CLOSE the open-carry law Nationwide!

McKenzie, in response to your “Open-carry Texans” posting, I can give you several reasons why that law is dangerous to you and those around you. Before Florida stopped allowing the open carry option the possibilities of shooting injuries and deaths were endless. I will start with a few personal stories of a family member and friends.

Picture this: My Cousin was 19 years old, had a fight with her Husband and told him she’s leaving him. He leaves, and she calls her Dad to tell him she’s on her way. Husband goes to his Brother’s house and gets his Brother’s gun. Returning to the house before she had time to leave, he threatens her with it. After continued argument, that the neighbors reported, his anger peaks and he shoots and kills her. This left their 3 year old Daughter with no Parents after he was sentenced to life in prison.

And this: When I was in High School one of my classmates was murdered by her boyfriend after he telling him that she didn’t want to date him. He got the pistol from a friend who kept in out in the open and would brag about having it. He killed her and then committed suicide, leaving a note of a broken heart. They were 14 and 16 years old.

After the law was in place in 1987: A friend of mine heard what she thought was a burglar. She got up to get the gun she and her husband had in the bedroom. It was a good thing that that gun was kept with the 2 steps away rule, because it gave her husband time to make his presence known. His intent was to surprise her; however, she would have shot him if the gun were in the nightstand where they use to keep it. Another friend shot her son because she thought he was a prowler. Because he heard her getting to the gun and had time to react, she shot him I the arm and didn’t cause permanent damage.

I have friends and family that might be here today if guns weren’t readily assessable for them. Those laws are in place to protect those with quick to act and slow to think tempers from those whom they might ascend upon. To protect us from those who are paranoid and startle easy and the imbalanced who react to anything without conscience. I believe all states should ban the open-carry law. Obviously there is the responsibility of the person who owns the gun. If someone feels they need to own a gun, they may be in a state of paranoia and that may cause a quick action response. A gun owner should keep its whereabouts to himself, and not go around making it obvious for those who may want it for an unsafe use. This isn’t the Wild West anymore for a reason, guns are not safe, and allow opportunities for what can be life altering or life ending actions and crimes. I’m not even going to get started on when children find the guns. Find more information on gun laws in your state.

Building Fences Can Be a Good Thing

There are so many articles available on the topic of fencing our border between the U.S. and Mexico and in reality, will we ever see it happen and what is the result if it doesn’t? In my mind there needs to be a barrier. Border patrol is not doing enough to impact the number of illegal’s crossing over. Could it be that they are being paid off? My Grandfather works in a higher rank of the patrol and he says “unfortunately yes, these guys are being paid very little to risk their lives collecting people who will kill in order to change their opportunities in life.”

Do I understand why they run? Maybe. The Mexican Government does little for the people thus making the rich richer and keeping the poor where they are. Changing the Mexican governing body I feel is the first step to alleviating the issue posed on the U.S. by illegal aliens crossing the border. I also feel that if industry and businesses would stop hiring the illegals for the benefit of cheap labor that illegals would not see “an out.” Go to any Home Depot or Lowes or construction supply retailer at 6am and there are 20-40 or more Mexican workers looking to get hired for the day. What is stopping police officer’s from driving up with a truck and loading those who are not here legally?

Why is it that when an illegal has a child here in the U.S. they are automatically given social services’ benefits and sent on their merry way? The Texan system has taught illegals that birth is the fastest way to get to stay here on a free ride. Has anyone noticed the highest average of teen births in Texas belongs to Mexican’s, whether citizen or not? Also, when a child registers for school they have to show a residence. I know of a couple of families that are not legal. Their kids are in school and getting welfare. How they are not deported is beyond me? The system is broken and the illegals know it and take advantage of it instead of fighting for rights in their own country.

The flip side is who is to say they are in poverty? Mexico has been that way forever and its not until someone walks in and says “you can do better or it’s better over there” that they realize that things can be different. I have taken Mission’s trips to Haiti over the past several years and you would be amazed to see how happy the people are in living how they live. It’s only when the “blancs,” as they call us, show up and tells them they should want something more that there is a feeling of inadequacy from them. It’s sad that society judges and condemns creating the vast differences and economic nightmares for itself. Texas is getting what it deserves and what it’s taught others to believe, but unfortunately the taxpayers foot the bill.