Watching the events unfold Saturday and then Sunday night, I gained a new understanding of the importance of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Police, vastly outnumbered, were abandoning vehicles after being attacked; so much so that to defend himself from the crowd descending upon him, one officer used his vehicle to push back and secure the barricade they were attempting to breach. A police car attacked by a mob smashing all the windows forced another officer to abandon his vehicle since it could no longer provide him safety. Even police stations were evacuated and left to the attacking mob.
I saw store windows in NYC smashed, so the Rolex watches and the Gucci handbags could be given as Father’s Day gifts, and they were not the only stores. A Men’s Wearhouse was emptied, so once Cuomo opens the state, the thieves will be well dressed while they look for work, and the women’s shoes were also a big hit. I didn’t see any boxes showing sandals taken, but then since they can’t go to the beaches, they might as well take dress heels.
While I write tongue-in-cheek, I really am writing to ask WHY.
Why didn’t the police stop the mayhem? Why did no one stop the emptying of stores? We saw people of all colors, shapes, and sizes running with arms so full they couldn’t hold it all, leaving what I called a “Hansel and Gretel” trail for others to find the latest “window opening” of a store. The trail even gave a clue to the quality of the products that might still be available.
The answer to my “why” in many cases is the police were ordered to let it go. To stand down. There were far too many hell-bent on destruction and far too few police officers. Concentrate on what could be done and leave what couldn’t be done to the mob. It was a terrible show of how far we have fallen from being a society with common goals to a society where those who prefer anarchy and mob rule win. What begins as a peaceful demonstration for change becomes a night of destruction and no response from the government because they are worried about reelection and a failed response by a vastly outnumbered law enforcement presence.
That brings me to ask how many times have we been told we don’t need certain guns to protect ourselves?
During the riots, an AR15 was removed from a police car that had been abandoned when it was set on fire. The rifle was rescued from the rioter by a security guard armed and ready. He startled the thief but didn’t hesitate. What if he hadn’t been there at that time? The rioter would have been the bad guy hero emptying the magazine at the innocent.
I learned last night that while police are necessary to maintain the order, they are also limited in their ability to respond when you need them.
Our forefathers were correct when they made certain we would always have the right to keep and bear arms. This weekend proves they had an exceptional understanding of the probabilities we would face in our future as a free nation. I doubt they ever thought we would watch a store owner be beaten to near-death by a mob of thieves for attempting to protect his store and his property while good people stood and watched. Yes, they came to his aid after the thieves left, but that is too late. I am not sure that store owner lived, a news camera did capture the work of a volunteer medic attending the victim. Would he have been a victim if the laws had allowed him in that particular state to arm himself?
Another news camera showed a mob beginning to break into a different establishment. Whether he legally possessed the gun used to fire a few shots or not, the mob turned and ran away; he didn’t look like the previous owner who didn’t have a gun. If only every state and every city would abide by the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, how much mayhem would not have occurred?
Before anyone jumps up and says the criminals would have also had the right to have guns and the mayhem would have been worse, let me remind you it’s also illegal to smash windows and steal all the merchandise from those stores so, it is likely they do not listen to the gun laws either. In fact, many riot sites have gunshot victims.
After watching the ability of law enforcement to be all those things the liberals think they should be, I know more than ever my safety and the safety of my family relies on me being the first responder.
I am confident police will get to where they have to be as soon as they can, but I also know that it could take hours. They may have too many incidents in front of them and, one of the incidents may be saving their own life before they can continue to save yours.
I watched it unfold live on TV. I watched it all night, I know the evil perpetrated was not in the name of Floyd but the evil that exists in the world will take any and every opportunity to instill fear and thus control.
Continued attempts for the elimination of our right to keep and bear arms will eliminate our right to defend ourselves, our family, as well as our property. The first responder is US; that first responder is ME. We can only hope the cavalry makes it in time, but we must be prepared to give them the time it may take, and that means owning and knowing how to handle the guns you may need to stay safe.
After watching events unfold, ask these questions now before its time to vote. Who is going to make you the victim and who is going to stand up and make it possible for the cavalry to reach you. Watch the tapes of the events the last two nights and let me know who you think should be our leaders.
Bob Clegg is a former State Senator and Republican Candidate for the District 5 seat on New Hampshire’s Executive Council.
