Gangs and drug dealers armed with fully automatic firearms are committing crimes with these weapons on both sides of the border. The Obama administration is blaming our relaxed gun control laws due to the weapons being used by these criminals, and subsequently wants to push for further regulation here in the United States. But there is something that they're not telling you.

The criminals in Mexico are mainly using fully-automatic rifles, by definition, "assault rifles". Here in the United States, it's nearly impossible for the average citizen to own these rifles. Further, our ownership of unrelated firearms is being blamed as the source of Mexico's problems.

Again, automatic rifles so heavily regulated here, the average citizen can not own one. If you want to buy a rifle, it must be a semi-automatic or bolt-action rifle, both commonly used for hunting. Sure, here in the U.S. you can buy a semi-auto rifle that may look identical to an assault rifle (like an AR-15, which is the civilian version of the M16), but looks cannot hurt you. They function in entirely different ways!

But, because criminals in Mexico are obtaining automatic assault rifles from corrupt sources (third world countries, corrupt government officials, etc.) unrelated to average American citizens, the Obama administration's reaction is to ban our semi-automatic rifles by calling them "assault weapons", which sounds a lot like "assault rifle".

Anti gun organizations and politicians use creative rhetoric to confuse the public. Need proof? Ever hear of the "Assault Weapons Ban"? It was just a ban on semi-automatic firearms, but calling them "assault weapons" brings a lot more fear and panic to the ignorant public, don't you think?

What's even more interesting is that anti gun organizations wish to take it a step further by banning any guns with certain "dangerous features". Apparently, a bolt that holds a bayonet or a certain hand grip is so deadly that it must be banned. These people want to talk about common sense, but how is it common sense to think lives will be saved by banning ergonomic features? They know it won't! But this is an incremental step to more gun control.

If you're against guns, that's fine. But for someone to say that they are "pro gun" but "against assault weapons" is absurdly ignorant. What they're essentially saying is that they are "pro gun" but against anything that the government deems "inappropriate".

By: Robert Saggy
http://pro2a.org

I remember back to the days when I was a boy. My family lived in a two story house and my bedroom was in the corner of the basement with no windows. My parents resided on the main floor. I remember sleeping upstairs on the couch until I was about ten years old. Why, because I was afraid to sleep in my own room. I can't really remember what I was afraid of or what finally motivated me to move to my own bed but I know that it was an irrational fear. I think the gun haters have an irrational fear of guns prompting them to attempt to eliminate the perceived threat through gun control legislation.

Guns are a tool, plain and simple. They are really no different than a hammer except instead of driving nails they expel lead at high velocities. This fact makes fearing a gun as silly as fearing a hammer. The fear, or hatred as the case may be, should be aimed at the inanimate object, rather it should be aimed at the person using the tool. This has prompted me to coin the phrase we don't need gun control, we need evil people control.

A tool is no better or worse than the person wielding it. Take the aforementioned examples of a gun and a hammer. The hammer can be used by a Habitat for Humanity volunteer to build a beautiful home. That hammer can drive the nails that keep the roof over a formerly homeless person's head. That hammer can be used to drive a nail that can hold the walls up so that a cold winter wind won't freeze a child. That hammer can also be used to smash your thumb, believe me I know this all too well!

A gun can be used of good as well! Take a couple recent examples. In early December an evil person intent on killing as many people as possible was stopped by a legally licensed, concealed gun carrying private security guard. You won't hear much on the popular media about the heroic act of Jeanne Assam but she used her firearm to prevent a lot of blood shed!

Kenneth K. Hammond, an off duty police officer, was in the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City when an evil person went of a shooting rampage. He was carrying his gun in a gun free zone and was able to limit the bloodshed last February.

Joel Myrick stopped the violence at the Pearl Mississippi schools by using his gun, in a gun free zone mind you, to stop a student from killing more people in 1997.

If you fear guns, confront that fear don't jump to the conclusion that gun control is the antidote for your fear. Visit a local gun shop, talk to the salesperson, learn about guns and gun safety. Once you are comfortable there try a few, many gun ranges will allow you to rent a gun for a short time. Getting more comfortable, take a gun safety class, the NRA sanctions several really good classes to get you into the shooting sports. If you are fortunate enough to live in a state that allows concealed carry, take that class too, even if you never plan on "going heavy" you'll still learn. The most important thing that you can ever do is remember that guns aren't bad, only the the way they are used can be bad. Keep that in mind when you hear about more gun control legislation, especially in the new White House Administration.

By: Ray Eddings
For more information about big media's coverage of guns big media's coverage of guns and other gun control issues like gun shows check out SeveredFoot.com