Gun Rights

The following is my stance on gun rights and the second amendment.

My views have significantly changed as I have passionately discussed and debated this issue with my many reasonable and wise friends. Thank you especially to Autumn, Steve, Jennifer, Nancy, Anna, and Julie for helping to bridge the gaps of my understanding, show me the other side of the issue, and form a fuller viewpoint. You are all very kind and loving individuals and I know you would never hurt a soul unless it was absolutely necessary.

It is important that I preface my argument by first saying that I believe violence is always bad, but that it is a necessary evil. I will always first seek a peaceful solution to problems and disagreements, but in a world where we can not control the actions of others, force or the threat of force becomes necessary and justified.

This is why the right to bear arms is essential to the protection of a free people. I believe firmly that the government has a direct and essential role in protecting its citizens, but the government's responsibility should never trump the individual's freedoms. Indeed, it is our responsibility as individuals to do for ourselves what we can and to only rely on the government when absolutely necessary, and only for those things which are for the collective defense, welfare, and protection of liberty. The individual's right to protect one's life, one's family, and the lives of their fellow citizens, with lethal force if necessary, including with guns, is within that responsibility.

The need for individual and collective defense/protection will forever exist, as long as hatred and evil exist. The world shall never fully be rid of "bad guys."

With that said, it is important that we evaluate our attitudes towards violence in society. It is important that we, as individuals and as a society, strive to reduce violence and hatred by acting responsibly with love, understanding, and concern for our fellow brothers and sisters. It is not unfathomable to suggest that the world can become a less violent, safer, and more peaceful world. By fostering a society that values respect, dignity, personal responsibility, cooperation, love, and understanding, I believe we can make the world less violent for our children, and our children's children.

Therefore, I fully support the second amendment and an individual's right to own, carry, and use a gun. As with any right, our rights only extend to the point where another's rights start. Thus, the government does have a legitimate interest in regulating and safeguarding the sale and use of firearms. It is always a delicate balance for the government to regulate a product in order to provide some safeguards and protections to society, and to levy taxes, but without infringing on one's right to have and use that product, or to go down the slippery slope from regulation to abolishment. As a member of Congress, I will look very carefully at any and all "gun safety" and "gun control" bills. Certain requirements, such as getting a license, running background checks, not letting certain individuals obtain guns, tracking the sale of guns and bullets, etc., are reasonable and pragmatic. I will admit that I do not know everything about guns and the gun industry, but I am quickly learning, and I will continue to educate myself on the issues and the guns themselves. I will consider all viewpoints, and seek out trusted empirical date on issues of violence, gun use, and gun deaths. Only when I have weighed the pros and cons heavily, and am certain that a new law will not infringe upon one's second amendment rights will I ever vote in favor.

Ultimately, with guns, as with any dangerous weapon, responsibility and caution are called for. The government holds some responsibility in that goal, but the main responsibility falls on us as citizens, parents, and families to educate ourselves and our children about gun use and safety.

Video Response to Tragic shooting in Arizona

This is my first attempt at a campaign video discussing this issues. I am discussing the tragic shooting in Tuscon, Arizona. This video is meant as an open invitation to share my thoughts and discuss the issue with everyone. Please share this with your friends, and comment with your thoughts, both on the production quality (I know the sound is not great), and the thoughts expressed.

While at YouTube please subscribe to my Channel for future videos, which I hope to have coming often. Also, check out my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Gallagher-for-Congress/187960201218164 and like it.

P.S. Yes, the layout of the embedded video doesn't work with my current blog layout. I will take care of this soon. If anyone has any suggests or places where I can find better layout templates, I would appreciate any suggestions or help.