One of my older patients killed herself a few months ago.  She had disabling chronic depression and other psychiatric issues, had abused medications and had overdosed dangerously several times, and felt unfulfilled and stressed at home.  She was a delightful person for whom family was everything but always imagined she mattered less than she really did. There was a handgun at home.  I had addressed this with her and her family.  They decided they would keep it locked up inaccessibly to he...

The growth in both types and numbers of gun owners, and the coincident drop in violent crime have not induced gun prohibitionists to reconsider their position. A rational person might look on these big-picture truths as evidence that her thinking could be wrong.  But if gun prohibitionists were rational people, civil rights activists wouldn’t be working day in and day out to defend that precious right secured by the Second Amendment. On the contrary, as more women, African-Americans, and ...

I’ve met a lot of people who like guns.  Although a large number are older, white and male, there are increasing numbers of women, a mix of ethnic and racial groups, all religious identities (or none) and all ages from all walks of life. We include all types of personalities, lifestyles and other interests.  So we are pretty much like any mix of Americans, linked because we appreciate firearms and what we can do with them along with valuing our right to keep and bear them. (more…)

[WARNING: In this entry we link images from The Trace and the Washington Post that readers may find disturbing.] As public opinion and consequently firearm policy have steadily tended toward affirming the Second Amendment, gun prohibitionists have reacted by becoming frantic. They now push the limits of decency, even in a popular culture that no longer sets many limits. (more…)

[Editor's Note:  One of our readers was thoughtful enough to share this with us.  It was originally written for fellow clergy.  We appreciate his reflections on responsibilities we all share.] Dear friends, As a pastor of 30 years, I serve people who come in every flavor. I am called to pastor flocks that are from the right and the left, and everyone in-between. I pray for those touched by gun violence. But I pray for everyone touched by all violence. For where there is violence, there is ...

It was certainly good intentions that prompted a recent letter to the Chicago Tribune from Blase J. Cupich, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Chicago [letter available behind a paywall].  He believes Pope Francis meant more than disarming foreign tyrants when the pope last month admonished America “to stop the arms trade”. Cupich wants the Pope’s prescription applied within American borders as well.  He seems to share the civil rights-infringing instincts of Mayor Emanuel, the earthly ruler o...

What do a couple of well-educated investment professionals have to say about gun control?  A lot, if you’re Evan DeFilippis and Devin Hughes.  How authoritative are they?  Let’s say that’s a matter of opinion.  Highly, in theirs and in that of The Trace, which published their latest effort, What Caused the Two-Decade Dip in Crime Rates?  Not 'Good Guys with Guns'.  This is a scattershot opinion piece chock full of statistics and analysis to justify the usual anti-gun beliefs. They’re righ...

[Editor’s note: Last week presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson hinted his possible support for the creation of a database of “dangerous people” to reduce mass shootings by preventing such people from gaining access to firearms. Dr. Carson further stated he does not oppose repealing the ban on federal funding for gun research at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Below is DRGO’s open letter to Dr. Carson responding to his statements.] (more…)