Defining Pro-gun
“I’m pro-gun.”
How often have you heard that from a politician seeking your vote?
It seems that every election year brings its perennial crop of “pro-gun” candidates for the state Legislature. These politicians know that they must appear pro-gun to be elected. So they proudly display the label and repeatedly tell you how many guns they own and how much they enjoy hunting.
Then they go to Pierre and vote for legislation to restrict your gun rights.
Actually, the definition of pro-gun is quite simple. A pro-gun legislator is one who supports the 2nd Amendment one hundred percent. He supports the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
The size of his personal gun collection doesn’t really matter. The fact that he enjoys shooting his guns isn’t the point. Whether he thinks he should have the right to defend himself is not the question. The question is: Does he support your right to do so?
Unfortunately, there are many politicians who will say that they support your gun rights. Then they go on to explain that you shouldn’t even be able to purchase a handgun without special government permission. Furthermore, they are sure that you shouldn’t be allowed to carry that handgun for self-defense without more permits, fees and regulations.
Others are a little smarter. They claim the pro-gun label and are careful to say the right things. They may even vote for a few pro-gun bills in election years. But when they think you’re not looking, they will introduce and vote for legislation to restrict your Right to Carry or your ability to purchase a handgun.
Politicians who claim to be pro-gun but vote for gun control some of the time are like the man who claims to be honest because he only lies every now and then.