Nashville Mass School Murder - Soft Target © 2023 Phillip Evans

Another tragic mass school murder has occurred. Covenant Presbyterian Church Covenant School in Nashville was targeted March 27th by an evil 28 year old woman (1) and former student.

When the fox gets in the henhouse and there are no guard hounds, there is always a mass slaughter. Even non-farm folks would agree that's pretty much common sense.

A bunch of hounds that are 14 minutes away is not nearly as good as one that is right there on the spot, though the Chief of Police did brag about that 14 minute response time. (2) The three children and three adults killed would say that was a few minutes too long. Once on scene, they took out the shooter in a well coordinated operation, so a much better result than Uvalde experienced. These officers were no cowards, but distant security you have to wait for costs lives.

Sadly, when it comes to children in non-protected schools, common sense seems to fly out the window. The main plan of security is shooter drills to teach children where to run and a phone ready to dial 911, wait on hold and hope someone answers soon, and then hope that armed help gets there before too many more are murdered (even one is too many).

It is obvious that plans like these are not effective, yet nothing better is ever done. Banning gun possession for law-abiding citizens won't work, as widespread non-compliance would likely be the case, and we are not the problem. Criminals are already banned from owning firearms, but they will always manage to get some instrument to carry out their planned wickedness.

Those arguing for banning possession by those without a criminal record may point to cases like this where the murderer did not have a criminal record. But liberty does not allow stripping the rights of the many over the actions of a very few. And once again see the term "non-compliance". Good guys will not give up their arms just because bad guys arm themselves. Liberty doesn't work that way.

This private school could have legally granted permission for teachers and staff with a handgun permit to have the choice of firing back in self-defense, likely saving lives. But self-defense was not an option that could be allowed by them. Wait, I thought self-defense is a moral option for Christians. Apparently not all churches agree.

As crazy evil as the mass murderer was, she knew to avoid armed resistance. From her writings there was a second possible target, “but because of a threat assessment by the suspect – there’s too much security – they decided not to,” police chief said.

Folks, mass murderers KNOW to attack soft targets if they desire a high body count. Yet, most states mandate that potential victims remain helpless, and will put you in jail if you carry a gun in schools for self-protection. Those laws are just as wicked as the actions of a killer.

Sure, Republican politicians will point to aspects of their state laws that allow private schools and public school districts to permit the carrying of weapons for protection, knowing that almost none will. That is not leadership, and they know it. But they are cowards and prefer things to remain the way there are. 

One of these politicians could prove me wrong by introducing a bill to let all teachers, staff, and caretakers who take the trouble to get a license to carry, to be authorized to be armed in schools. I'm not holding my breath.

When soft targets are under attack, my opinion is that the Second Amendment should apply. Government does not always agree.

1. It was reported the shooter was transgender and identified as a man. 

Dennis Romero with NBC News reported, "The leader of the school where a woman opened fire and fatally shot six people was among those killed Monday, according to a list of victims released by police." Will "woman" be later edited out?

2. Set a timer for 14 minutes (or just 5 minutes) and then sit there and wait, while imagining a murderer walking about unopposed firing at children and others. While waiting for the police to arrive, would you rather be unarmed or armed? Be honest with yourself. 

Florida Republicans - More Spineless Than Jellyfish © 2023 Phillip Evans

A yellow jellyfish has more spine, honor, and guts than the majority of Republicans in the Florida Legislature.

Photo by Hung Tran

Hillsborough County Republican Mike Beltran had recently filed an amendment to HB 543 (permitless carry bill) that would legalize carrying a holstered handgun in plain view in public. This was a good amendment ***, since free citizens should not be jailed merely for not hiding their peacefully carried sidearms. Must we also hide our First Amendment Rights?

On March 22nd the amendment was withdrawn. Once again the spineless ones with an "R" by their name win the day for a defeat of liberty.

And although Gov. DeSantis has stated he would sign a bill legalizing open carry, he has never called for it. Such a stance is nothing more than weak leadership on display. He needs to rise to a higher level if he wants to be the next President.

Since these lawmakers continue to treat the open carry of a handgun in public as a crime even for licensed carriers, the protest gloves need to come off.

Here's how: Use your First Amendment Rights! 

Specifically, OPENLY wear a gun holster with a lid that hides whatever is inside. Don't put your pistol in it, in order to avoid a false charge of carrying openly, but rather put spare ammo in it, since ammo also enjoys state preemption under the law.

Wear it on publicly owned property where you have a right to be so that you cannot be trespassed just for wearing it. Let this act of free speech be your DEMAND that the Repub-limplicans truly honor our Second Amendment Rights.

Carrying a sign or wearing a t-shirt demanding your open carry rights would be a good addition.

Search online for the Polish made P38 holster as a good option for this public protest.

And become a member of Florida Carry as they have a proven track record of fighting for our rights. 

I wrote this article as a private citizen, and not on behalf of any group or organization.

*** Upon a more careful reading, the open carry amendment upped a violation to a FELONY. For example, if you carried openly, but in a non-approved holster, you'd go away for a long time. That's rather unconstitutional. So Rep. Beltran apparently is also a snake in the grass. 

Some Republicans (Not In Georgia) Are Serious About Self-Defense in K-12 Schools © 2023 Phillip Evans

It used to be legal for adults to carry firearms in K-12 schools in Georgia. Then Jim Crow laws targeted at Blacks took root, with the first (among many) of firearms carry prohibitions being passed by White Democrats in 1833. 

Photo by muora - Creative Commons 2.0 License

And yet, it is only in post-prohibition times that we've had a series of tragic mass murder shootings in schools that were  supposedly "gun-free" zones, where guns were not allowed, at least not for teachers, parents, and other citizen defenders.

In 1870 White Democrats in Georgia passed the infamous "public gathering" law (Blacks were coming to church armed for their protection, and this was an affront to the KKK and their friends in the Georgia General Assembly), making it illegal for even a person with a firearms permit (now called a weapons carry license) to carry in almost any public place.

This law remained on the books in Georgia until 2010! But look: Republicans took the majority in the Georgia House and Senate in 2007. I suppose the desire for a little liberty took them three years to warm up to.

With this background of gun control laws in mind, I emailed all lawmakers under the Gold Dome in Atlanta the following on March 16th, 2023:

Dear Lawmakers,

Arizona Republicans apparently trust (gasp!) licensed parents and guardians to be armed in K-12 schools (SB 1331 passed their Senate and will likely pass the House).

They don't seem to lack an "appetite" for furthering liberty (hearken back to Casey Cagle), nor do they seem to suffer "fatigue" for pro-gun rights bills as Rep. Jay Collins does.

Their Democrat governor will likely veto it, but who needs Democrats when you can count on Republicans to not even give us crumbs this year in Georgia.

Those of you who proclaim that it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun fail to see the hypocrisy when you don't let the good guys be armed. Does that make sense?

I know that saying this will hurt feelings, but take solace in the fact that hurt feelings are far less painful than innocent lives lost, because the state mandated that victims remained helpless to immediately fight back with good effect.

I know, I know, school districts can grant permission for teachers and parents to be armed, but just between us, we all know that 98% of districts won't allow it.

Actual leadership on this issue is required. A mass school shooting in Georgia where the only tools to fight back are erasers, books, and chairs is simply not acceptable, not moral, and not Christian in the least.

Either licensed carriers are trusted or we are not. We already carry around children every single day in public parks, libraries, zoos, restaurants, malls, etc., without incident. We've met the burden of proof. What more do you want from us in order to be convinced?

If unlicensed court clerks could carry legally in K-12 schools even when a license was required to carry a handgun in public, why can't licensed carriers enjoy that same degree of self-defense capability?

Is there no one capable of articulating liberty who can introduce such a bill for next year?

Trusting bad guys not to hit a vulnerable target is not a good strategy for safety, not for our children, or for anyone.

End of Email

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Perhaps 2024 might find some light shining on some backbone somewhere in the Georgia General Assembly. We can only hope. 

One can only wonder why Republicans continue to hold onto Democrat enacted laws that prohibit good people from being armed in K-12 schools, churches (that are not opted into HB 60), polling places when voting, courthouses (should just be courtrooms), and government buildings with screening but no adequate security either inside or in the parking areas.

In 2022 Republican politicians saved us a little money by removing the paperwork requirement to carry a handgun in public, but left all the other infringements on the books. Yet, they crowed about it like it was the end, the finish line. Don't worry folks, we ALL saw that coming. Getting zero from 2018-2021 didn't make permitless carry the end all be all it was made out to be.

In 2023, we got zero yet again. So here we are still stuck with government-mandated victim kill zones put in place by Democrats, that apparently Republicans in the Georgia General Assembly are all too happy with keeping.