Say you had a 16-year-old daughter. She was walking home from the drug store and a car was following her. Then a man jumps out of the car and starts following her on foot. She stops and turns around and kicks him in the crotch. He pulls out his gun and kills her. He then claims this is self-defense.

How would you feel? She had no weapon to protect herself.

Now George Zimmerman’s attorney is trying to restore his right to carry a firearm. If this isn’t a good example where background checks on people buying firearms is absolutely necessary, I don’t know what is. The jury must have been made up of bunch of Republicans to not find Zimmerman guilty of at least manslaughter. You heard how those Republicans claimed they should have a right to carry a firearm for their protection. Where was Trayvon Martin’s protection?

You have probably read how a gun dealer wants to speak nicety-nicety now after that crooked Republican Congress voted down that background checks bill. I will never understand when 90 percent of the public want background checks on firearms buyers and that bill got voted down. You have read where gun dealers are already supposed to get background checks on potential buyers. Every gun dealer knows all they have to do is tell the person to find a friend that will pass the check and they can buy the firearm. Firearms dealers will do anything to make a sale. If that background check bill would have passed I couldn’t sell a firearm legally to someone without a background check. It would be the same as selling liquor to a minor.

During the years that I owned the Antique Mall, I bought and sold several firearms. I feel lucky to say that I am sure none of these firearms were used for criminal activity, but I would definitely feel guilty if I had. I don’t blame the Average Joe for being upset and doing some name calling after the verdict on the Zimmerman/Martin case.

 

Wayne Thorson
Albert Lea