Gun Appreciation Day: What's West Pasco Saying?

As Gun Appreciation Day approaches, people are lining up on both sides of the issue to state their opinions and make their stands.

The national movement is being recognized Jan. 19 as a call for gun supporters across the country to let Washington, D.C., know they don’t want their rights tampered with.

We recently asked people across the Tampa Bay area for their opinions about the movement. Here’s what New Port Richey Patch readers had to say:

"Assault weapon" is a term made up by anti-gun politicians with no fixed definition. I reject any arguments based upon it as both technically uninformed and biased before the fact.
Your claim that no one uses any weapon ever defined as such for self-defense is flatly false; in fact, these are by many metrics the most popular weapons for self-defense in America.
Finally, your comparison to nuclear weapons is silly; these are not defensive in nature, except on a strategic scale, and nuclear material is an environmental hazard and thus separately regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. But why do I care if my neighbor has a tank? How does that infringe upon my freedoms—unless he commits a crime with them, which is already on the books? Do you think the Second Amendment wasn't meant to let people have cannons? Because I have news for you: it was militia-held cannons and gunpowder, kept in private barns and a firehouse, that the British tried to confiscate—and that touched off the American revolution. The Founding Fathers experienced, and were referring to, exactly this.

-  JN

Why is the second amendment non negotiable? It is not the bible of America written by God through devine inspiration through the pen hand of man. If the Govenment chooses to repeal it ( they won't do that, BUT ) they can. If you don't like it, you can pick up your Gun & give the Govenment the motivation & excuse to pry it out of your cold dead hand. Good luck taking on light atomic artillary fired at you from jet aircraft straffing your house. An athrax canister, or two will end your revolutionary pipe dream real fast. How about armored personel carriers at your front door?
Do you have a way to escape the light atomic Tomakawk smart missel that will get you? In Tom Jefferson's day, rebellion was an option. Today, napalm & agent orange would be the least of your problems.

-  Michael Mirra

We need to look at history and when the 2nd Amendment was written. We had just kicked the Brits out and the country was afraid that they would invade again, which they did do after we tried to invade Canada in 1812, the first war we didn't win. The Brits burned parts of DC and then left. It was technically a "tie." Eventhough we sent anyone who supported the crown packing, confiscating their property, money, and many walked up to Canada or to the nearest boat dock. The Founding Fathers talked about the right to bear arms and a "well regulated militia." Well they weren't sure that all of the "loyalists" had left and maybe they would start a counter-revolution. It's fascinating history. Everyone would be allowed a musket fine and dandy. Now over the years this has gotten out of hand, muskets turned into pistols, pistols into semi-automatics, and what's next then? If I have the right to bear arms then I'd like to have missiles and grenade launchers and maybe an F-15 for my protection! It's my right! I don't think the gov will do away with the right to bear arms, that's just b.s. from paranoid people. I have never owned a gun, am too old to start now, and have never been shot at or robbed. I live my life without fear. Should we have common sense gun ownership and some rules? HELL YES! How is getting rid of semi-automatics stopping you from protecting yourself? I know of a man in town who goes to a shrink and has a concealed weapon permit. And he's a nut! There's the problem....

-  Grace

"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves?
Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man gainst his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American.... [T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people." (Tench Coxe, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.)

-  Samuel Clemens

What are your thoughts about Gun Appreciation Day? Share them in the comments section.