Some time ago a good friend and business associate looked up during a long business planning meeting and said ‘ya’ll we can either talk this to death or start fixing at the problem’. I have thought about that often in life and I think it applies to the long-standing debate of CCW responsibility, 2nd amendment rights and gun control. There is a country song by Chad Brock that says, “Thunder's just a noise, boys, lightning does the work’ and we have all heard a lot of thunder on this issue but I would like to see more of the work.

I will share some thoughts and background with you here. I hope the statistics I found will help you understand the issue more fully and make your own conclusion on how to be fixing at the problem.

A positive move forward was seen recently when North Carolina lawmakers have approved a measure that would require courts to give battered spouses something extra when they seek a restraining order — information on how to apply for a concealed weapon. Another positive move was made when Rep. Albert Hall and Sen. Jeff Enfinger are sponsoring a bill that would expand citizens’ rights to use self-defense in the state of Alabama. Hopefully all 50 states will take a stand and have similar laws eventually.

Our Bill of Rights, in ARTICLE I Sec 1 states ‘All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.’ The U.S. Constitution: Second Amendment states and is clear in it’s intent that ‘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.’ The Second Amendment to the Constitution, which protects "the right of the people to keep and bear arms."

The question of rights verses responsibility boils down to two areas, as I see it. To me it is clear we have the right to own reasonable firearms as well as the right to protect our families and ourselves. Then the question is does it make more sense to bear arms for self-protection, protection of your family and the good of the community? The other question then becomes do we have a responsibility to the security of our free State and to defend life, liberty and protect property?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have been warning for several months about the real possibility of another terrorist attack in the U.S. To combat this threat, thousands of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have devoted significant resources to homeland defense. In addition, millions of civilian "first responders" (primarily EMTs, firefighters, Civil Defense and civic groups) stands ready in case of a terrorist attack. In addition to the official homeland defenders, there are hundreds of thousands of concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit holders, some with extensive firearms training, who represent yet another line of defense against terrorism.

According to FBI Uniform Crime Reports that violent crime rates are highest overall in states with laws severely limiting or prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms for self-defense. This can be extended to a thought that the more restrictive the gun laws, the more Americans are at put at risk. It seems to me that predators may be more circumspect if they have reason to think their intended 'victims' might have a loaded pistol in pocket or purse. It seems that allowing law-abiding citizens full advantage of their Second Amendment guarantee is not just the proper constitutional thing to do. It is exactly the right thing to do.

A recent Gallup Poll shows that one out of three American women say they now own a gun. About half of American families own guns now and is any wonder? We keep seeing violent crime including murder and rape increasing in all parts of our country. According to data released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the number of Crime Index offenses reported to law enforcement during the first 6 months of 2002 increased 1.3 percent when compared to figures reported for the same period of 2001. The violent crime offenses of murder and forcible rape both showed increases in 2002 when compared to 2001 numbers, with murder increasing 2.3 percent and forcible rape, 1.8 percent. 2003 continued this trend with homicides that have increased for the third consecutive year. Crime costs Americans $450 billion annually. Despite two decades of “get tough” policies -- with longer, often mandatory prison sentences -- the rate of crime in America is high compared to other developed nations and juvenile violent crime has spiraled during the past decade.

Violence in America is now invading the workplace, putting at risk the safety, productivity and health of American workers, and this violence appears to be on the increase. According to the latest Bureau of Justice Statistics' annual crime survey, nearly 1 million individuals become victims of violent crime in U.S. workplaces each year. While workplace homicides due to disputes between co-workers, clients, or spouses usually make national news, the majority of homicides that occur at work are committed during a robbery or robbery attempt. Domestic violence is a problem that does not disappear when women leave home and enter the workplace. Perpetrators come to the workplace searching for the intended victim because they are often barred, through legal injunctions or restraining orders, from going to the victim's home.

Your home, like a safe harbor at the edge of an angry sea, the suburban neighborhood is an environment of protection from the world and all its dangers. Or is it? According to the FBI, there were more than 2.3 million burglary offenses nationwide in 1998. An estimated $3.1 billion in losses were a result of burglaries. In 2002-2003, there were an average of 223,280 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault and many of them in their own home. In 2003 alone, there were 198,850 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. About four out of ten sexual assaults take place at the victim’s own home. Two in ten take place in the home of a friend, neighbor or relative. One in ten take place outside, away from home. And about one in 12 take place in a parking garage. 43% of rapes occur between 6 pm and midnight. 24% occur between midnight and 6am. The other 33% take place between 6am and 6pm.

Violent crime on college campuses has taken a disturbing jump, new statistics showed that the murder rate on college campuses almost doubled in 2000. Burglary, rape and drug related crimes were up as well. Violent juvenile crime has risen sharply in recent years both on campuses and it has reached epidemic levels in some low-income suburbs. Juveniles accounted for about 16% of forcible rape. The U.S. Government released a report noting that nearly twice as many teenagers reported gangs in their schools in 1995 as did in 1989. They also reported that the number of students victimized by violent crime increased nearly 25 percent.

With the increasing risk of being a victim of a violent crime, the real threat of terrorism still looming over us, and the problems of society growing it is becoming a responsibility to exercise our rights. The bottom line is that we do have a responsibility to protect our family, our community and our property. How we choose to do that is a personal decision but I urge you to keep safety in mind and not endanger your family or your community by your accepting your responsibility. If you have a gun in your home protect children and visitors from access to it. Learn the safe way to handle a gun. Keep safety in mind at all times.

The ability to keep and bear arms is one of the most important rights you can have. It allows you to meet your responsibility. Share your thoughts, let your voice be heard in a positive and constructive manner to protect our current rights and expand our freedom through law and public awareness. We do have the right and thank God we do!