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This letter was in the Oxford leader today. Feel free to discuss.
Opinions
Letter to Editor
Pistol picnic garners opposition
Extras
July 22, 2009 - To Mr. John Roshek, organizer of the Aug. 2 Open Carry Picnic at Seymour Lake Park,
I cannot pretend I was not shocked when I read there was to be picnic at a public park and people were encouraged to bring their guns.
I do realize that many people who carry guns are good responsible people. I also realize that many are not.
How do you plan to have "only" the responsible people attend?
I did not see anything in the article about checking for legal license's to carry these guns. Is someone there checking licence's ?
Why is it necessary to hold this event at a park where unsuspecting families could show up with their children for a picnic.
I am sure not everyone would like their children to go to a park and see a bunch of people walking around carrying guns. Parents of teenagers have enough issues in everyday life without adding one more and a dangerous one at that.
You realize teenagers will be drawn to this event without their parents permission. This should be a parents personal decision when, how and if their children will be introduced to guns.
How do you plan to handle the young children watching you who probably think you are just "so cool" because you have a gun.
The younger children are not mature enough to realize the seriousness of this whole situation. When you hold something like this in a public place where children gather it is no longer able to be a responsible adult event.
I think educating people about guns is a good idea. Attempting this at a public place where most likely there will be "children of all ages "is not a fair nor responsible adult/parental decision. Hold this in an enclosed facility and open it to whoever would like to come. Better yet have it in one of your back yards. You could accomplish the same thing and possibly attract more people. This gives people the option to attend.
Please take into consideration the people who have a tragedy in their lives involving a gun. Let me give you a few examples. My friends father was hunting with his teenaged son when his bullet ricocheted, hit his son and killed him. My neighbor was held at gun point before falling to the ground, thankfully the man was subdued, someone in my own family died from a gun accident. Yes it would be helpful if all these people could learn that guns are not bad, but holding something like this out in the open "just because you can" is showing so little empathy for those who are still suffering. If you truly want to help people, hold some free classes for people to come to talk with you, listen to why they feel the way they do. Have a list of places they can go to take classes and learn about safety.
I believe the unsavory people who carry guns (and there are some) would be less likely to come to an event like this if it were in a contained building than if it were at a park.
You said in your article, and I quote, "I'm not looking to make any political statements, nothing of that sort. I am not looking to gain attention or cause panic. Its really about being able to protect myself and my family. I don't consider myself a paranoid person. I have just lived long enough to know what the world is like."
I'm not looking to make any political statements, nothing of that sort. Your first statement was to inform people that they don't necessarily have to have a concealed pistol license to protect themselves. You also wanted people to know that they did not have to follow any rules that stated no guns allowed in public parks. Responsible gun owners already knew this, now everyone knows it. Not a good plan.
You are not out to gain attention or cause panic. What did you think this would do for every parent taking their young children to Seymour Lake park, make them feel safe that a bunch of people they do not know are going to be there carrying guns? I can tell you first hand you have gained a lot of negative attention and caused much panic in time when people are already stressed and struggling with the worries from our failing economy. No one needed this nor do they deserve it.
Its really about you being able to protect yourself and your family. If that is true why are you involving people who do not want to be involved. Protect your family however you choose and let others choose their own methods. If you have lived long enough to know what the world is like then you must know that not all people are responsible gun owners. You cannot guarantee that you will not attract a few "closet crazies" who wouldn't chance coming to a public park alone, but would feel much safer in a group. It may even gain them some confidence so they will come back alone. Now that is a great thought, they can walk around the park and our children with their guns making us all feel so much safer.
I am certainly hoping you will reconsider this whole idea. We moved to Oxford because we felt it was a nice "home" community. People care about one another. They take into consideration how their actions affect their friends and neighbors. Caring about one another means respecting others opinions and fears. If you really want to be fair about this? Vote on whether to have it.
Dan & Susy Krans
Oxford residents
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