Freedom of gun ownership true common sense   

"The Old Man Wept," by Del Parson

Be suspicious of anyone who defines "common sense" as restrictions on citizens' Constitutional rights and liberties.

"It is past time for our elected officials to start making the lives of students and families a greater priority by enacting common sense gun safety laws."

So wrote Matt Sinivic, executive director of Progress Iowa, in a recent Waterloo [Iowa] Courier guest essay.


http://wcfcourier.com/opinion/columnists/guest_columnists/time-for-common-sense-gun-laws/article_579c6730-5f9e-53e6-8707-31397e27a4ab.html

Sinivic insisted that The State effectively legislate into nothingness Americans' Second Amendment rights, the ones our forefathers acknowledged as gifts from God (see: Declaration of Independence) and that brave generations since defended overseas.

"Gun violence happens right here in our state," Sinivic wrote. "It happens far too often, and it's time for Iowa's elected officials to put an end to these tragic deaths instead of passing laws that endanger students and their families."

What laws might those be? Sinivic urged against the entirely reasonable Stand Your Ground law, presumably preferring that potential victims selfishly run and hide while vulnerable loved ones are brutalized and property stolen. 

Weak sorts decrying Stand Your Ground, and who would shirk their protective responsibilities, have much to explain to their dependent families. 

Sinivic cited as supportive a Center For American Progress / Progress Iowa study he himself had co-authored: Gun Violence In Iowa.

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/guns-crime/reports/2018/04/04/448768/gun-violence-iowa/ 

In the Courier, he conceded that "Most gun deaths are suicides, and firearms are the most common method to commit suicide in Iowa." He offered as a solution less liberty for citizens and greater confiscatory authority for The State.

"Putting in place a gun violence restraining order would empower families to intervene when someone is experiencing a temporary period of crisis that could lead to suicidal or violent behavior."

Sinivic seemingly felt no need to explain why allowing family members who might act with ulterior motives power over others' guaranteed rights is a sound idea. It of course is not.

The Progress Iowa executive director advocated other manners whereby The State can trample the rights of the individual. For instance, he also endorsed granting local sheriffs authority to decide which Americans may have concealed carry permits.

"We should put decision making in the hands of local law enforcement and trust them to keep communities safe," Sinivic said.

Those who would seize liberties away from average people, and who favor an oppressive State that would rule with an iron fist, often deviously claim 'safety' to be their innocent ambition. 

Sinivic went one further: By calculatedly positioning himself as an advocate for law enforcement respect, he implied that any disagreeing with him are effectively against law officers.

Of course, that is a flimsy proposition. It is the freedom-protective citizen who understands that police play an important role in civilized society and who appreciates their daily courageousness and sacrifices. 

Whether one owns a firearm is irrelevant. Constitutional rights are our birthright property, not mere privileges to be grabbed back by The State. 

Surrender of individual rights is not progress. And hacking away at them certainly is not "common sense."