I am one of those people who you loathe. One of those invisible people who come into your living room without asking your permission. One of those people who follow you while you shop, and make it harder for you to make legal purchases. One of those people who try and tell you how to raise your children, as if you don't know how. One of those who gives ratings to stations that promote our demise as a free nation. I am your enemy. Or at least I was.

I followed it all, all of the propaganda, all of the hoopla. Believed it too. Believed that leaving my house was more dangerous than being in a war. At any given moment one of you evil gun owners would open fire on me. I saw the NRA stickers, the Gun owners of America stickers on the cars that passed, and I thought you were all fools. I did everything in my power financially to try and help more laws pass that would prevent you from owning guns. I wholeheartedly believed that only the Police, and Military should have guns. Every time I heard of a gang shooting, or other criminal act committed with a gun, I honestly believed that if we could curtail the legal sale of guns, we could make a difference.

Boy was I wrong.

I have children, three actually, and to me the only thing more important than raising them properly, was seeing that they aren't hurt in anyway. I wanted to ban guns, save my children, save all children. No child should have to be part of any kind of death, especially the kind that involves being shot. I gave money to all of the anti gun organizations I could think of, went to the "Million" Mom March, even looked at Rosie when she spoke, and actually admire her. Brought the kids as well, and even yelled some not so nice things to those other marchers. I'm sure some of you know who I refer to.

I was on my way back from the march, on my way back to Connecticut, when I stopped off of the highway at a rest stop by one of those McDonalds they have off I-95. By this time I had dropped off two of my kids with their father, and only had my little one with me. I went into the restroom with her, and on my way out noticed two men hanging out by my car. There were only two other cars in the lot at the time that were anywhere near my vehicle. I immediately felt threatened by their demeanor, but continued on to my car. The smaller of the two approached me with a knife as I was about to open the door to put my child in her car seat. He yelled at me to get in the back of the car, they were taking me for a little ride. I obviously told them to just take my keys, they could have the car, but they insisted I get in the back. I then heard a man yelling something I don't quite recall, and saw him running towards me with a gun in his hand. The two men vanished into their car, and sped away. I stood there frozen in time, and by the time the gentleman with the gun got to me I just broke down and cried.

To make a long story short, you were all right, and I'm sorry. This man with a gun saved me, and I just keep thinking if I had gotten my wish and guns were banned, there is no telling where I'd be, and what would've happened to my daughter. The only regret I have is not getting the man's phone number who saved my life. I thanked him over and over again, and told him that he saved me, but he calmly said to me something I'd never forget. He said "That's what people like me are here for Ms., and I'm happy to have been able to help."

"That's what people like me are here for," those words keep on running through my head everyday. Maybe this gentleman by some chance is part of your group, and will read my message. If he does I would just like to say something to him, and to everyone else reading this note.

Thank you for saving my life, and to the rest of you thank you for fighting for this man's right to protect me and my child. Tell him for me that I will no longer be part of the group who invades his home, and tries to tell him how to store his guns. Tell him I will never be part of any group who tries to make it impossible for him to buy his tool he used to save me. And tell him I will never again tell him how to raise his children properly, because obviously I was oblivious to the fact that responsible people such as him know how to raise their children better than I do. I did rectify that situation the other day; I bought a shotgun for home protection, and am in the process of getting my concealed permit. Next time I will be ready to defend myself, or others for that matter. Some of my friends think I'm crazy, but they try their best to understand. I just tell them that as soon as their child's life is put in jeopardy by some criminal with a weapon that they will understand, but until then don't tell me how to live my life. I've lost some friends, but surprisingly most of them understand. If not for this man I could very easily have been killed or raped, and my child could've been taken from me, so once more I need to say thanks for saving me, and with all sincerity to the rest of you, forgive me, for I have sinned.

There are no words that can be said.....What could anyone say to add to this...?? It's too bad that she had to go through all that to find out what we already know...

I have to admit. When I was reading this before posting it, I got a little chill. I mean, why can you not see. Law abiding, responsible gun owners are NOT the ones involved in the gun whealding violent acts of crime that ravage our planet. And those involved are not going to care what the governments laws are!

Two mid thirties gals were chatting in the booth next to me at a restaurant this past Tuesday. One was making the case for never having a firearm and was obviously anti-gun when it came to everyone else as well. Her point was that as a culture and a race, our progress is interwoven with the kharma and good will we feel toward all others. The diatribe continued until finally I got up and approached the two.

I reminded them that 50 million+ were killed by Mao -- his own countrymen. Stalin extinguished 22 million of his own. Hitler was a piker in comparison with the blood of 6.5 million innocents on his hands. What they had in common was confiscation of privatel held firearms. What would those numbers of dead have been if they did'nt?

I told them the incident which involved my daughter and my grandson (approached at a stopliight by a would be car jacker, she pointed the SIG at the perp and he "went away") and a few personal encounters. I doubt I convinced either one, nor do I believe they will be anything but dismissive of my viewpoints.

Our conversation was civil, but, a tad bit above normal conversational tones. I bid the two "best wishes" and headed for the cash register to pay and leave. Four others in the room had overheard the exchange -- they all clapped. Maybe, they were glad I was leaving. Or?

That's the attitude in that little town in Arizona. And, if you are ever traveling through Heber, stop at the Rim Cafe. Good food, friendly folks.

The politics of gun ownership has always amazed me. Folks who understand free speech, free press, free religion and protection from unlawful search and seizure, just cannot seem to grasp the relationship between our freedom and the right to bear arms. I have come to realize that some folks think the right to be free comes from the government not from the governed. This is of course a major fallacy at least within the US system of law and the US Constitution.

It is rare that a person whom has a view of the all-powerful government as a giver of freedom has an epiphany. It is also rare that such a person realizes that their very idea of and the actual practice of and the purpose of the all powerful government is in direct conflict with the actual working of an all powerful government, to start with. Freedom is not born of an all-powerful government; it is choked to death by that government.

I hope the article is true and reflects the recounting of an actual event. Converted folks always make a powerful ally in any battle.
Ed

AMEN TO THAT Swampy!!! Freedom is a God given right, not the government.

i know this has been in print and reprint for awhile but just so ya all dont forget and new news for others. hitler didnt just kill 6 million jews. how about the 20 mil cathics, or hows about the 17 mil russians he put down?