You know that part in Casablanca where Rick meets Victor, and when Rick says, “You hear about Victor Laszlow everywhere,” Victor deflects with, “I try.”
“We all try. You succeed.”
My old friend Mark Chenoweth, whom I knew when he was a twenty (or was it nineteen!) year old libertarian leaning conservative who first showed me that conservatives are not the mean-spirited, bad people I was brought up to believe they were, but could be well-reasoned, curious people with the best of intentions who actually make good on those intentions…
Well, we all try. He succeeds.
Check this Unwritten Law podcast out.
The short of it is: a county in Maryland passed an ordinance that no one, even with a concealed carry permit, can carry a firearm onto various kinds of property where people assemble, such as places of worship or parks. There are many of these places.
It means that those who defend their synagogue and own and carry a firearm lawfully can no longer do so.
The New Civil Liberties Alliance is bringing suit against this, along with a congregation member who is impacted. The congregation members are specially trained to protect their synagogues and entrusted by their community with this responsibility. Now it is against an ordinance for them to protect their families and community.
I love when Mark says, “But you missed the good news! The good news is that the bad buys won’t be able to carry guns!”
I paraphrase. But you get the point.
Making a law that prevents lawful carriers of firearms from carrying weapons sends a giant message to anyone who does not want to obey the law that the Jews are sitting ducks, unable to defend themselves.
The National Civil Liberties Alliance is stepping up where everyone else tries… or doesn’t try… but fails. Standing up for the right that the Second Amendment was meant to protect. Our right to defend ourselves.
Look into what they do. I love watching their podcasts and keeping up on my Constitutional law.
We all try. They succeed.
Remember you can't fix stupid.
These supposedly well intentioned laws against gun carry in houses of worship are incredibly naive, as if evil people intent on killing and maiming people, a gross violation of existing law, will be dissuaded from breaking the law against gun carry when they aren't dissuaded from breaking the law against murder and aggravated assault. The folk harmed by this law are the law abiding congregants who are faced with the prospect of attending worship unprotected, unarmed, waiting minutes for the police to arrive when every second counts. Or violating the law and risk possible arrest simply because they attend services armed.
I always attend services armed, and the mostly liberal congregants in my reform temple have told me they feel safer when I attend services. The security guards, most with less experience dealing with violent criminals than myself, also tell me it comforts them knowing they aren't the only armed person at the temple during services or events. I would rather have other congregants carrying a firearm, preferably with some firearms training, than being the only person.
If you carry a firearm at services, it is important you make the security guard(s) aware. Show them your permit or credentials. They will appreciate it. No need to advertise it to other congregants.
Shooting is meditative, relaxing, enjoyable. I suggest every Jewish home have at least one firearm for each adult, with periodic visits to the range to improve familiarity and accuracy with the weapon.