Kirk Smith's Commentary on Gun Control...

The Sanford Herald published Mr. Smith's guest column last week.  In case you missed it, and wonder what Ms. Irene Smith is having a hissy fit over (her letter condemning Kirk and pushing for more gun control was published yesterday), here it is.

Kirk has given permission to reprint his guest column.

 Intuitive Commentary by 

...Mr. Kirk Smith

The moment the news broke of the mass murder in Connecticut I immediately felt the evil done tearing at my heart for those lost children and adults.

Predictably just like Pavlov’s dog, the gun controllers started salivating for more control.  For the record, the shooter, whose name I refuse to memorialize, violated a number of the some 20,000 gun laws on the books!  One more law or ban will not stop a future attack.

Personally, I find the left demanding we give up on a GOD given “right to keep and bear arms” so as to protect the “children” rather hypocritical!  You see they lament the gun deaths of a mass murderer but ignore the government sanctioned mass murder at our nation’s abortion clinics that claim millions of the most defenseless lives! 

Nor is there any outcry or concern in the national media about the government’s abuse through “Operation Fast and Furious” killing upwards of three hundred Mexicans, two federal law enforcement officers and two dozen Arizonians!   Hypocrites!

For the historically challenged, let us begin with the Second Amendment:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Now, take the word Arms, as defined by the 1768 Military Dictionary (please note the 18^th Century spelling): 

“Arms are all sorts of weapons used in offence or defence; such as sword, hanger, espontoon, bayonet, firelock, carabine and pistol.”

Notice there is no reference to rifles or fowling pieces as they are not military Arms.  

In the 18^th century, the primary weapon of the American colonists was the .75 caliber smooth bore firelock (musket).  At the time the firelock was the state of the art, rapid-fire weapon used by the British Army and the American militias.

The firelock was the rapid fire weapon of the era and in the hands of a well trained soldier fired 3 – 5 times a minute.  On the other hand, the more accurate rifle took anywhere from 1 ½ to 2 minutes to reload one round!  Although the firelock was a rapid fire weapon, the smooth bore barrel made the firelock inaccurate.  It was the volume of fire on the 18^th century battlefield that made the firelock an effect weapon. 

The military strategy of that era used Linear Tactics.  Linear tactics had armies massing, shoulder to shoulder, and facing each other on the 18^th century battlefield.  Each opposing army would fire volleys, move closer, and fire additional volleys, until the officer determines the opportune moment to conduct the final assault.

He would order “FIX BAYONETS!”  Once the bayonet is affixed to the firelock, it becomes an ARM, and it is a very effective ARM in the final bayonet assault!  My does that not sound closely like a “military style assault weapon” thoroughly demonized by our progressive comrades in Congress and our local progressive leaders here in Lee County? 

Let us not to forget, the national disinformation bureaus (media) have effectively demonized a firearm that is rightly guaranteed by our Bill of Rights!  For those hunters who have fallen victim to the demonization of a certain class of firearms, do not worry. The anti-freedom advocates now identify your shotgun as “a weapon of mass destruction” and that Remington 700, .243 deer rifle with scope as “a high powered sniper rifle.”  What other freedom would you like to lose?

For those of you, who want to ban a GOD given right, ask yourself the following question; Why hasn’t 20,000 gun laws on the books prevented this mass murder?  I blame the American Civil Liberties Union whose long march against the Christian faith at each level of our public lives. Their legal actions have effectively taken out the Ten Commandments, diminished the value of life, and destroyed the moral foundations of this nation.  Perhaps we should ban the ACLU’s influence as they promote an evil secular world view?

The NO FIREARMS ALLOWED signs posted on a number of our “gun free zones” do nothing but guarantee a mass murdering maniacal maniac a safe working environment!  The first thing we need to do is take down those signs and post signs warning that criminals face deadly force in order to protect our children!  Then I would create a cadre of teachers who would be trained, qualified to carry concealed, and armed with frangible bullets, much like our federal Air Marshal program.  That would ensure the protection of our children and at a much lower cost.

There is an old military adage that states, fight like weapon with like or better weapon. Another law will do absolutely nothing but restrict the law abiding from protecting their lives, liberties, and property!

As always, I shall remain, In Search of Our GOD Given Liberties!

Kirk D. Smith