Calls For Tougher Gun Laws Following Killing Of Park Ranger

The suspect in the killing of a Mount Rainier National Park Ranger has been found dead, face-down in the snow, according to an Associated Press story.

Although identification of the body has yet to be confirmed, it is believed that the body is that of 24-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes.

Much has been made of Barnes being an Iraq veteran, supposedly suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), after deploying to Iraq from 2007-2008. The mother of his child said in a signed affidavit that Barnes got easily irritated, angry and depressed and kept an arsenal of weapons in his home. Hopefully, Pima County Sheriff, Clarence Dupnik doesn’t come out claiming ‘Right-wing’ radio, Rush Limbaugh and the Tea Party forced him to do it.

Let’s be clear – PTSD is a very real thing. It was generally associated with returning Viet Nam vets but we’re hearing more and more reports of returning Iraq vets suffering from the disorder. It is my hope that these men and women, as well as those Viet Nam vets who preceded them, be given REAL help from the Veterans Administration and not JUST drugs to make them go away.

My problem with this story, aside from the obvious, that innocent people died is how the loons want to spin the story. I can see it already – ‘Returning Iraq vet goes on shooting rampage.’ The inference being all returning combat vets should be suspect and considered ‘ticking time-bombs’, just waiting to go off.

There are many thousands of combat vets in our midst who are very well adjusted and not a threat to society. The fact that something like this is a big news story when it happens is a testament to how rare these instances are.

While we’re on the subject of ‘spin’… Bill Wade, the outgoing chair of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, is quoted in the AP article as saying Congress should be regretting its decision to allow loaded weapons in national parks. It is his hope that Congress will reconsider the law that took effect in early 2010.

Illogical, reactionary claims, like that of Wades aren’t exactly new. As a matter-of-fact we can count on hearing more of them, ala: Gabby Giffords syndrome. There are those, like Wade who probably believe the nonsense they’re asserting. There are others who subscribe to the Rahm Emanuel school of thought that claims, “Never let crisis go to waste.” They will claim this tragedy as a nexus for tougher gun laws.

Who in their right mind believes Barnes was anything BUT in his right mind? Is there anyone but these anti-gun fanatics who believes this whack-job really gave whether it was illegal to carry a loaded firearm into Mount Rainier?

The park gets estimated 1.5 million and 2 million visitors to the park each year, according to the article. Let’s do the math on that one, shall we? That computes out to 3 million to 4 million people since the law permitted carrying of loaded firearms in the park 2 years ago. One nut job out of 3 million to 4 million visitors who certainly didn’t put whether it was or wasn’t legal to carry a loaded or not in the park. Let me see if I have this correct, Bill – Barnes had no qualms about wounding four people earlier in the day and murdering a National Park Ranger but you believe a law prohibiting him from carrying a loaded firearm into the park would have prevented this tragedy. Do I have that about right? Do you have any idea how illogical that sounds?

There will always be people who either honestly erroneously believe that a gun law will prevent tragedies like this from happening or others who will use them to exploit in an effort to get stricter gun laws. Both factions must be seen for what they are and challenged.

There are those who actually believe we can simply pass gun laws, ban firearms and the world will become a utopian world where no one will ever have to fear violence of any form. I have one thing to say to those folks – you’re stupid! If you think cops carry a firearm to protect you, you’re equally stupid. Cops carry a firearm to protect themselves; not YOU. Does that tell you anything? Probably not.

My suggestion is to take a course in, LOGIC 101 and see if your statements make any sense at all before your blurt them out.