OPINION: A paranoid and insane view of the future

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OPINION: A paranoid and insane view of the future

Posted by

Mark Beardsley

in Opinions

Friday, January 25. 2013

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By Mark Beardsley

After nearly four decades in journalism, I considered myself adequately cynical and pessimistic. I’m negative about the economy (even in good times) and suspicious of government, particularly at the state and federal levels — a glass half empty type.

Turns out I was wrong. Compared to what I hear from discussions of possible avenues of preventing future mass shootings, I’m a blazing optimist.

I feel no need to own an AK 47, a Bushmaster or any other assault rifle. In fact, count me among those who think the sale of assault-style rifles should be banned. It never occurred to me that I’d need such a weapon to fend off hungry masses or to keep federal authorities from confiscating my other guns. In fact, though I realize strange things happen over the course of time, I don’t consider the odds of needing to brandish my .357 magnum revolver in self-defense to be high at all, with the likelihood of needing more than the six rounds it carries to be roughly similar to those of winning the Megamillions jackpot next Saturday.

Every day, a few people use guns in self-defense. More frequently, those guns are used irresponsibility in crimes, in anger and in despair (suicide). Keeping my gun loaded actually increases my danger, statistically.

That’s a chance I’m willing to take, but it turns out there are millions of citizens who expect to use their guns in self-defense, who worry about being attacked by virtual armies. They include people who expect to need sniper rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and high-capacity magazines.

That’s paranoia. While I do not trust government to address global warming or resolve its debt crisis, I don’t toss and turn at night worrying that Homeland Security will batter down my door to take my guns away. I see no need to plan fields of fire to blow away the hoards of 47-percenters trying to redistribute my wealth or about the day when I will be forced to take on the U.S. Army in the next revolution. The Second Amendment doesn’t say I have to be in a militia or that my guns are to be used against government.

Assault weapons are designed to kill people — to assault them fatally. It’s scary to see so many people who expect to — or who hope to — kill others. If we start talking about mental health issues in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, the first people we need to look at are those who believe they need an assault weapon. Who are they planning to assault? They’re the last people who should have any gun from a mental health standpoint.

The people who bear watching are the people so fearful and paranoid that they’re stockpiling weapons and the people who “need” high-powered, high-capacity assault weapons.

But hey, maybe that’s just me, too darned optimistic.

Mark Beardsley is the editor of The Commerce News. He lives in Commerce.

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#1 A G Mouch on 01/25/13 at 11:39 AM [Reply]

I wish I could express your sentiments this well to my old high school friends who are so scared of losing their guns. I share your position regarding guns and mental health. Thank you.

#1.1 Chris on 02/20/13 at 12:37 PM [Reply]

Something I don t believe anyone had bother to mention here is what a Admiral from our past once said about America.
We the people are still the best defense against any foreign invader because of what this Admiral said .

You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.”

A word to the wise written in another famous quote.

“I fear all we have done is awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.”

This is all that will happen if those who have clearly broken their contract with America when they gave their oath to office to protect our Constitutional Rights and now move to take them away .

#2 Peace Out on 01/25/13 at 01:37 PM [Reply]

It seems so simple,when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. Damn straight, makes it easy to figure out who the bad guys are and get 'em! Way to bringing some humor to a deadly serious topic. Well done.

#3 Joe Christmas on 01/25/13 at 03:41 PM [Reply]

Great column Mark. The majority of people who dream about mowing down invaders who are after their property are losers who have watched too many action movies. They are too stupid to realize that if society breaks down and people are attacking other peoples homes that all hope is lost and they would be better off dead than to live in a society where only the best killers survive.

#3.1 Sounds familiar on 02/06/13 at 04:53 PM [Reply]

Kinda like Nazi Germany eh Joe??

#3.1.1 Adam on 02/08/13 at 09:19 AM [Reply]

But now the children of those 'best killers' in Nazi Germany are living a wonderful life in a very advanced country.....

HMMMM!

#4 sovrncitzn on 02/01/13 at 06:32 AM [Reply]

Alcohol prohibition work out really well. Drug prohibition has been a true success, a model for banning anything really. So we can deduct that gun prohibition will be a huge success. Hey if you criminalize guns and they become as plentiful and easily accessible as drugs that may not be a bad thing.

#5 Double B on 02/04/13 at 08:52 AM [Reply]

No one has said anything about banning Guns just Assault weapons. Stop drinking the GOP coolaid and read something for a change. This is as bad of the so called Obama phones that should be called Bush phones.

#5.1 You no listen do you DD? on 02/06/13 at 04:56 PM [Reply]

Sure they did or have you not been listening? Oh wait, you're one of the 47% who voted for the missiah aren't you? YOU DRANK THE COOLAID my friend and didn't even realize it.

#5.2 sovrncitzn on 02/07/13 at 10:22 PM [Reply]

I am not a Republican at all I don't agree with anything they stand for. Assault weapons are just guns that look scary to people. My self I prefer the 800-1000 yard shot. How much damage do you think someone could do at night with a cross bow?

#5.3 adam on 02/08/13 at 09:24 AM [Reply]

wow, still blaming Bush...but hey, that is waht Obama teaches people. blame others - it is never your fault.
Light your candles adn bow down to your messiah double b, i bet you disagree with your spouse more than you do Obama...I bet you change your mind based on what Obama says and does - but yet argue with your spouse!

Typical Hypocrat!

#5.3.1 Double B on 02/11/13 at 08:49 AM [Reply]

Adam the communication act was started under Clinton and was changed under Bush with a full Republican Congress to give free cell phones so yes it happened under Bush. Being un-imformed and stupid in the information age is a choice.

#5.4 Chris on 02/20/13 at 12:42 PM [Reply]

What Koolaid would that be you are drinking. Joe. I personally don't care what other peoples opinion and convictions are I am a free person with protected rights and others may live how they wish but it will be a cold day in H_@# before you are anyone like you takes my rights away.

#6 Adam on 02/08/13 at 09:33 AM [Reply]

We have been taught over and over - study history or it will repeat itself.
Stalin, Hitler, Castro and a number of others - banned guns and then took over the country and you know the rest. Obama already has 47% following him blindly - like Double B above - he takes the guns away from the rest and he is now a King. No one before him has used Executive Order this much, attacked News stations that report against him, forced bills and laws through by back door politics, forced thousand year old religions to change their views, cause anger among women, religions, different races, differet age groups...Tyranny!! Wait and see if he steps down easily in 4 years!

#6.1 How so very true! on 02/20/13 at 09:20 PM [Reply]

As the nazi's marched the Jews to the gas chambers, the remaining Germans enjoyed the rewards of confiscation. Hitler an ego-maniac (shades of obama follow suit) murdered millions, which is nothing compared to the muslim if given a chance. The ignorant followers of the muslim will be marched off not long after the loyal Americans. Will you blame bush for your stupidity then? Congressional impechment? Martial Law will fix that red wagon. Hey, didn't Hitler learn this very early?

#6.1.1 sovrncitzn on 02/23/13 at 06:50 AM [Reply]

And just remember in Nazi Germany talk of concentration camps was a paranoid insane view of the future.

#6.2 Peace Out on 02/21/13 at 12:13 PM [Reply]

There isn't much to add to the commenter who said being so woefully ignorant of facts is a choice in this day and age. Obviously you're hatred of the President, the Constitution, and the greatest democratic experiment human kind has ever known, these United States of American is a deep seated psychological and emotional problem for you. But when you say that "no one before him has used Executive Order this much..."
I guess if what you meant to say is that the current President has been moderate, respectful, intelligent and very conservative in using executive orders LESS than EVERY OTHER PRESIDENT IN THE LAST 100 YEARS!
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/01/obama-executive-orders-guns.html

#7 Adam on 02/08/13 at 09:35 AM [Reply]

"Keeping my gun loaded actually increases my danger, statistically.

That’s a chance I’m willing to take"

The criminals in Commerce that read this just crossed Mark's house off thier list!!!

#8 PROUD NRA MEMBER on 02/10/13 at 11:39 AM [Reply]

Yet another uneducated (on the matter) journalist trying to demonize the infamous 'black gun'. I'd love to hear Mark Beardsley give an accurate definition of an 'assault rifle'. Hint #1: A Bushmaster .223 caliber semi-auto loading rifle is NOT (by definition) an assault rifle. I'd be willing to bet the 1st thing that pops into his head is 'machine gun'. That's fine. 'Machine guns' have been illegal for just anyone to own for a very long time. You can own one, but you have to have special permits issued by the BATFE and requires annual renewal of that permit. Assault rifles are 'select fire' guns that can be switched to single, burst, and full auto. I can't think of one instance where these were used to commit crimes in the last 10 years.

Mark Beardsley also mentions 'statistics'. What he SHOULD have done is looked a little deeper into statistics from the FBI's criminal database. In 2011, only about 3% of murders in this country involved rifles...including semi-auto loading sporting rifles which includes AR15/M4s, AK-47s, AK-74s, etc. In 'FACT', there were more murders committed with "hands, fists, feet" than all rifle and shotgun murders combined. And people think semi-auto rifles are a problem??? This is factual data that anyone can see on the FBI's crime data website.

Hint #2: A revolver achieves the same result as any semi-auto pistol or rifle. Each time the trigger is pulled, a new round is places in front of the firing pin....ready to fire. Should we push a ban on revolvers, too? By Mark Beardsley's opinion, it sounds like there she be a complete blanket gun ban. When you begin to infringe on the 2nd Amendment, then all other Amendments on the Constitution of The United States become vulnerable.

I'd be willing to bet that one of Mark Beardsley's true heroes is Piers Morgan. Seems you both share a lot of the same views.

#9 Anonymous on 02/12/13 at 03:14 PM [Reply]

If only Jesus and Moses had been allowed to keep their assault rifles, we could be living in a much better world.

#10 Joe Christmas on 02/13/13 at 03:22 PM [Reply]

Jesus likely had brown skin and certainly didn't speak English. I don't think he would be trusted by most the people resopnding to this column.

#10.1 anon on 02/17/13 at 05:54 AM [Reply]

You got that right, they'd be the ones crucifying him.

#10.1.1 Chris on 02/20/13 at 12:26 PM [Reply]

You are all exactly right . One point you seem to miss is that Jesus would treat all people equally which is something that does not happen in our country anymore. To many have been given special consideration while others are denied . Would Jesus support that ?

#10.2 Chris on 02/20/13 at 12:45 PM [Reply]

Say what you know Joe not what you think or assume . You should be ashamed of yourself for even saying what you just said . That is on so many levels wrong to use the Lord Jesus Christ to beat people over the head . How much do you think he would approve of that?

#11 Ignorant Media Sheeple: on 02/20/13 at 09:10 PM [Reply]

Oh the ignorant muslim worshipers, how they lay their heads upon the chopping block with no sense of reality.

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