Wayne LaPierre, EVP and CEO of the NRA, sets the stage for 2010.

Indeed, the right of self-defense is the single most basic human right of all. The ability to defend oneself is a guarantee of the right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” held dear by Americans since the forging of our nation. It is why the Second Amendment, and the individual right of self-defense, was so important to our founding fathers.

For all the screaming about “rights” that a lot of people do, it’s amazing to me how they don’t believe a right to preserve yourself also exists. Your major religions all understand and acknowledge it; the Founding Fathers certainly did. Folks, if you can’t preserve yourself, none of those other rights matter. We’ve become a very insulated society, which is some ways is a sign of progress and improvement, but “out of sight, out of mind” certainly causes us to forget or never understand the historic fundamentals.

When you have gang members saying

“Buy a gun,” a member of a recently busted inner-city gang told The Buffalo News last week when asked what could be done to curtail homicides. “Hey, I’m just being honest. You asked.”

it demonstrates the world does have enough bad apples willing to spoil your day and the rest of you and your family’s lives. (note, don’t just “buy a gun” but “buy a gun and get some solid training in how to use it”).

We shall see what 2010 brings politically, and we shall do what we can to help bring about favorable change. Meantime, see what you can do to help improve things around here.

Washington state lawmakers want to ban “military-style semi-automatic weapons,” whatever that means.

I say that because, at least given what’s written in the article, they don’t even know what that means. Probably involves a shoulder thing that goes up, I’m sure.

In response to recent shooting deaths, three state lawmakers say they want to ban the sale of military-style semi-automatic weapons in Washington.

Of course. We must do something. Think of the children.

The legislation, called the Aaron Sullivan Public Safety and Police Protection Bill, would prohibit the sale of such weapons to private citizens and require current owners to pass background checks.

It is named for Aaron Sullivan, 18, who was fatally shot last July in Seattle’s Leschi neighborhood, allegedly with an assault-style weapon.

Current owners must pass (more) background checks, because you law-abiding citizens obviously aren’t trustworthy enough. The NICS check and 4473 apparently isn’t good enough. I guess there’s no consideration to the fact that someone illegally in possession of a gun (like these criminal gang members) aren’t going to submit to any background check of any sort. But you know, lawmakers… they’ve got to look tough.

The bill is backed by Seattle’s police department, spokeswoman Renee Witt said. Also pushing it is Washington Ceasefire, a nonprofit that seeks to reduce gun violence. The group plans a news conference today to announce the proposal.

I love the groups that seek to reduce gun violence. Ban the gun and gun violence will go away, right? No, it won’t go away. It may reduce the number of violent acts performed by guns, but sure as heck overall violence will rise. Look at the UK. Gun violence might be down, but overall violence is up. Different implements are used by the criminals (e.g. knives), and law-abiding citizens have fewer and less effective tools at their disposal for protecting themselves. Is this the goal groups like Washington Ceasefire have? Perhaps, but I would like to believe they are just misguided and really want to reduce violence on the whole. That being the case, they should work to address the deeper root causes, instead of trying to ban symptoms that have proven time and time again will not meet their goals.

The ban would cover semiautomatics designed for military use that are capable of rapid-fire and can hold more than 10 rounds. Semiautomatics designed for sporting or hunting purposes wouldn’t be banned.

“If they’re used in the army, used in the war — that’s what this ban is about,” said Ralph Fascitelli, the board president of Washington Ceasefire.

Oh, we’ve been down this road before. But if that’s the case, it sounds like our AR’s are safe. They aren’t designed for military use, and certainly have much sporting and hunting use.

Really, this just his misguided and ignorant written all over it. Too much to write here. If you’re reading this and don’t know how that’s misguided and ignorant, drop me a line and I’ll be happy to expound.

“We don’t allow people to own tanks or bazookas or machine guns, and very few people think that that’s an unreasonable restriction,” [Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina] said.

Uh wait a minute. So we already don’t allow people to use stuff used in the army, yet this new ban is about stuff people in the army use. So uh… what are you banning? More ignorance.

And here we are with the notion of “reasonable restrictions.” Please define. And why is your definition the one that wins out? Oh, because you’re the “open-minded” one. I’ve learned about these progressive types. “Open-minded” means “agreeing with me.”

[Rep. Jeanee] Kohl-Welles [D-Seattle] said the lawmakers are trying to be practical and aren’t suggesting guns be taken from current owners.

Oh yes you are. Requiring background checks for current owners? I suppose if they fail whatever it is you deem as worthy criteria for owning a gun, you will take them away. The mere fact you’re suggesting anything like this just raises the slippery slope.

She [Kohl-Welles] also said she doesn’t believe such a ban would violate the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms.

“Did the framers of our Constitution ever envision something like a semi-automatic weapon?” she asked.

Well, if you consider things like the ancient Chinese repeating crossbows that were first created in 4 B.C…. yeah, I’d say it’s possible the framers could have imagined something like a semi-automatic firearm.

So if the only things protected by our Constitution are things the framers could have imagined, let’s outfit our military with flintlock muskets. Apparently that’s the only legitimate thing. Those framers could never have considered that this country might exist for years or even decades and that things might change. Nah… they were some short-sighted people.

On the same token, did the framers of our Constitution ever envision something like the Internet? Guess that “freedom of speech” thing should be banned on the same grounds.

The key to freedom is the ability to be able to defend yourself. And if you don’t have the tools to do that then you are at the mercy of whoever wants to put you away. And the tools for that are guns.

Found via Fark, and interestingly the comments started out making rather a good point (instead of just lots of snark).

DrRatchet: hubiestubert: Any tool can become a weapon if you hold it right, and by focusing only on weapons, means that you don’t focus on WHY people are turning to crime, which is the more important question, and the larger issue.

Which is why controlling or eliminating weapons fails as a way of reducing crime (I’m looking at you, England.)

Very much so. Gun control is a false debate when you talk about crime prevention. It is a distraction from talking about what actually concernsboth sides of the debate, and that is crime prevention. Preventing crime is something that few can argue against, at least with any honesty, save perhaps those who are invested in the prison industry.

So, it would be nice to see folks veer from the whole gun control debate and instead focus on what they all share, and that is how to reduce crime. Rather than investing so much time and effort to talk about the style and manner which crimes are committed, but to get to the root causes.

Less worry about the symptoms, than the actual disease.

If you’re a gun owner, gun enthusiast, hunter, sportsman, or someone that cares about preserving the rights that our country and the State of Texas was founded upon, you should become a member of the Texas State Rifle Association.

Yes it’s also important to be a member of the National Rifle Association, but they mainly work on a national level. Many of the laws that affect firearm use and ownership are state laws, and the TSRA is the big important voice here. Thankful that we have concealed carry in Texas? Thank the TSRA for their efforts. In addition to legislative activities, TSRA also promotes things like local hunting opportunities, youth programs including Boy Scouts and 4-H, and women’s programs. There’s a lot more involved in keeping our freedoms than just legislative activities — it’s getting out in the field and participating in events and being a member of our community.

If you enjoy your freedoms, do something to help preserve them. Join the TSRA today.

Disclosure: I am a Life Member of the TSRA and Life Member of the NRA. I wrote the above purely on my own volition.