bases_loaded
My cousin wrote this to our congressman last night. I am posting it here because I think it needs shared. I've deleted his name only protect myself. He also posted this on CNNs facebook page.
[LEFT]Congressman Gibbs,
My name is bases_loaded. I'm a senior Chemical Engineering and Mathematics student at the University of Akron. My father, also an engineer, and my mother, a nurse, have worked tirelessly to ensure that I have an opportunity to succeed in life. I am not one who enjoys taking handouts. I am not satisfied unless I feel the value in what I have accomplished. Somehow, pure attrition has no substitute in receiving charity. I once offered to pay back my father for all of the assistance he has given me and he looked me in the eyes and said "do it for your son." There's no greater motivation for me than to know that one day I can be a contributor and not a burden on anyone. I feel very strongly that the backbone of the United States is the drive to work harder and more efficiently than anyone who may take that opportunity to work away from you. I also feel that drive is disappearing from the public eye. The feeling of accomplishment stemming from a hard days work is slowly being eclipsed by an immoral slum of lackadaisical buffoons, taking no pride in their work. The ugliest truth of the matter is there is no shortage of this sentiment in our universities. This culture of hedonistic, thrill seeking young people makes me cringe at the thought of them having an impact on the future of the USA. But, they certainly have had that impact. There are lawmakers in office currently that I feel are so far out of touch with what this country needs, I almost take their words as sarcasm. Surely, I can't really believe that our president, the representative head of our republic, would think passing a healthcare bill that is monetarily impossible would be a good idea. I work my way through school at a restaurant. Immediately after said bill took effect, all kitchen employees had their hours cut to 25 hours a week. I hear stories about this happening elsewhere. I hope that this situation most low income families find themselves in is more comfortable for them -- Less choice, less money, gimped healthcare. I understand the emotional play of the Democratic Party. I sure would love for everyone to succeed. I'd love for everyone to have what they need to survive. The truth is, we don't have the money to give it to them. The glory of the USA is in the OPPORTUNITY to make what you want for yourself. The FREEDOM to choose your own future. I can take care of myself. I know that many others could do it if they put their mind to it. Life was never promised to be easy. Life was also never promised to be free. Here in America, we have that freedom to live a respectable life on our own terms and take care of ourselves. I urge you to please take what I am saying into consideration with your future votes. Creating a land of safe, easy gimme's is as effective as giving a man a fish in the old saying. Vote for those laws that allow the man to learn to fish. Vote for those laws that give the man the opportunity to fish, hunt, gather, etc. If the man resorts to finding his own meal, maybe he'll see it isn't all that bad contributing to society. Someone has to do it. It would be much better if everyone did it. Why would we ever enable the lazy man to eat? It isn't his right to have fish. It is his right to be able to fish if he wants to.
I have been shooting guns as long as I can remember. Gun safety is exceptionally important, as is safely driving a car. As adults, we take on responsibilities that could result in severe harm if taken lightly. I personally operate chainsaws, drills, table saws, my everyday motor vehicle -- all things that could result in serious bodily harm with very minor error. Owning and firing a weapon is like any other responsibility to me. Do you remember when you drove your first car? Were you nervous? I know I was. The thought that I was driving a 2000lbf piece of metal at 65 miles per hour sounded pretty dangerous. Given my educational background, I know that's a lot of kinetic energy. The driver's education instructors are no strangers to scare tactics. The gory crash photos, the horror stories. Never-the-less I got behind the wheel and sure enough, it worked out just fine, I'm still alive. I'm sure shooting a gun sounds very scary to people who have never seen one, let a lone held one. Guns aren't for everyone, but it is my right to have one. The only difference between the danger of a motor vehicle and the danger of a firearm is the emotional appeal. It is more easily justifiable based upon the fear of the inexperienced to allow cars for transportation than it is to allow guns. I'm sure most people would find it easily justifiable to cull the Westboro Baptish Church. The fact of the matter is that it is highly illegal to cull undesirables. It is also illegal, according to the only document that matters in this great country, to take away our right to bear arms. I don't like a lot of things that people have a right to do in this country and I don't say a word about them. The only thing I ask is that you don't take away the rights that I have based upon this fear. I don't think it would take me long to find a man skilled enough with a CNC machine to make a gun from scratch. Laws can't stop the flow of weapons. James Holmes was a doctoral student. There will be a time when another man of intelligence has a grudge to settle, builds his own weapons and slaughters everyone that he can until someone else with a gun stops him. I can fire my weapons very accurately, I wouldn't mind being one of those people who would potentially stop him. Let me ask you, would you walk through a bad neighborhood with a sign that says "I'm unarmed'? When I walk into a Gun Free Zone, I feel like I do have one of those signs. The worst part about those zones is that in those areas, the bad neighborhoods come to you. I am all for strict requirements to obtain a weapon. I wouldn't mind a target test, background checks, mental screenings, anything that is humanly possible to prove that I am capable of being trusted with that responsibility. Please, vote for the laws that allow able minded, willing, adults to be armed. I am not pushing for everyone to have a weapon. I don't think everyone should have a weapon. I think that those who are able and willing should be able to have their constitutional right to bear arms and protect themselves.
For fear of lost interest, I digress.
I conclude with this:
There are still people in this country that want to work and want to work hard. They are the only people that you can rely on. It's as simple as balancing a checkbook. Think of working as positive cash flow and incessantly collecting handouts as a debt. Don't enable the lazy to drive us into debt. Don't enable the scared to disable the brave.
Regards,[/LEFT]
I'd like to add to his letter; can we please do the same kind of checks for voting that we do for guns? Or at least have a government furnished ID? I realize this would eliminate 80% of Democrats from voting, but it'd be a start.