NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT — The Newtown Action Alliance, a group formed in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting and “dedicated to reversing the escalating gun violence epidemic,” issued a letter to the Connecticut Food Association (a trade organization that represents 240 companies in Connecticut), urging them to prohibit firearms on their premises.
Referencing an incident in January, in which an overly-concerned customer at a local Caraluzzi’s Market saw a law-abiding citizen open-carrying and created a public outcry, calling for residents to boycott the market, Newtown Action Alliance chairperson, Po Murray said that “no one needs to carry guns while they’re shopping for bread and milk.”
The letter, written by Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT5) read, in part: “There is simply no reason someone would need to bring their gun with them in order to purchase milk, bread, or other necessities at a grocery store. Customers should feel safe while shopping, and employees should not be fearful while doing their jobs.”
Clearly, these people have never heard of Laurel Teer or any of the countless others who have been assaulted or killed while shopping, some of them perhaps for bread and milk.
While it is understandable that the Newtown community has not recovered, and likely never will, from the December 14, 2012 incident that left 28 people dead, including 20 children, groups like the Newtown Action Alliance end up doing more harm than good.
Using a benign task, such as shopping for bread and milk as a stage on which to say that no one needs a gun makes about as much sense as saying “no one needs to carry guns while teaching kids to read and write.” In fact, I’m willing to bet that there were at least a handful of teachers, administrators, or staff who thought otherwise on that fateful day in December 2012. I’m certain there were people that day wishing there was a “good guy with a gun” to come and rescue them.
Why would it be any different in a supermarket? Or a movie theater? Or a turf care equipment manufacturing facility?
It’s not.
Though it has been conclusively proven time and again, that armed citizens are the most significant deterrent to violent crime, it seems there will always be those who, for whatever reason, disregard these facts and work to disarm you.
Law-abiding citizens deserve to feel safe… to be safe… wherever they are. And you’re never more save than when you are properly armed and aware with the training to back it up.
