My wife Linda and I went to the show about 3 weeks ago. It was on a Tuesday evening, so that as older folks we could get the senior and Tuesday special discount. There were 4 men from a previous class of mine some time earlier, about 2 years ago there in line for their tickets as well. I knew they were armed. Of course Linda and I have our licenses too.
At the show were a few college age students who as is common with that age were engaged the antics of young adults. They were loud boisterous, and generally obnoxious.
Linda and I no longer sit in the bleacher type seats at the top were our backs are protected. We have had the discussion in some of our classes of where in a crowded theater is the best place to sit. Each have their own views in this subject matter.
But to get to the punch line and not belabor this short discussion, when the movie started another elderly couple just above the 7 young men asked them to quiet down. They ignored that couple, one of them mocking the older folks. I asked Linda if she wanted to stay. She said, "Yes, but talk to management for us." As I stood one of my former students came down the side isle from the bleachers. So I watched.
He bent over and said something to the young man on the end closest to him, next to the isle. Of course I could not hear what he had to say. The ripple effect worked and before I could sit back down, they were all quiet. They remained that way for the rest of the show. When they left, as a group, they were quiet, almost respectful.
Of course my imagination was in overdrive and as I write here, again goes to that interesting place. I do not know what was said and can only speculate.
That takes us to Colorado, and James Eagan Holmes. In that factual incident there are a lot of "buts" and "what ifs." Pages and pages of vulture Internet folks speculate to sell their particular product, whether media or political.
In one of the discrete calls I was asked, "Is Holmes is the poster child for gun control?" My response was that he is not a child. There are already enough laws on the books to control that situation as much as it could be controlled. No new layer of laws will make the criminals any less criminal. They will only burden the honest law abiding citizens with new levels of governmental crazy.
Oregon has built into the fabric of our society here the fundamental right of each of us to carry firearms for our personal protection, the protection of others around us, and our state. It is called Article 1, Section 27 of the Oregon Constitution. It was accepted by the Feds when they accepted our original charter and vote on it.
The bottom line is there there is no compelling need for legislation to take the handguns out of the possession of Oregon law abiding Citizens. Just the opposite is true.
And with that said, I invite any who read this blog to read OREGON CONCEALED, The Best Defense, Deadly Force, by me, Don Leach. I discuss in a comfortable and easy read the elements of personal protection, when Deadly Force can be used, and the limitations on the use of Deadly Force. Except for the true stories, I leave the practice of law behind me, focusing on the elements driving the public policy today.
This book is at the printer and can be pre-ordered for $14.95 plus S&H. Just go to the store at Oregon Concealed Co. (http://www.oregonconcealed.com). It will be available from the online store, at Oregon Concealed's website, and selected gun dealers and shows after August 15, 2012. I can be reached at don@ochlc.com or 541.579.3500.
My heart goes out to the victims in Colorado. My prayers to them and their families who have to live with blight of that incident.
Don
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