Thursday, June 6, 2019

Virginia Beach shooting: When evil calls "Be Prepared"


Always Be Prepared

"Paratus"



"In English, this motto is most commonly Be Prepared. In the third part of Scouting for Boys, Robert Baden-Powell explains the meaning of the phrase: The Scout Motto is: BE PREPARED, which means you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY. "

The question becomes, what is your duty? I think about Police officers, Military personnel, Congress, and the President of the United States, each having made personal decisions to uphold a commitment to his fellow man. The Virginia Beach shooting is a reminder as to why the 2nd amendment is so crucial to this idea of being prepared. "The right to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" is for the very purpose of defending against evil. A look at America's most essential cities and strict gun laws compared to gun violence is all we need to understand why strict gun laws do not work.

 The Bible is full of stories concerning wolves and sheep. I choose to "Be Prepared." I accept the path of the sheepdog. Each person who reads this has decided to be a wolf, a sheep, or a sheepdog. Then there are those like DeWayne Craddock who chose to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is a wolf in sheep's clothing; the 2nd amendment proponents are committed to training, to "Be Prepared." Police, our golden sheepdogs, cannot be everywhere.  But sheepdogs, we are the ones who prepare to fill the role of backup, last chance, or when all else fails. 

When Tommy Norment goes to Richmond, I hope he will consider the following.

1. If you create "gun-free zones," it is the city's responsibility to post-golden sheepdogs (police) in every gun-free zone.

2. Gun Owners should have an incentive to purchase gun safes. A generous tax credit for the purchase of gun safes for home security and previous purchases should be considered.

3. Training: James City County has gone too long without a gun range. Whereby citizens can practice gun safety and provide active shooter training; citizens who choose to be sheepdogs should be working more closely with local police in supporting roles. We should be planning for active shooter response and how to identify sheepdogs in an actual situation.  I would not be upset if gun owners were required to receive better training. If we promote these types of ideas, we will always "Be Prepared." However, if we allow the sheep to take from us our teeth, the wolves will surely kill us all.

Democracy is explained, the Constitution evaluated, and the writer leaves out the 2nd amendment.

Joesph Filco has taught economics and American government. Joseph writes commentary for the Williamsburg Gazette. The gentleman is relativel...