GUN: A tool to save lives

From the mouths of babes: “Daddy, you finally got here! What took you so long?” This from a small boy who survived the incident at Newtown to his father, one of the responding police officers as he was scooped into his father’s arms.

I have been in emergency services since 1969, as a volunteer fireman, as a career firefighter/paramedic/first-aid instructor, and as a professional civilian and law enforcement use of force instructor. My school has trained more than 10,000 civilians and cops in all levels of force including the judicious use of lethal force. The statement above illustrates a key point we emphasized in our civilian classes: when seconds count, we (police/fire/EMS) are only minutes away.

A firearm in this context is analogous to a fire extinguisher or first-aid kit; a life safety rescue tool. It allows one to “hold the line” until the professionals arrive. Whether a severed artery or a violent human predator, we will not be there for you in time, you must be able to act to save you or a loved one yourself. That is the nature of the beast.

This “gun free zone” concept is relatively new in America. We used to be able to possess and teach the gun in schools in the very recent past. We didn’t have mass shootings in schools and churches then. An infamous bank robber was once asked why he robbed banks. His response was, “because that’s where the money is.” I suspect that if we could ask one of these perpetrators of these most heinous crimes why they picked a school/mall/house of worship/other “gun free zone” they would say, “Because that is where the victims are.”

By definition criminals do not obey laws. Is this too tough of a concept? Laws that limit one’s ability to defend oneself or family are wrong. Legislators that pander to “feel good” laws share in responsibility for past and future heinous crimes. Whether for good intentions or pushing an agenda, the end results are the same.

Stay safe out there. Do what you know is right.

ROBERT SMITH

Coeur d’Alene