Is a handgun suitable for defense? - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
Heller at the High Bench
in response to reader comment: rcivil rights

Submitted by Frank Tuccker, Mar 20, 2008 15:23

The right to self defense predates the creation of our constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Second amendment supports this right as a right of "the people" and protects this right from government abridgement. If over a million police officers feel the need for a handgun as part of their self preservation on the job, why is it so difficult to then determine that this tool is not only adequate in many circumstances to self preservation but designed to perform well for this task? The handgun is smaller than a rifle or shotgun, is easily transportable on a persons body and is therefore more likely to be available for use as a defensives tool. That is the primary reason police and others choose this tool to assist in their self preservation when confronted by deadly force.

To ban the possession or use of this tool as a means of self defense is the immoral act of those who, through some psychological impediments hold an irrational fear of guns in the hands of law abiding citizens or in some cases any citizens other than law enforcement. If it is ok for law enforcement to poses this instrument for self defense, then it should be equally permissible of any law abiding citizen to "keep and bear" the same tools for that reason.

The elitist attitude of some who would decide for us what is best but accept no responsibility when their policies fail is an affront to all Americans and to people everywhere. The reason our republic works is that our constitution reserves certain rights for "the people". Very few other governments provide this protection, or if it exists within their documents, they tend to ignore it. These are precious gifts from our founders that make us unique in the world and amongst other democracies. They have been protected in the past and in the present with the blood of citizen patriots and this sacrifice should not be squandered for some political objective or, as has been ostensively shown as an ineffective means of resolving social ills.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
...but when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Citizens should have the means to protect themselves because several... [MORE]	David Adams	Mar 21, 2008 07:04
The term "illegal guns" is a term of disception. How could a gun that was manufactured and placed in commerce... [MORE]	LK Friedman	Mar 21, 2008 00:32
Guns are good. The 2nd Amendment protects my right to have them. The 2nd is a right, just like the... [MORE]	Jon Zemans	Mar 20, 2008 23:10
Lots of really nice folks live in New York - but if you're not Steven Segal or Rosie O'Donnell you... [MORE]	Thomas Vannaman	Mar 20, 2008 22:09
As long as we G.I.s were going to some other country but the moment we want to exercise the rights we... [MORE]	FE	Mar 20, 2008 20:31
We have fought to keep our BILL OF RIGHTS and we will keep them always,Good common sense will prevail as... [MORE]	KEN ADAMS	Mar 20, 2008 20:17
Hmm. Part of the Mayor's problem seems to be a misunderstanding of the mother tongue. In the application of the... [MORE]	Mike McDaniel	Mar 20, 2008 16:35
Did you really mean that NYC has a "magnificent police force? Then chew on these stats: Year 2006- 7.3 per 100000-murder... [MORE]	T.Paine	Mar 20, 2008 14:56
As a Jewess in the US, may I remind everyone that criminals are stopped by FIREARMS, not by talk? And... [MORE]	Wendy Weinbaum	Mar 20, 2008 14:00
Most New Yorkers don't want to own guns or carry them. Can you cite your source? [MORE]	Arrowrod	Mar 20, 2008 13:16
Think about this, the big wigs arguing that we need more gun control are the ones who can afford private... [MORE]	J. D.	Mar 20, 2008 12:41
The right to bear arms is absolute. It was put in the Constitution by the Founders to allow citizens to... [MORE]	M Turner	Mar 19, 2008 08:39
what if the 2nd were written precisely to read that A well regulated militia is necessary to the security of... [MORE]	Donald Cole Lost Springs Kansas	Mar 19, 2008 06:30
Come now, Mr. Cole, either accept the amendment or reject it but please spare me your personal interpretation! There are two... [MORE]	Gary Shields	Mar 19, 2008 21:22
Gary; I do appreciate that the right to bear arms is absolute and that the right does belong to citizens... [MORE]	Donald Cole Lost Springs Kansas	Mar 20, 2008 01:07
THE WAY IT IS If it were as you say, Mr. Cole, and our forefathers had written the second amendment "precisely... [MORE]	blueangel	Mar 20, 2008 14:45
Our founding fathers knew EXACTLY what they were doing in guaranteeing our right to "Keep and Bear Arms". We must... [MORE]	Rick Storlie	Mar 20, 2008 20:12
This 2nd Amendment individual gun rights issue is so sweet because rich and important folks - that are allowed teams... [MORE]	Pshaw	Mar 19, 2008 00:54
2nd Amendment individual gun rights issue is so sweet because rich and important folks - that are allowed teams of... [MORE]	arthur	Mar 20, 2008 12:13
The right to self defense predates the creation of our constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Second amendment supports...	Frank Tuccker	Mar 20, 2008 15:23
The DC anti handgun argument seems to include reluctant acknowledgement of the benefit of possessing a firearm during a break... [MORE]	Woodpiggie	Mar 21, 2008 00:57

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Reader comment on:
Heller at the High Bench
in response to reader comment: rcivil rights