The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

From my cold dead hands: Part II

The two most powerful gun control extremists in Illinois, Gov. Blagojevich and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley are attempting to once again infringe on our right to keep and bear arms. Mayor Daley and Gov. Blagojevich have vowed to "remedy" the recent assault weapon ban expiration with legislation at the state level. These gun control laws only make Illinois citizens easy targets for criminals.

Studies have shown violent crime rates are highest overall in states with laws severely limiting or prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms for self defense. The total violent crime rate, homicide rate and robbery rate are all between 26 percent and 58 percent higher in states that restrict an individual's right to bear arms. What our governor and Chicago's mayor are doing is victimizing the citizens of this state.

Of incarcerated felons surveyed in Florida, 34 percent have been driven away, wounded or captured by armed citizens; Forty percent have decided against committing crimes for fear their would-be victims were armed.

These are criminals telling us, "you are less likely to be victims of violent crimes if you have a gun." If criminals are telling us how to prevent being attacked, then why aren't we doing something about it?

Mayor Daley is working to put a stop to the new federal law that would allow off-duty as well as retired police officers to carry concealed weapons. Who in our country is more qualified to carry concealed weapons than police officers?

A police officer's job requires that one be trained in using firearms responsibly. The terrified liberals running this state don't feel that police officers are capable of carrying firearms because they don't believe in arming anyone. No wonder we have unarmed security guards being killed while attempting to protect our capitol.

Taking guns off the streets is not the answer. Illinois has some of the toughest gun-control laws in the United States, but not one of those laws saved William Wozniak's life. On Sept. 20 Wozniak was brutally murdered while working as an unarmed security guard at the state Capitol.

I personally have no idea how effective an unarmed security guard can be but apparently not effective enough to stop a man from walking into the capitol with a shotgun. What's worse is Randy Nehrt, spokesman for the Secretary of State's office, has declared "all security guards will now be outfitted with vests." How about outfitting them with guns, you nitwits.

Citizens who own guns rarely commit crimes. More often they prevent them, as is the case with Hale DeMar of Wilmette, Ill. As some of you may remember, DeMar was the man who discharged his handgun in his own home to stop a burglar who had already broken into his house just 24 hours prior. DeMar was charged with failing to renew his FOID card and illegal possession of a handgun in city limits which is a violation of Wilmette village ordinance.

A letter from Hale Demar to village officials stated, "If my actions have spared only one family from the distress and trauma that this habitual criminal has caused hundreds of others, then I have served my civic duty and taken one evil creature off of our streets, something that our impotent criminal justice system had failed to do, despite some thirty-odd arrests, plea bargains and suspended sentences." God bless this man and others who do their part to protect our families.

It is our constitutional right to protect ourselves and our families. And with leaders like Blagojevich and Daley taking guns away from police officers, we had better start carrying guns. We cannot expect for law enforcement officers to protect us when they cannot even protect themselves.

Josh is a senior in social science education. The Mouth of the South appears every Tuesday. These views do not necessarily reflect those of the DAILY EGYPTIAN.

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