How can I say that when violence is at an all time high not only in my community but probably every urban area in this country? I say this because we don’t need grandstanding, pontification or symbolism. The definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions and wait for a different outcome. Our legislators, politicians and city leaders are some of the most educated people in our community. Common sense tells us that criminals do not buy guns at gun stores, gun shows or any federally regulated and taxed business. Common sense tells us that by definition, the law abiding people are the only ones that suffer the indignation of all the extra restrictions dreamed up to appease the populace that doesn’t know that there are over
40,000 gun laws already on the books across the country.Do you know how hard it is for a person of color to operate a gun store? Well, for thirty-five years, two American brothers of Cuban origin, Greg and Carlos del Real, have been providing the law-abiding residents of Prince George’s county with equipment and supplies to support the American traditions of the shooting sports, personal defense and law enforcement. As a business, they have persevered in a hostile environment, thwarted illegal activity, and maintained solvency even through the additional “hoops” the State of Maryland imposes on a firearm business. They have assisted law enforcement in combating illegal gun trafficking, and diligently apply the laws governing the sale of firearms. I speak so highly of them because I have been a stalwart customer for over twenty years.
Guns are not the problem with the increase of violence in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Detroit and New York. The problem is the community is waiting for someone else to fix the broken home, the un-parented child, the illiterate graduate, and the spiritually bankrupt.
We collectively spend more attention and give more love to animals than we do our children. And then when they grow up into prostitots, thugs and mirror the images from People magazine we want to blame something. I have seen the enemy and it is us. A funny thing happened to me on the way to the gun store. When I saw the protest, heard former DC mayor, Marion Barry speaking in the District Heights, Maryland parking lot, I realized that the Maryland’s politicians there were a joke. I saw a RAINBOW of speakers PUSH to get microphone time. I realized that no of them can help our communities, freedom isn’t free and we are in worse trouble than we know.Kenn Blanchard is the author of Black Man With A Gun, A Responsible Gun Ownership Manual For African Americans, a former federal law enforcement trainer and speaker that host a weekly international podcast called the Urban Shooter.
