Over the years, there have been extremist elements who have merged within both the Democratic and Republican parties with their own philosophies on the right to bear arms. For the record, mainstream and classic Democrats have never been against the right to bear arms. Let me give you a few examples:
- Dianne Feinstein- "I know the urge to arm yourself, because that’s what I did. I was trained in firearms. When I walked to the hospital when my husband was sick, I carried a concealed weapon. I made the determination that if somebody was going to try to take me out I was going to take them with me."
- Jesse Jackson Jr.- Mr. Jackson has a concealed carry permit and carries a pistol on him daily.
- Harry Reid - Lifelong hunter and gun owner and now the leader of the Democrats in the Senate.
While the right to bear arms is unquestioned by mainstream and classic Democrats, the type of arms is the question. Most certainly, no one should be able to possess a RPG or plastic explosives. No one should own an electric Gatling gun or a M1 tank. One form of gun control which has worked very well is the prohibition of the sale of armor piercing rounds. We dont see armor piercing rounds being used in America. Another item which is questioned is who should bear arms. Too many deadly incidents nowadays are involving criminals and the mentally disturbed which are two groups of people who should not have firearms at all.
There are elements within the Democratic party who will tell us they want rifles and pistols confiscated. They want a complete prohibition of arms. However, those elements do not represent the majority of Democrats. The majority believe in the right to bear arms and let me tell you why. In 1938, Hitler advocated complete prohibition and took arms away from the Jewish people. We all know what happened during the next 7 years. This, however, is not an isolated instance in history and the complete prohibition of arms has usually been the precursor of mass genocide and tyranny. Over the years, there have been prominent Democrats and civil rights leaders the target of violence. These Democrats recognize why it is important for them to carry a pistol like Dianne Feinstein.
As Democrats, we should focus on the type of arms which should not be owned and the person who is intending on owning them. However, we should never suggest that we want a complete prohibition. I cannot support a complete prohibition because of history.
Of course, there will always be tragic events such as Newtown. However, there is another tragic event in history which I will never forget and that is the Holocaust. I have a firm belief that if the Jewish people were armed during those times there might have been a different history.
On a separate note, let me say that I am very happy to live in a Democracy. I am happy that we have the Republicans and Democrats and would be happier to see a third party emerge. I am happy that we have three branches of government. Some may view this government as dysfunctional, but I beg to differ. It is this type of government which prevents the Hitler types from emerging and gaining power. It is this government which will stop tyranny even more so then if we were all equipped with firearms.
