This newspaper editor supports the Second Amendment and concealed carry

By Steven P. Keller
TheTelegramNews.com

As a gun owner and a strong supporter of private gun ownership and gun rights, I have found it interesting that recent Telegram articles have reported citizens finding unwelcomed visitors in their homes and have greeted them with guns and have fired a few shots in their direction.

This, I think, is part of what the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States speaks to when it protects the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms. There are, of course, other reasons this right is important, but it seems to me that having firearms in the home is important when it comes to protecting you and yours.

It seems as if the criminal element is blossoming like spring flowers in the garden. As home invasions become more common, some way of protecting yourself seems, to me, to be important, even necessary.

There are some common-sense rules about gun ownership and responsible gun owners know the rules and take precautions against an unfortunate accident which still do occur. But lots of people are killed by common kitchen knives which never seem to come under the scrutiny of liberal do-gooders who seem to be focused on eliminating all the dangers in life.

The automobile, which kills lots of people every year, also never comes under much discussion, but it, and those who drive it, are just as guilty as is a gun which is involved in an accidental shooting.

For years, liberal presidential administrations and others have attempted to modify your right, and mine, to own firearms. This is one of the major battles being fought by the National Rifle Association and other organizations and I'd be willing to bet that as the current administration moves us closer to socialism, gun ownership rights will become an issue sooner rather than later. Socialist governments often take firearms away from the people and that is a very real danger and a potential possibility right here at home.

Americans, however, are a different breed, especially those of us who live in this part of the country. My advice is to buy a firearm, learn how to use it, buy a good stock of ammunition, and hide it all in a way you can get to it in a hurry if necessary.

As the number of Concealed Carry Permits increase in all levels of society, those with a thieving, or abusive, tendency had better be more and more careful.

Bloodthirsty? I don't think so. I'm just a good, old-fashioned American man who always has a gun nearby, and it's loaded, and I am an excellent shot, and my wife is a better shot, and neither of us is afraid to pull the trigger....in a responsible way, of course.

Steven P. Keller is the Associated Editor for the The(Jackson Co., OH) Telegram. Originally published at TheTelegramNews.com. Republished with permission.