Ian Parkinson does not speak for me

March 12, 2013
Ian Parkinson

Ian Parkinson

OPINION By ALLAN COOPER

Ian Parkinson is my sheriff but he does not speak for me when he opposes gun control. He argues that the problem does not lie with the over-preponderance of guns in our society but rather with the untreated problem of the mentally ill.

Though I fully agree society has not fulfilled its obligation in the latter case, I am almost certain that teenagers with too much time at their disposal and an oversupply of guns and testosterone engaging in gang killings are not mentally ill.

I am convinced that accidental killings committed by minors are not committed by the mentally ill and I am convinced that momentary fits of rage on the part of those who possess and use guns against their loved ones are not acts committed by the permanently mentally ill but rather by those who need classes in “anger management.” Go ahead Ian, “pass the buck” and do nothing in the area of gun control.

But the rest of society is “fed up” with this obscene gun fixation that presumably began with TV cowboy westerns in the 50’s and remains to this day a “sacred cow” among conservatives.

 


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“Sacred Cow” ???


Are the 1st Amendment civil rights that you are exercising here any more ‘Sacred’ than my 2nd Amendment civil rights? Perhaps Justice Alito writing for the majority can help make this clearer for you:


“In Heller, we held that the Second Amendment protectsthe right to possess a handgun in the home for the purpose of self-defense. Unless considerations of stare decisis counsel otherwise, a provision of the Bill of Rights thatprotects a right that is fundamental from an American perspective applies equally to the Federal Governmentand the States. See Duncan, 391 U. S., at 149, and n. 14. We therefore hold that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Second Amend-ment right recognized in Heller.”


Short version: Gun rights are civil rights.


Why is Alan Cooper anti civil rights?


Do this for me.


Raise your right hand high in the air if you think only the police should have guns.


Now raise your left hand if you believe that the military should be allowed guns but not law abiding citizens.


Then get used to that position.


+1 Witty!


This is a reply to hotdog who complains that “anyone can have a fit” and that concealed carry permits should not be issued to citizens because a citizen with a gun can be dangerous in the heat of the moment and will settle a dispute with his gun, like if someone “steps on someones wife’s foot and doesn’t apologize fast enough”!


NO hotdog, not anyone can have a fit or would pull out their gun over an argument. There certainly are plenty of hotheads out there but the sort of people that you’re talking about would never qualify for a carry permit. These sorts would already have been in trouble for something or would be considered mentally unbalanced. We are talking about concealed carry permits for upstanding, responsible citizens.


People who are prone to throwing “fits” think everyone else is like that but it isn’t so, LOL.


“mentally unbalanced”. and who determines that? how does CAPSLO and their affiliates get a person’s SS allotment? can’t that go both ways with background checks for weapons?


Yes, anyone can have a “bad day”, “have a fit” or not felt comfortable for one reason or another, but most people do not act out in a manner seen as criminal nor violent.

This is the conundrum over mental health or rather mental dis-ease. 99% of the public goes about their daily lives dealing with “issues” or “feelings” in a logical and “normal” (as in the other 99%) way. A small percentage of the public cannot or will not be able to deal with the most simple tasks in everyday life or deal with uncomfortable situations in a logical or “normal” fashion. Some get help, some take drugs and some act out after a small catalyst sets them off and an even smaller percentage acts out violently.

How we deal with the issue of mental health or di-ease and still respect peoples rights is the problem. Most reaction is just that, after the fact, after the violence is done. No agency even mental health or the health department is willing to do what it takes to really help these people or even label them as needing help. It is not PC nor is it something they are willing to be sued over.

Every legal gun owner has Had to go through a rudimentary background check or register is some way. Almost all pass, but a small percentage fails the check and most are perps trying to buy guns which will never pass the federal checks. Once again, why is no prosecution of these criminals being done?

The first step in solving this issue is to talk about it and be honest about those who are ill and need help.


TO CCN


The REPLY button is broken again on the preceding pages. This is getting to be an ongoing problem.


“Aging white conservative”? LOL! I think Kevin Rice just called me old! ; )


Gun ownership is a right given to us by the constitution people….the reason it is in there is if there is a need the people can take the power back from a government that oversteps its role…the second amendment does not exist for hunting or even simple home protection. California has some of the most restrictive gun laws and guess what. They did not work and do not work.

An armed society is a polite society! If you are scared of guns don’t own one but don’t restrict my right as a tax paying American. Also. I think most cops think along the same line as the sheriff. You would be surprised how many cops would not take firearms from host hard working Americans


Do you truly think that the men who wrote our Constitution envisioned the development of automatic and semi-automatic weapons? Do you believe that their intent was to arm Americans so that they could shoot each other? That is the reality of this “right” in the U.S. today.


Militia is defined as “a body of citizens organized for military service.” Today’s militia is the National Guard. I hardly think that a group of armed “citizens” – even if they had automatic weapons – would be successful in “taking the power back from the government” – so what is the point?? There is such a thing as common sense – ignoring the rate of “death by gun” as a consequence of maintaining a constitutilnal “amendment” is ignoring the “right to life”. Licensing and some restrictions won’t solve all of the problems – but they will help.


The U.S. has the highest gun ownership rate in the world. There are approximately 270 million civilian guns in the US – that means that almost 90 out of every 100 U.S. citizens own a gun. The U.S. is fifth in the world in its rate of murders by gun, surpassed only by Venezuela, Mexico, Columbia and Brazil.


There are approximately 247 million passenger vehicles in the U.S. Yes, more guns than cars. And people are killed by the use of both. We support laws that save lives by requiring demonstration of driving ability through registering drivers and requiring insurance to protect those who are not negligent. The same should be required for gun ownership. The point is not to take away guns – the point is to value human life!


When this it was written everyone had the same type of gun a musket. So the people had military weapons then. I don’t think that automatic weapons are the answer. But liberals writing these stupid laws are ignorant about guns. A ruger mini 14 is a 223 semi auto rifle. And is legal. But an ar 15 that is the same gun is not only for cosmetic reasons? They work the same and shot the same round how is that smart.? They are banning “scary” guns because they don’t understand them. Joe Biden said to get a double barrel shot gun and fire it in the air. Is he serious? I am a good sized guy and I don’t even like the recoil from a 12 gauge. Anyone that has shot an ar 15 knows it is easy to handle and has very little kick. By passing gun control laws you are only restricting the law abiding citizen. Period. The gang member that shot the kid in oceano. He was not able to legally Carry a

gun and guess what he did and he doesn’t care about the law. Maybe we should focus on getting our kids outside and playing like people used to instead of drinking a dozen sodas a day playing violent video games because people either don’t want to or forgot how to be PARENTS!!


I truly think the men who wrote our Constitution (and Bill of Rights) envisioned the people needing to be armed enough to PREVENT their government from becoming what they just fought against to gain their freedom and our Independence. Citizens can have whatever they want. We have laws against murder and other violent crimes, even extra penalties if firearms are used.


If you want to ban something because something might be done in the future, then when would that ever stop? I encourage you to read Philip K. Dick’s The Minority Report if you have not already.


Actually you are wrong. The Militia is defined as follows.


Constituiton for the United States of America


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.


    USC TITLE 10 – ARMED FORCES

    Subtitle A – General Military Law

    PART I – ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS

    CHAPTER 13 – THE MILITIA


    § 311. Militia: composition and classes


      (a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

      (b) The classes of the militia are –

        (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and

        (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.


And again from our State law


▼ Military And Veterans Code

    ▿  Division 2 – The Military Forces Of The State

    ▿  Part 1 – The State Militia

    ▿  Chapter 2 – General Organization

    ▿  Article 1 – Composition


§ 121 – The unorganized militia consists of all persons liable to service in the militia, but not members of the National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia.


You see most of of you don’t know a damn about our political system or your country or your state you’ve never read the Constitution for the United States of America or the Constitution of your state or the law and if you did maybe it was in grammar school and you certainly didn’t understand it and you’ve been letting everyone else tell you what it means ever since. All gun laws in this country are Unconstitutional! if you wanna be a socialist and have big daddy government take care of everything for you and tuck you in at night and take away all the pains of the world go to Cuba, Castro will give you everything, and he’ll even make sure no one has guns, except for the criminals of course, he’ll give you cheap medical care, all you have to do is cut cane for him when it’s harvest time.


Freedom liberty Responsibility

Save the Republic


California Laws

▼ Military And Veterans Code

    ▿  Division 2 – The Military Forces Of The State

    ▿  Part 1 – The State Militia

    ▿  Chapter 2 – General Organization

    ▿  Article 1 – Composition


§ 122 – The militia of the State consists of all able-bodied male citizens and all other able-bodied males

The militia of the State consists of all able-bodied male citizens and all other able-bodied males who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, who are between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, and who are residents of the State, and of such other persons as may upon their own application be enlisted or commissioned therein pursuant to the provisions of this division, subject, however, to such exemptions as now exist or may be hereafter created by the laws of the United States or of this State.

Enacted by Stats. 1935, Ch. 389.


May I point out that by your own numbers, you are showing how much political stink a minority of less than 10% can cause the other 90%. I’m not quite sure how accurate your numbers are, but right now I’d be more afraid of getting shot by an overbearing cop, if not a crooked cop the way things have been going, besides gang memebers usually shoot other gang members in most cases…. Next… Insurance for your gun is retarded and counter-productive and I will explain why. Civillians would get too comfortable and complacent by knowing they are covered by gun insurance and no longer under the weight of liability to use the highest level of caution when firing a weapon. This is why Law Enforcement lately has been having such a hard time all over the country with shooting related accidents because the consequences aren’t REAL until after the fact. Same goes for motor vehicles! It’s all the damn coverage that creates a care-free attitude that leads to risky driving habits which leads to fatal wrecks. Property damage may be a grey area for gun insurance, but If you sincerely value human life then don’t put a dollar value on it by suggesting insurance as a prudent option or solution. If people are really that afraid of getting shot, get some bullet proof vests or move to England.


And to address Mr. Cooper and this false lesson in delusional history, that this country’s interest in the 2nd amendment started in the 50’s. Somebody obviously shouldn’t have made it past 8th grade. This country has become desensitized by TV violence since the 50’s but our interest in the ability to retain and secure our rights by the ability to match the armament and capability of our government was well established over 200 years ago.


people can take the power back from a government that oversteps its role I hear this a lot but cannot imagine how that would work, What? you drive down to the courthouse around the block firing in the air yelling I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore! then go home and wait for your bit on the local news? LOL ultimately we have to face the fact that a minority person being elected president is not the tyrannical government you need to justify the paranioa


Weak. Especially since you completely forgot about the Battle of Athens, Tennessee way, way, way back in 1946 (so long ago)… >.>


Good lord, where do I begin? Our civil rights do NOT flow from a piece of paper. May I offer the foundational principles upon which our Constitution and society are based:


“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”


The Bill of Rights was put in place as a firewall between our civil rights and government intrusion into our civil rights. We are forever at odds with attempting to retain our rights while government is forever attempting to intrude further into those rights.


I am not willing to yield 1 more inch of intrusion into ANY more of my civil rights, not just gun rights.


Welcome to Fox and Friends SLO-style, Allan!


“over-preponderance” Nice job, you invented a word.


Opinion polls are no substitute for the Bill of Rights!


Allan Cooper is a well intentioned guy but for some reason seems to think the answer to every issue or problem is more regulation. I could not disagree more.


Exactly. Why do we have to wear seat belts? Nanny state. First amendment being supressed by libel and slander laws. I wish the courts would uphold the Constitution and not limit the rights of people wanting to call someone a molester even if they have no proof. Doesn’t the first amendment explicitly say “no law” abridgin freedom of speech? And why can’t I have a rocket launcher? Or any other weapon, for that matter? Handguns? Those are so 20th Century. And while we’re at it, let’s de-regulate Wall St. Oh, we did that? What happened?


Helmets, seat belts, smoking, salt, trans fats, sugar… there is always something these yahoos feel they have to ban “for our own good” (because remember, only a pedigreed progressive is intelligent enough to tell you what is good for you).


Glass-Steagall


Car crash fatalities, by year (per 100 million vehicle miles traveled)

2010: 1.1

2000: 1.6

1990: 2.1

1980: 3.4

1970: 4.7

1960: 5.0

1952: 7.2

State With The Highest Death Rate – Montana: 2.0

State With The Lowest Death Rate – Massachusetts: 0.6


I’ll proudly stick with the “yahoos.” We’re smarter and we live longer.