Gun laws only affect law-abiding citizens. “Taking the guns off the streets” will only affect those that follow the laws. The criminals will still hold on to their guns illegally, as they have been all along, and the illegal, black market will continue on. Because gun laws only affect those who are following the law in the first place.

Contrary to popular belief, your life is not protected by your local police department. Just imagine someone trying to break into your home. Think about how long it takes to walk from your front door to the bedrooms, where your loved ones are sleeping. IF you are able to hear the intruder before he enters your home, does that leave you enough time to pick up the phone, call the police, and have them arrive before the intruder reaches your family?

NO! It’s time for a reality check.

Believe it or not, gun owners enjoy the fun and challenge of target shooting. They are not out maliciously mowing down targets of innocent people with a sense of grandeur. A gun has never robbed a store, shot someone, or left itself out for a child to play with. Please understand that it takes a person’s poor discretion or utter carelessness to use a gun improperly.

How many people who consider themselves “anti-gun” have ever touched a gun or been shown how to properly operate one? It is ignorance on their part that brings about their fear.

God forbid a catastrophe strikes and you are left to fend for yourself and your family. Would someone without a gun be able to provide food for their loved ones? How about the ability to protect their family? Chances are they would be befriending their gun-toting neighbor.

Did you know?

 In three of the past five years Westmoreland County ranked 2^nd in the state of Pennsylvania for the number of issued carry permits, with its neighboring county (Allegheny) taking 1^st. In the other two years Westmoreland was 3rd behind Philly. What makes the previous sentences more significant is when you look at population by county.   

Philadelphia    - 1,470,000

Pittsburgh       - 1,251,000

Westmoreland -    368,700

In the last five years in Westmoreland County, a mind-boggling 26,542 - 5 year permits were issued.  Do you know what that means for you? It means that within the last week you were probably standing next to someone who had a handgun concealed under their shirt. You had no idea. So, in reality, a criminal can do it just as easily.

So, aside from “staying legal” and pumping some more money into the local government, what does getting a carry permit achieve? What does any gun law achieve? Nothing. A criminal will get a gun regardless of laws—that’s what makes them a criminal.

GUN LAWS ONLY AFFECT LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS. Drunk drivers use cars in their act when they kill an innocent family driving to church on a Sunday morning. Why aren’t people outraged and demanding that cars be made illegal?

There are normal, average Joes standing the checkout line with a firearm concealed. This person goes to the range as much as he can to practice, and it is very possible that he shoots more often than your local police force. Before you go spouting some anti-gun talking point, think about the law-abiding citizen out there that might one day protect you and your loved ones when the police can’t be there. That citizen might take that action because he hopes that someone else will step up to the challenge if his family is ever in trouble and he can’t be there.

Thank you for your time,