  Show me just ONE instance, just ONE! where a mass murderer could not have been stopped by a  qualified marksman. . . and if you carry a gun for personal protection, you better be qualified!

I have no desire to own an AR-15.  But that doesn’t mean that a responsible person who enjoys shooting this weapon at the range should be denied that right.

I hope I have helped shed light on the subject of gun control here.  Sure, it’s a hot button issue.  But let’s use common sense, people.  If you believe the answer is to take away all guns, then let’s also take away all cars.  Then we will have no more deaths caused by drunk drivers.