Trib Columnist Takes Aim At Peaceful, Responsible Gun OwnersBy Mark A. Walters
As much as I disagree with Daniel Ruth's bleeding- heart liberal politics, I do enjoy reading his columns as I much appreciate his wit and sarcasm. His column on Oct. 21 though, must be countered.
I have never understood what it is about law-abiding citizens that scares the antigun crowd so much. What makes it so difficult for them to understand that a criminal, by definition, doesn't follow the law? What, for instance, is so difficult to understand about the fact that a law-abiding citizen isn't going to walk into his place of employment and begin shooting?
Does Ruth not understand that a kook, a criminal or any other loser does not need a concealed-carry permit, nor will a law against keeping a gun in the car keep a wacko from obtaining a gun and shooting up his place of employment? Why is it so difficult for these anti-gun folks to understand that a gun doesn't turn a law-abiding citizen into a criminal any more than a vodka and tonic turns a social drinker into a raging alcoholic?
I get sick and tired of listening to these same folks who predicted ``blood running like rivers'' in the streets when Florida passed its right-to-carry legislation in 1987. I wonder how many ``rivers of blood'' Ruth steps over each day on his way to work? How many more lies do we need to hear from the Brady campaign, who can't get their agenda passed in any legislative body and must turn to activist courts to legislate from the bench?
Here's the deal, Dan: You forgot to mention that it was a teacher with a gun in his car that stopped the school shooting in Pearl, Miss. and saved countless lives. Two students and a teacher with concealed- carry permits that stopped the shooter at the law school in Virginia and saved countless other lives. It was a law- abiding permit holder that stopped the scumbag in Acworth, Ga. last month after abducting and killing a mother of three.
These are stories of law- abiding people stopping criminals from doing more harm. There are countless thousands of these stories across the nation each day as well as the ones the Tribune has printed many times in our own city. Stop putting the actions of criminals on the backs of law- abiding people.
http://tampatrib.com/opinion/MGBHMTHXFFE.html.
