Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Members of the Louisiana House of Representatives are quietly making things safer for Louisiana residents. Are there safer regulations when it comes to health? How about bringing down the high automobile insurance rates and enacting stricter alcohol-related injury laws? No; but if the average citizen wanted to purchase a firearm, the House just made it easier to walk around with one. The House, through legislation, last week passed HB 131, which would allow the possession of firearms without any required training or permits necessary. Why, someone would ask, is it safer for someone to have to get a driver’s license to operate a vehicle and not have to get some training at least in order to know how to handle a firearm properly? Will an individual still have to pass a written and driving test in order to obtain a license to operate a vehicle, or have our legislators done away with that? Are licensed drivers still required to renew their licenses periodically if that law is still on the books? And is it still required by law to have each registered vehicle to the owner to have proof of insurance when asked by the appropriate individuals? If all that went into just the privilege of operating a vehicle, why can’t the same be done for firearms? A seatbelt is mandatory when operating a vehicle, as well as wearing a helmet when operating/riding a motorcycle in Louisiana. Why change things when it comes to owning a firearm?

According to former Monroe City Councilman, now state representative Mike Echols, he believes the bill is “protected” under the Second Amendment to have such freedom as not needing a permit. Perhaps someone needs to remind the representative that this is 2023 not 1787. Times have changed, and people need to change with the times. The Second Amendment argument will go on forever, as that will be an issue that will not be settled for several more generations as long as the mindset between sides won’t change politically. No one is against gun ownership, as Mr. Echols and his supporters know. They will keep on bringing out the argument that Liberals want to take away the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms. They say that if that happens, “only the criminals” will have guns. That, again, is not true. If it were, all law enforcement would have to do is sponsor gun shows, and only the “criminals” will show up to buy guns. See how insane the argument is? Go to any gun show, and one assumes that law-abiding citizens will show up and buy guns in record numbers every time Conservatives warn that Democrats are after their guns. Buy them before it’s too late, they could say. Echols, in a statement, said that the “founding fathers intended for us to have to be able to protect ourselves, that the bad guys [criminals/thieves] already have weapons.” There are over 300 million guns in circulation in this nation, probably more guns than Bibles but yet, our Conservative legislators believe that even more is needed for protection.

How about showing a little more concern over the increasing number of mass shootings that continue to happen in this nation? One wonders how the founding fathers would react. The point that everyone shouldn’t have access to a firearm is true. Just as everyone must go through a process to show that they can show the skills to operate a vehicle properly, it should apply to a firearm. Aren’t law enforcement officers required to show that they can skillfully handle their firearms through periodic testing that has to do with safety? Why do some legislators think that the average person should receive a pass? But, as stated above, these are different times. It just seems that in some things, we are going backward. There will be lots of innocent Black people killed if this bill passes. Need another reason to vote or why voting is important? Voting can make us all equal! Vote wisely!