On guns and background checks

I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, as currently written. As our “leadership” in the US government debates revising current rules and/or restricting access to weapons, I have a few words to say.

I realize that there are limits, placed by our government, on many of our Constitutional freedoms. Our free speech is limited by not being allowed to shout “Fire!” in a crowded theater. Our freedom to move across the country is limited by requirements for driver’s licenses, auto registration, pedestrian free highways.

However, we are not restricted to only government sanctioned languages. We are not restricted to only government authorized cars, trucks, or motorcycles (Understanding there are requirements for fuel and safety standards). Why then, should we be restricted to government authorized weapons for self-protection?

Much of the current discussion on gun control is revolving around a “need” to require back-ground checks for private gun sales. This is busy work.

According to the 2011 AAA report, “Unlicensed to Kill,” “Overall, 18.2% of fatal crashes involved a driver who was unlicensed or invalidly licensed; these crashes resulted in the deaths of 21,049 people.”

What’s the connection? If we need to require gun owners to run background checks for the sale of private guns then, then based on the number of deaths caused by unlicensed drivers, the sale of private vehicles should require a check for legal drivers permits.

Where is the tipping point of government involvement in our lives?

No matter the outcome, when you boil it all down, the fact remains: Those who want to commit the crime do not care what the law says about it.