It Was Twenty 230 Years Ago Today

On this day in 1775, the first armed conflict of the American Revolution, The Shot Heard 'Round the World, took place in Lexington, Massachusetts. Comparing the events of that day with the current events of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts reveals a stark reality.

Had the "progressive" leaders of present-day Massachusetts been in charge of the American colonies in the late 18th century, the British forces would have "progressed" right through Lexington while both the licensed gun owners in town were screwing around with their muskets trying to get the trigger locks off.

Pretty sad.

Now compare and contrast the words of President John F. Kennedy, favorite son of Brookline, Massachusetts, a town where the police chief today seems disinclined to even accept applications for "shall-issue" Firearms Identification Cards...

"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom."

...with this brilliant bit of nuance from Senate Bill S.1431 "Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2003", which I had blogged on here last year. This proposed piece of "common-sense" gun control legislation was co-sponsored by another J.F.K. from Massachusetts.

...a firearm shall not be determined to be particularly suitable for sporting purposes solely because the firearm is suitable for use in a sporting event.

Pretty fucking sad.

Thanks, Kim, for the quote.