An armed society is a polite society...

It is a fact that in areas with restrictive gun laws that prohibit law abiding citizens from being able to protect themselves with firearms have higher violent crime rates than areas were citizens can obtain and carry them.

The District of Columbia, Our Nations Capitol, in 2007, had the HIGHEST per capita violent crime (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault) rate in the nation.  1114.3 incidents per 100,000 citizens.  They also have some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation. 

Maryland, which also has very restrictive gun laws, came in at 641.9 per 100,000 which ranks in the highest 10 out of all 50 States. 

Virgina, which allows law abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms, had a violent crime rate of 269.7 per 100,000.  That ranks in the bottom 10 violent crime rates out of all 50 States in the Union. 

These statistics are from a 2007 Department of Justice report.  DOJ Data Search Site  Take a look for yourself if you don't believe me.

This trend is pretty much a fact for any year on record.  Our Nations Capitol has consistantly ranked in the top 10 and was known as the Murder Capitol for many years.  They even had an NBA team named the Washington Bullets for pete's sake...  OUR NATION'S CAPITOL!

It makes me wonder why some elements of our society and government want us disarmed...  and why they are so rabid about it...

Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence. The church, the plow, the prairie wagon, and citizen's firearms are indelibly related. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and the pistol are equally indispensable. Every corner of this land knows firearms, and more than 99 99/100 percent of them by their silence indicate they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place with all that's good. When firearms go, all goes; we need them every hour. - George Washington

(The title of this article is a quote from Robert A. Heinlein)

Long Live the Republic

This should be required viewing prior to the acceptance of any Oath of Office...

(click on the title...)

Today is Constitution Day

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government."--Patrick Henry

The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787 ... perhaps it is time for all Americans to read it and understand it ... and not let lawyers, judges and lawmakers interpret it for them.

I would like to dedicate this post to Sergeant First Class Jared Monti, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor today. Rest in Peace Sergeant...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/17/monti.medal.of.honor/index.html