Op-Ed: Ohio sniper and disarmed populace
February 18, 2004
Joseph Farah
WorldNetDaily.com
The case of the Ohio sniper is a perfect illustration of the dangers of disarming the public – and leaving crime-prevention and deterrence to the government.
The sniper has been shooting at people and cars since November of last year. He is linked to at least 24 shootings, including one murder.
Last weekend, he took a potshot at a Chevrolet Suburban in plain view of countless witnesses in broad daylight. The driver of the Chevy immediately called 911. After the shooter was finished, he sauntered to his car and slowly drove off.
Despite the fact that police aircraft responded within minutes, they came up empty again.
"The person appeared to be in no hurry," said Chief Deputy Steve Martin of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. "I think we'll probably all agree that our particular shooter is becoming much more aggressive – much bolder – in letting himself be seen by the public. His intent is to hurt somebody."
The truth is that if you want to hurt someone in our broadly unarmed society today, it's not difficult.
The American people have become convinced that the police can protect them from bad guys like the Ohio shooter. The truth is that they can't.
Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.
Police detectives might be useful in putting together clues, working on the forensic evidence and enlisting the public to help them identify a menace like this. Usually police choose to go it alone, withholding information from the public that might actually lead to the capture of the attacker.
The only way the D.C. Beltway snipers were caught was when information about the car they were using was released to the press and public. After terrorizing the Washington, Virginia and Maryland area for months, they were caught within hours.
But the Ohio shooter is more brazen. He uses a handgun, which requires him to get close to his victims – within range of other citizens armed with handguns.
So far, apparently, not one of those witnesses or victims has had a firearm handy. It's too bad. Firearms can come in quite handy in situations like this – even more handy than the cell phone to dial 911.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: In this new age of terrorism and high crime, it is essential Americans demand their full rights under the U.S. Constitution to arm themselves, to protect themselves, to defend their country, to save their families.
The police are not equipped for this job. They do not have sufficient manpower. They are not omnipresent. Nor would we want our nation to become a police state.
The only way for us to maintain order, to clean up the streets, to govern ourselves and to defeat this kind of terrorism, is to encourage law-abiding citizens to arm themselves.
Yet I hear virtually no other voices even making this case. More and more of our cities are becoming "gun-free zones" – competing with one another to see which will become the murder capital of the nation. The most unsafe place to be in America is a "gun-free zone" – be it a school or a city like Washington, D.C.
The good news is that Ohio is set to become a concealed-carry state in April. Lawmakers may want to consider speeding up enactment of that new law. It might be the best thing the government can do to get this menace off the streets.
While Ohio waits for April 8:
Sandwich shop repeatedly robbed
Killing followed robbery spree
Related Story:
Been waiting for it: Gun Grabber tries to link I-270 sniper to CCW debate
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