Dear Sir:
In response to Claudette Sandecki’s column of Aug. 17, 2011, “I won’t be a gun totin’ granny” in The Terrace Standard regarding her feelings on the use of firearms for personal defense, I would like to say, “Good on her!”
By no means should she have to have guns foisted upon her and in no way should she feel pressured into keeping a firearm in her home, or on her person.
That is her right and personal freedom as a citizen of this great nation.
However, I must respectfully disagree with both the tone of her correspondence and the conclusions she attempts to draw from her limited experience.
As she is free to choose not to own a firearm, or to use one in a manner befitting one’s self for personal defense; so too must those women who chose to be trained and licensed to do so, be able to under the law.
It is a sad state when we as a nation take the best tool for personal defense away from them in the name of their own safety.
I’m sorry, but no amount of nonsensical sarcasm or derision will change that fact.
The police cannot be there to protect each citizen every hour of every day and the courts have upheld the philosophy that police are not employed to protect the individual.
Thus, it is not only the responsibility, but the reasonable duty of each citizen, to provide for their own protection and the protection of their loved ones.
The United States have a majority of states that have legislated concealed carry of firearms for personal protection and there have been no bloodbaths, no shootouts over parking spaces and none of the doomsday scenarios dreamed up by the wealthy and well connected anti-gun lobby.
All law abiding Canadians should be able to decide for themselves what form of personal defense they want to employ and have the freedom to be properly trained and licensed to use it.
I would never dream of foisting guns upon another person; that would violate their rights and freedoms.
So why is it that Canadians’ rights to self protection not respected in a similar fashion?
David Roussel,
Grande Prairie, AB
