The right to keep and bear arms

As last Thursday’s ordeal reveals if just one soldier or officer had had a side arm in the building instead of reading about 13 dead men and women and 30 injured we would be reading about 5-6. I served in the U.S. Army from 1996 – 2000 and also spent 3 years in the National Guard. The men and women I worked, served and spent time with are the finest people in this great country. They are also some of the smartest and most capable I have ever known. At the time when I was on active duty I did worry about not having access to my issued firearm or even my personal owned weapon (POW). But looking back I see that as a monumental mistake on the part of the U.S. military in general, and myself specifically. We have one of the most disciplined and well trained fighting forces in the world and it just boggles my mind that these fine people are not able to defend themselves. The policy of a complete ban on all firearms except for military police forces on military reservations is criminal. Now that I am a civilian I have a concealed pistol license and carry every day. The same ought to be allowed and or required by our U.S. armed forces. Otherwise they are the U.S. Un-armed forces. How would we have tamed the wild-west if the U.S. Army had the firearm policy then that they do today? I will tell you right now that it would not have happened.
Nine times out of ten police officers and law enforcement officials arrive on the scene and clean up the mess. If the people involved at the time of whatever incident is happening have the ability to defend themselves then when the police do arrive they can clean up the bad guys mess and the innocent would-be victims will be safe. I pray to God every day that I will never have the need to draw my firearm in defense of myself or those around me, but I will never willing go un-armed anywhere again. There are those that would argue that my blatant “pro-gun” stance would invite more “Crimes of Passion,” than if the general populace is un-armed but just look at what is happening in England and Australia right now that they have total gun bans and the people who do defend themselves with firearms are prosecuted while the criminals get an apology. “I am so sorry that private citizen tried to defend themselves Mr. Mugger. Would you like a lollie-pop to make you feel better?” No it should be the other way around. The mugger goes to jail or the grave if they are dead and the victim (Who defended themselves) gets a pat on the back and a thank you card. We do not live in a kinder-gentler world. The only reason the U.S. and it’s allies have survived to the modern era is the willingness to use force if necessary to defend our freedom.
The 2nd amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the similar phrases in the state constitutions ensure that the tyranny of government over free men is held in check. Without the ability of private citizens to protect ourselves from acts of violence and naked oppression from our government we will lose all the other rights that are ordained us by are creator and written down in our declaration of independence and U.S. Constitution.