Difficult ChoicesWritten by Kathryn A. Graham
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I may yet do this one day. It would certainly be easy way out. No more worries, no more struggle. And my conscience would be clear. Or would it? While I live and remain free, I can educate others about firearms and about their constitutional rights. While I live, I can continue fight to restore country I love. Dead – or imprisoned – I am just one more statistic, one more episode of police overreacting to a perceived threat. By time press gets through with me, I will probably have fired at least three magazines of .45 hollow points at poor young cop. Just for record, if local police or ATF try that dodge concerning my demise, I ask my readers to remember that I am a better shot than that. If officer who shoots me is still walking around and breathing without a respirator after my death, count on one plain and simple fact – I didn’t shoot at him. Period. If there are other police on scene, it’s starting to look like a better bet to check their ballistics. Friendly fire seems to be killing more cops than criminals are killing these days, and that is a sure sign of uncontrolled panic on part of society’s finest. Now I am faced with most awful decision of all. Believing as I believe, it is itself a compromise for me to obtain my concealed handgun license. I should carry as I believe – asking no one’s permission. Or should I? As I stated before, while I am alive and free, I can continue struggle. I do have my concealed handgun license. I scrupulously obey laws concerning concealed handgun carry in my state. I now have my instructor’s license, too. While taking my instructor training, I was pleasantly astonished to learn that many of my state police believe in Second Amendment – and quite passionately. They are our friends, not our enemies. I will teach a class every time I can find enough students for a reasonable class. I will give discounts and even free classes to those with a sincere desire for this license, but who are strapped for cash. And in every single class I teach, I will encourage exemplary students to obtain their instructor’s licenses, too – and pass work on. Do math! If I can do this or any reasonable portion thereof, it won’t be many years before half of my state will be “packing iron” – and at least that half will have lost infantile terror of firearms that seems to go along with those who want to disarm us. While I remain alive and free, I can spread word and teach principles of true freedom to anyone with slightest inclination to listen. I can volunteer time and my personal assets to help elect true Libertarians to office (believers in Libertarian philosophy – not necessarily party members) – and remove statist criminals from their positions of power and privilege. What helps more to advance our cause? Becoming an obscure statistic forgotten almost overnight? Or training a large number of people in safe and effective use of firearms and applying every ounce of determination, intelligence and courage that I have to political campaigns that advance our cause? Do I believe in no compromise? Absolutely! I argue for repeal of every single gun law ever passed every single time I get slightest chance to bend a legislator’s ear, and I will continue to do so for as long as there is breath in my body. If day ever comes that state attempts to confiscate my firearms, they will find themselves armpit deep in blood. Absolutely no question at all about that! But until that day comes, I have found my answer, one I can live with. I obey illegal laws so that I can remain alive and free to work and to teach. I will sleep tonight.
At a tiny 5'1", Kathryn A. Graham is a licensed private investigator, pilot, aircraft mechanic and handgun instructor in Texas. Also a prolific author, she has written numerous articles, short stories and a science fiction novel. http://www.kathrynagraham.com/
| | Good For The Goose Is Good For The GanderWritten by Kathryn A. Graham
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Now let me get to fun part of this article. The very liberals who want to take your guns wrote strict laws against discrimination in this country! What is happening is actually against both state and federal law. So what can be done to redress situation? Well, obviously, business owners can grow up and stop being scared of law-abiding citizens, but it won’t be quite that easy. For example, carry is forbidden inside any U.S. Post Office, which would almost be a funny knee-jerk reaction if it weren’t so awfully pathetic. Carry is also forbidden in secure parts of a commercial airport. I may disagree, but I don’t see that changing any time soon. On top of that, there are even one or two prohibitions I actually do agree with – like hospitals. Defending my life inside halls of a hospital – at expense of countless helpless patients (when oxygen system in walls goes bang!) – is not a picture I like to contemplate, and it would kill me just as dead, anyway. So that particular prohibition makes sense. There are effective ways to deal with problem, though, and they would allow for pretty much all circumstances. What about business owners actually providing security for customer’s firearms? Why not? They provide wheel chair ramps, don’t they? And Braille™ markings on elevators! If disabled are a class of people, then so are we! It isn’t necessary to go to any great expense for this. A bank of lockers in a small alcove near business entrance would work. The gun owner steps into alcove, disarms, locks his handgun up and pockets numbered key. When his business on premises is concluded, he steps into alcove, opens his locker and re-holsters firearm before departing (the key is retained by lock for next user). The firearm is reasonably secure for duration, and folks are not running around paranoid business owner’s premises with firearms all day long. Problem satisfactorily solved – and cheaply, too. These locker systems are used in most post offices today (for small parcels), and airports (a larger type, for luggage), so they are available and fairly inexpensive. On top of that, business owner can charge a dime or even a quarter for rent of locker. Everybody wins! Now is anyone so foolish as to believe that business owners are going to do something so logical without having their figurative heads knocked together?? Don’t answer that question. The foolish optimism of my fellow man never fails to astound me. Take it on trust from your cantankerous old grandma’ here – it ain’t gonna’ happen! So what can we do? Well, my friends, that is exactly why we have a civil court system in this country. That’s why we have civil rights attorneys, too. If we have to put up with them (apologies to attorney friends), then we might as well use them! Let me issue a challenge here. Are any Texas concealed handgun licensees reading this? Write me! Let’s get together and plan a class action civil rights lawsuit right out of 1960s! If you climb on board, I’ll donate your next renewal class for nothing – you will need just your fee to state! It’s a contribution I would be pleased – and proud – to make to this effort. Are there any readers licensed in other states? Any instructors? Go for it in your state! Are there any Second Amendment friendly attorneys out there? Step up and volunteer to take these cases on contingency! I’ll do your classes free, too, if you live in Texas. Let’s get some real class action suits going, people! Let’s use system for ourselves this once! It can be done, and it can be won, first in state – and then in federal – court. The simple truth is that if you aren’t willing to fight for your rights, you deserve to lose them.
At a tiny 5'1", Kathryn A. Graham is a licensed private investigator, pilot, aircraft mechanic and handgun instructor in Texas. Also a prolific author, she has written numerous articles, short stories and a science fiction novel. http://www.kathrynagraham.com/
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