Letter to the Editor: Laws should not make law-abiding citizens defenseless

The Canton Repository has printed yet another pro-CCW letter to the editor.

On March 14, the editors of the Repository adopted a pro-HB12 position on the editorial page, and the paper has printed several pro-CCW letters and a pro-CCW op-ed column as well.

Click here to read the letter in the Repository, or on the "Read More..." link below for an archived version.

Laws should not make law-abiding citizens defenseless
Sunday, April 6, 2003

The Ohio Legislature is considering a right-to-carry proposal to lift some of the state restrictions on citizens’ rights to carry concealed firearms. This indicates that even politicians can have occasional flashes of insight and wisdom. Liberals are, of course, convinced that this leads to street gunfights. Considering the shallow, emotional liberal philosophy, this reaction is expected. The truth is quite the contrary.

For decades, gun control laws passed across the country, to the delight of our criminal element. While the crime rate rose, some communities and states recently eased some restrictions. In every case, stricter controls led to increases in violent crime while places that removed some laws preventing people from protecting themselves, experienced a decline in those same types of criminal activity. The statistics are absolutely indisputable.

Throughout history, oppressive governments immediately removed guns from their citizens’ hands. The United States government is becoming more and more oppressive, or trying to. This is a primary reason that the Constitution’s Second Amendment was so important to the founders. That criminals would still be well-armed regardless of how many gun control laws are passed is further evidence of the Second Amendment’s wisdom.

Note that this letter doesn’t say any government could give people the right to arm themselves. It cannot. No government gives you the right to do anything, it only restricts or takes rights away. The Ten Commandments notwithstanding, we have the God-given right to do about anything we’re physically able, but any orderly society requires reasonable, enforceable rules of conduct and decency (most based on the Ten Commandments).

There’s always been, always will be an element in society that cannot or won’t adhere to those laws. It’s only sensible and prudent that the law-abiding must not be made defenseless when faced by the outlaws.

DARYL J. MEEKS
LOUISVILLE