CRIMINAL ELEMENT IS THE PROBLEM

Not long ago, early in the first half of the 20th century, a group of
people noticed that our nation had a problem. The problem was that
many of our citizens were destroying their lives, and those of others,
with alcohol. A large rise in domestic crime, beatings, murders and
rapes was attributed to the abuse of alcohol, and, in fact, was linked
to its abuse. After decades of effort, a small group succeeded in
passing the 18th amendment to the Constitution, thereby outlawing
alcohol and, hopefully, its ruinous effects on our society.
Prohibition, as any educated person knows, was a complete and total
failure.

Today, we face the same issues with illegal drugs on our streets, in
the lives of America's families. Many of my friends have advocated the
legalization and government control of drugs for the sake of removing
the criminal element and violence from our streets. When Congress
repealed Prohibition, and legalized alcohol and controlled it, the
criminal element was removed, and much of the violence that
accompanied it. The "Roaring 20s" disappeared into history.

As with alcohol and drugs, the idea or policy of banning firearms is
untenable, and directly in conflict with the American idea of freedom,
as embodied in the Second Amendment and our historical American
culture. The vast majority of shootings in Charleston are the result
of drug-related vendettas or vulgar and confrontational behavior by
people who are most likely to be involved in such incidents.

There is a very good reason you do not see doctors, lawyers or
government officials beating each other up and having shootouts in
bars, even though many doctors, lawyers and civil servants own
handguns, rifles and shotguns. Firearms are not the problem, but
rather a certain element of our society, which seems to be involved in
a high number of assaults, regardless. Humanity has always had such
elements, and always will. It is a human condition.

The greatest protection you can have from "gun insanity" is to not be
a violent and confrontational person, nor be involved in activities
that can lead to violence, whether it be slapping people, selling
illegal drugs or starting a fistfight in a bar. However, there is no
guarantee in this life that you will be able to live in a utopia free
from violence, aggression or suffering. These, too, are a human condition.

The so-called "right-to-bear-arms lobby" is working to protect the
right of good people to have access to arms, and the right of
self-defense. We do not, as one Gazette editorial suggested, "oppose
all efforts to prevent drunks and loonies from skulking about with
guns." All purchasers of firearms must have an FBI background check
that bars sale to anyone convicted of domestic violence, stalking,
drug offenses, etc. If criminals are still able to acquire firearms
under such circumstances, it only bolsters the argument for the right
of good people to have the means to defend themselves.

Mazgaj is a Charlestonian who obtained a permit to carry a concealed
pistol.