I AM THE 2ND AMENDMENT

I don't know what "a well-regulated militia," a phrase in the 2nd amendment means. The Supreme Court is conflicted as well.  When the 2nd Amendment was written, militias existed as "mini" armies to defend against foreign enemies.  Now, the need for militias seems less relevant, unless government continues to divide the population, in which case there may end up being enclaves with "militia" defense.  I have had at least one gun in my house for 45 years.  I pulled it once; concealed it and went outside to possibly defend my family from an irate neighbor.  That defused itself. He backed down when he realized I had the gun though I tried to conceal it.  I had a gun in my glove box for ten years in Washington State and not once did I pull it out. Almost did when I saw four black thugs get out of their car to intimidate an old man who may have offended them somehow.  Instead I called 9-1-1 and was conspicuous about doing so; they got in their car and took off.  However, had they come after me and I defended myself or the old man with my pistol?  No regrets.  Am I deceiving myself in to a false sense of security?  Doesn't matter from the perspective of public debate.  I have the right to do what I think is necessary to protect myself as long as I don't illegally hurt others even if it is not effective.

I am very disappointed with Trump and Sessions not assuming an aggressive stance on the liberation of the 2nd amendment.  They are cowed by the MSM parades of crying parents and terrified children at a school where there has just been a shooting and the Dems always use this to try to strip people of guns...not further track bad guys, as the FBI absolutely failed to do with this shooter in Florida.  We already have laws on the books to stop people from committing crimes with guns.  The criminals don't pay attention to them and I want to be on the same playing field.  I might not "win" but I take some comfort in knowing I have a chance.

I want Congress and Trump to press forth with concealed weapon reciprocity.  The gestapo states like New York where I "live" argue it is a states' rights issue.  I don't think so.  I believe the 2nd amendment prevents any government from impeding my access to hand guns.

It took me year to get a license in Suffolk County, NY, just to own a gun IN MY OWN HOME.  Really, Sessions, there is nothing worth challenging there?? I was and am still seriously irritated at the process but in the end I believe the county's process conducted a reasonable investigation of my application to carry a firearm.  The process included much of which is being debated nationally.  The problem is that the process will not catch everything.  Okay, I had to be judged "stable" by the county, who even interviewed my wife if you can believe that but what if something happens to me later and I become unstable?  For now, this boy poses no threat (except to home invaders) but one never knows about the future.  

We will have shootings everywhere (I wonder how many people died on that day from gang shootings in big cities?).  We will NEVER disarm the bad guys; the only alternative is to arm the good guys.  Again, I offer the bad guy might get the jump on me but he also might not and if I shoot and kill an armed criminal, I will lose not one minute of sleep over it.

FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOT HEROES

“Hero” per the Oxford on-line dictionary:  

“A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.”

Other sites define “hero” similarly.

For much of my adult life I have been a volunteer firefighter, in locations that use volunteer firefighters.  For two years I was a member of a “paid” (do not confuse “paid” with “professional”) department, but before I was a paid firefighter I was a volunteer in a small town; I was 31 years old when I first joined. I had two toddlers.  I have always had a fascination with fire, perhaps a latent pyro, but was most motivated to be in a position to help any infant or toddler. At that time, fascination with fire and my desire to save a child were my two drivers.

I never lost that desire but eventually I realized I might not actually save anyone, including a child over a lifetime of volunteer activity.  The motivation (for a volunteer) then evolves in to a sense of pride for serving the community, a sense of  “macho,” and,  hoping to be a magnet for the opposite sex, as a “brave hero.”

There is very little “brave” or heroic” about firefighters.  Look again at the definition above, most firefighters are not acknowledged for “outstanding achievements” and none have qualities any more “noble” that the average citizen.  What about “courage”? Sometimes the firefighter must be courageous. When the pallet falls on and kills a big box store employee, is he a hero?  No.  That happens very rarely but it is a risk of the job as is the risk to a firefighter that he might be injured or killed in a fire.

I believe firefighters, both volunteer and paid rode 9/11 to new esteem and, in the case of paid firefighters, to the bank.  The lack of a tough negotiating position by employing officials creates firefighters as a “special interest” group with way too much influence on public budgets, and in the case of volunteers, social status which many have done little to earn. Paid firefighters, many of whom work one day out of four and have second jobs in order to acquire the vacation house or the new boat are not heroes. And every time a firefighter saves someone or gets hurt the union takes that to the bank during the next negotiation with the employer knowing failed negotiations will be sold to the voters as the product of an uncaring employer. Everett, Washington firefighters at one time had their own printing shop and might still.  When they printed and distributed yard signs for a city council candidate it was not because that individual was the best qualified or cared about the city; it was because that individual eagerly did the firefighters union’s bidding. Spokane Valley, Washington firefighters once filed a union grievance because a non-union ambulance company had stand-by duty at the local county fair.  That is greed and does not serve the public interest.

Again, I believe 9/11 was a boon to firefighters.  An employing agency after 9/11 who opposed any legislation or resolution, state or Federal, that lined the firefighters’ pockets, was vilified - “doesn’t care about kids”; “won’t get to the next car wreck in time to save anybody.”  Any discussion about supplementing the paid force with volunteers is met with hatred.  That renders statements about caring for the community an unmitigated lie. The paid firefighter cares about the paycheck and jobs but not about children or heart attack patients. I spend way too much time watching fire-related videos on Youtube.  Many of the segments deal with disputes between firefighters and the employing agency.  Often the issue is closing a station or reducing paid staff.  The fear-mongering is not creative but unfortunately effective:  “It will take us an extra five minutes to get to your house when your baby is choking or your house is on fire.”  In some examples there is some truth but what is the alternative, a staffed fire engine on every corner in the city?  An old statistic but no one refutes it:  95% of fire deaths have already occured before the fire department is alerted.

The employing agency sets staffing levels, not the unions who will never work in the public’s best interest and do not have to balance fiscal issues with service issues. Most firefighters can retire with full benefits after 20 years and most, except in districts with heavy medical response volumes, will sleep all night on the days they are working. They will watch videos, BBQ food they bought at a local store while on duty. They watch late night TV before getting a good night’s sleep.  Shopping for dinner while on duty, upon returning from two or three days off is not “heroic.”  It is abuse of the taxpayer’s dime. And, if the employing agency does not meet contract demands, the firefighter will turn up “sick” more often than usual. This is not “courage.” This is not “hero.” Even volunteer firefighters typically receive some monetary benefits, per-call pay, insurance, minor retirement benefits, local property tax relief and they will become testy if those benefits are threatened. These are some of the benefits in my area; others exist elsewhere.

When the firefighter responds to an emergency s/he (paid or volunteer) is wearing $12,000 - $15,000 in equipment not purchased by him but by the taxpayers. Though he will take risks he will first weigh, per protocol, risk/benefit and forfeit another life if he believes there is too much risk to his life or the life of another firefighter. He does not make this decision uncaringly.   A dead firefighter is a worthless firefighter. If he does get badly hurt he will collect disability for the rest of his life.  Still, this is not “hero.”

How about the volunteer?  The volunteer is not a “hero” either. Except for the financial rewards (see above), he works with the same mentality...wants to be a chick magnet; enjoys his free beer and enjoys the respect of the community s/he serves. The last is certainly a healthy value but not “noble.” The volunteer organization to which I once belonged raises nearly $75,000 per year simply by mailing envelopes to the residents and most of that goes to entertainment for the department members, items like T-shirts and, of course, plenty of beer. Throw in a few paid excursions.  We are not heroes. The good news is that we do not get paid $60,000 or more per year for “serving” our community.

There are “heroes” among us.  The guy or gal with no protective gear, who stops his car on a freeway shoulder and pulls someone from a burning car, the guy or gal, who drops to his knees and performs CPR in WalMart; the guy or gal who swims to a human being who is struggling in the water...these folks are heroes; they are brave, act not in their self-interest or for pay and truly demonstrate “noble qualities” if only in certain circumstances.

I am a volunteer firefighter; it has been in my blood since I was a youngster. I love volunteer work.  I would take “reasonable” risk to save another human being or perhaps a pet but in the end it is about pride, self-fulfilment, community  recognition, a sense of accomplishment and a sense of “giving back.”

None of those attributes mark me as a “hero.”

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