We are Scaring the Columnist'

A Star Telegram Columnist, Bob Ray Sandars, used his weekend column to talk about the increased sales in firearms and ammunition.

The title pretty much lets you know what direction he is headed with this column:

SANDERS: Why are Texans so afraid?

So who is it that is really afraid? Firearm owning Texans, or Bob Ray Sanders? After commenting on the increased sales, and spitting out a couple derogatory comments about gun owners in general, Bob Ray states:

...This news is disturbing to me, for I’ve never understood this country’s obsession with guns long after we supposedly conquered the great frontier.

This craziness to own not one gun but many, to have an arsenal instead of a single squirrel- or deer-hunting rifle, to store up years’ worth of ammunition, I simply don’t get.

I must admit this scares me, especially when I hear that some of these people are preparing for war against their own government just in case it gets out of control and someone even thinks about trying to take their guns.

The real scary part came when I checked with the Texas DPS and found there has been a huge spike in applications for licenses to carry a concealed handgun. This news is doubly upsetting when you think that there is a movement in the state to allow concealed weapons on college campuses.

I guess I could have titled this post "Fear and Loathing in Fort Worth Texas".

In trying to make his point, and get one more dig in at gun owners, Bob Ray posts some very encouraging statistics:

In 2008, a total of 104,938 applications were submitted for original and renewed licenses to carry concealed handguns, with the major spike coming after the November election. This year, just through March 13, there have been 31,741 requests for permits to carry, DPS records show.

More than 13,200 applications were received in January, compared with 7,720 in January 2008. And in the first 13 days of March, there were 5,923 requests for licenses.

Almost doubling the number of CHL applications year over year, that is great news.

After that one bright note, he is back to the fear and loathing talk. Maybe not fear, just loathing.

This has long been a country with too many guns, and this latest trend in sales and licenses to carry is disturbing indeed.

It is hard for me to believe that people are that afraid of this president, a possible change in gun laws or a government they argue is becoming more "socialist."

I’m certainly more afraid — of them.

I am fairly certain that Bob Ray does not fear CHL holders in any physical sense. He knows about the federal, state and local background checks all CHL holders have to pass prior to being issued a license. He is also aware of the lack of crime being perpetrated by CHL holders, as he would be the first to comment on it where it to be happening.

I think what Bob Ray might be afraid of is the fact that CHL holders make one heck of a voting block, and we are not going to be voting for the leftist candidates and programs that he supports.

As for the real reasons why more and more folks are getting CHL's and learning how to protect themselves, maybe Bob Ray should read the paper that he writes for. Our justice system is releasing just as many violent goblins as it incarcerates. Violent criminals are walking our streets. A free man or woman does what they can to protect themselves and those they love from violence. A firearm just happens to be the most efficient tool for that particular job.