By Danny Keating, Director of the Louisiana/Mississippi HVAC Insider

“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.”

When I hear politicians talking about taking away our right to own guns, I immediately turn them off. I’m not interested in what they have to say about the subject since I’ve already made up my mind and there is no chance of changing my beliefs. To me, the 2nd amendment to our constitution is the most important one because it allows we citizens to protect the other amendments as well as the constitution.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record (that may need explaining to young people) let’s not forget what George Santayana advised, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Here is a little history from the 20th century as relates to gun control.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. In 1938 Germany established gun control. From 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million people, including 6 million Jews, who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated. China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated. Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

56 million defenseless people were rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control. Is a pattern starting to emerge in your thoughts? Think about it; the very first thing an authoritative government must do to subjugate their citizens is to disarm them. I’m sure that if you check, you’ll find that all the countries mentioned above were disarmed in order to ‘better protect their citizens from violent behavior.’ Sounds familiar? Our politicians are promising to protect us from mass shooters, street criminals or the latest “danger du jour.” I’m not buying what the gun control advocates are selling. I have the right to bear arms and I do not want to have a conversation about it. It’s that simple.

I hope my fellow citizens agree with me in not wanting to ever be a victim. As much as I respect the police, I know that police protection is an oxymoron. Police do not protect you from a crime; they investigate the crime after it happens and then arrest the person who committed the crime. The victims are still the victims. It’s that simple.

I don’t carry a gun to kill people; I carry a gun to keep from being killed. I certainly don’t carry a gun because I hate the government; I carry a gun because I understand the limitations of government. I don’t carry a gun because I’m angry; I carry a gun so that I don’t have to spend the rest of my life hating myself for failing to be prepared if a situation does arise. It’s that simple.

Two countries that are unlikely to ever be invaded by a foreign country are Switzerland and the United States. Switzerland issues a gun to every household that would like one. Citizens are trained in the use of a rifle and are ready to defend their county if called upon. A “neutral” country, yes; a defenseless country, not hardly. The United States doesn’t formally issue weapons or train their citizens, however, we will never be invaded by a foreign power simply because the gun owners in the United States represent the largest armed force in the world.

“No, America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”