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Smarter way to protect our good Oklahomans
POINT OF VIEWS: Freedom to open carry firearm
BY STATE REP. DAVID DERBYFebruary 22, 2010
Our Founding Fathers were intelligent people.
Almost 234 years ago, they fought for freedom from tyranny and oppression. After declaring independence from the British, they worked toward creating a document that would present a better form of government for Americans. In 1787, the Constitution was formed. Two years later, the Bill of Rights was introduced.
I believe an open-carry rule would go a long way toward impeding criminals from wreaking havoc.
Included in that was the Second Amendment. It gave Americans a right to bear arms to protect themselves.
At times, this amendment has come under attack. Especially so in recent years, as anti-gun activists lobby to take firearms away from honest, law-abiding citizens. Why is that? Have they never heard the saying "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns”? I suppose not.
And there has been a lot of talk from the current federal administration about additional gun registrations and potential arms confiscation. I, on the other hand, would like to strengthen a person’s right to own guns in a responsible manner.
This session, I have submitted an amendment to House Bill 3239 that would enable those who already have a concealed carry license the freedom to open carry a firearm.
To some, that might seem like an outrageous maneuver, even irresponsible. I respectfully disagree.
I believe our Founders had great wisdom in allowing citizens to bear arms. I also believe that if good people are not armed, we’re all in that much more danger. Since bad guys do things like rob banks, kidnap children and knock off convenience stores, there must be an immediate consequence for them to consider. They do all this knowing that good people around them aren’t in position to stop their criminal efforts. And since they realize our hardworking police forces are at closest a few minutes away, that’s all the time they need to get what they want.
This must stop. I believe an open-carry rule would go a long way toward impeding them from wreaking havoc. They would have to think twice about committing a crime, knowing there might be a regular, everyday person inside who would respond to dangerous threats in a way that could directly harm the would-be criminal.
In short, I believe good Oklahomans having the right to have weapons on them in public will help crime rates go down, benefiting banks, businesses and the safety of every citizen.
How are crime rates now, when the average person cannot take a gun with them out and about? Not good. But the laws now aren’t stopping bad citizens from hurting others. Keeping guns out of the hands of good people isn’t the answer. Neither is gun confiscation. When confiscations occur in countries around the world, the crime rates don’t go down, as the "bad guys” still have their guns.
I understand this idea might seem a little outside-the-box, but it is one I think will benefit everyday people who, at present, have no real retaliation if faced with a criminal.
Derby, R-Owasso, represents District 74 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Smarter way to protect our good Oklahomans
POINT OF VIEWS: Freedom to open carry firearm
BY STATE REP. DAVID DERBYFebruary 22, 2010
Our Founding Fathers were intelligent people.
Almost 234 years ago, they fought for freedom from tyranny and oppression. After declaring independence from the British, they worked toward creating a document that would present a better form of government for Americans. In 1787, the Constitution was formed. Two years later, the Bill of Rights was introduced.
I believe an open-carry rule would go a long way toward impeding criminals from wreaking havoc.
Included in that was the Second Amendment. It gave Americans a right to bear arms to protect themselves.
At times, this amendment has come under attack. Especially so in recent years, as anti-gun activists lobby to take firearms away from honest, law-abiding citizens. Why is that? Have they never heard the saying "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns”? I suppose not.
And there has been a lot of talk from the current federal administration about additional gun registrations and potential arms confiscation. I, on the other hand, would like to strengthen a person’s right to own guns in a responsible manner.
This session, I have submitted an amendment to House Bill 3239 that would enable those who already have a concealed carry license the freedom to open carry a firearm.
To some, that might seem like an outrageous maneuver, even irresponsible. I respectfully disagree.
I believe our Founders had great wisdom in allowing citizens to bear arms. I also believe that if good people are not armed, we’re all in that much more danger. Since bad guys do things like rob banks, kidnap children and knock off convenience stores, there must be an immediate consequence for them to consider. They do all this knowing that good people around them aren’t in position to stop their criminal efforts. And since they realize our hardworking police forces are at closest a few minutes away, that’s all the time they need to get what they want.
This must stop. I believe an open-carry rule would go a long way toward impeding them from wreaking havoc. They would have to think twice about committing a crime, knowing there might be a regular, everyday person inside who would respond to dangerous threats in a way that could directly harm the would-be criminal.
In short, I believe good Oklahomans having the right to have weapons on them in public will help crime rates go down, benefiting banks, businesses and the safety of every citizen.
How are crime rates now, when the average person cannot take a gun with them out and about? Not good. But the laws now aren’t stopping bad citizens from hurting others. Keeping guns out of the hands of good people isn’t the answer. Neither is gun confiscation. When confiscations occur in countries around the world, the crime rates don’t go down, as the "bad guys” still have their guns.
I understand this idea might seem a little outside-the-box, but it is one I think will benefit everyday people who, at present, have no real retaliation if faced with a criminal.
Derby, R-Owasso, represents District 74 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
