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Keith J. Midgen of Plano: Our malls should be safe from gun violence

KEITH J. MIDGEN of Plano: Our malls should be safe from gun violence

12:00 AM CST on Thursday, December 20, 2007

The malls of Collin County are certainly full of merchandise this year. Happily for retailers, despite a weak dollar and economic upheaval, traffic in these centers is expected to increase the closer we get to Christmas.

Indeed, the winter months from November to February include some important dates that encourage crowds of people to shop. But as the events in Westroads Mall in Omaha, Neb., this month and in Salt Lake City last February show, perhaps there is no safety in numbers.

Sometime next year, the Supreme Court is expected to hear the case of District of Columbia vs. Heller. The final decision may affect the interpretation of the Second Amendment for decades to come.

There are many Americans who are passionate about the right to own handguns, assault rifles and any kind of semiautomatic weapons in any amount. They cite the "right to bear arms" clause of the Second Amendment, which provides for protection of citizens against oppression by our government. It doesn't seem to matter that the overwhelming might of a ruthless, determined government could crush any nascent rebellion quite quickly whether the "people" are armed or not.

Critics of any type of gun control argue that Israel, U.S., and Britain encountered stiff opposition in their asymmetric conflicts against terrorists and the IRA. But truth be told, these engagements were limited in scope and firepower.

It is worth considering that, according to the Violence Policy Center, there were more than 130,000 homicides in America involving firearms from 1990-1997. By contrast, fewer than 5,000 Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, during Desert Storm and the war against terror over a similar period of time. Unbelievably, there are more than 65 million handguns in private hands in this country.

Though the Supreme Court has never overturned any gun control law, it is unlikely that the new conservative justices will interpret differently the intent of the Second Amendment as it is currently understood. If that happens, what should malls do in order to ensure a safer shopping experience for their customers?

For one, if mall owners decide that the costs of preventing casualties will eat up too much of their profits, they should at least keep open only those entrances that can be adequately safeguarded by security personnel and metal detectors. If large art and natural history museums in America and Europe can do this, why can't malls?

Second, would it be too much to ask if we would be prepared to submit to random searches, just as we do at the airport? Security guards could also focus on teenagers who appear to be bulkily dressed or, more important, those who wear camouflage fatigues and Army boots.

Additionally, it might be helpful if parking lots could be patrolled by part-time undercover police officers whose powers of observation should be more refined than other casual spectators. After all, a potential user of a rifle would have to retrieve it from inside the trunk or interior of a car. He would find it difficult to drive with one stuck up his jacket.

The holidays are, by definition, a joyous and generous time. We would prefer that the recipients of our gifts are around to receive them. As families, it is our duty to monitor and care for those relatives who may be depressed or experiencing difficulties. They certainly should not have unrestrained access to weapons.

As the VPC Web site says: People injure, guns kill.

Let's stop playing out the farce that the Second Amendment represents. Do we really think that America could be a dictatorship or that the Bill of Rights is inherently precarious? If we do, maybe we need to flee to Mexico, like our retirees, while the going is good.

The Founding Fathers didn't trust everyone to vote directly; they shouldn't have trusted some of us to have guns, either.

Keith J. Midgen of Plano is retired from the hair and beauty business. His e-mail address is kmidgen@tx.rr.com.

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In Response to the Letter: KEITH J. MIDGEN of Plano: Our malls should be safe from gun violence


In light of the recent shootings in Omaha, Virginia Tech and Trolley Square in Salt Lake City, UT there is renewed debate concerning a citizen’s right to bear arms. I think it is important to point out that all of these shooting occurred in Gun Free Zones. You may ask yourself, “How could someone get shot in a Gun Free Zone?� I have the answer; they were shoot by criminals. Criminals, by definition, act without regard to the law.

Some people may try to convince you that Guns Cause crime. Their solution is for the public to call the police. If you were to follow that logic, you would not want to call the police because they are guaranteed to respond while armed with a firearm – causing crime.

The Violence Policy Center (VPC) will have you believe that in the event of a violent attack upon you or your family, your only recourse is to call the police. After all, that’s their job. Again, if you were to follow this type of logic, no one would learn CPR – Just call EMS and do your best until they arrive. When seconds count and the Police are moments away, they have no answer for that deadly gap. The burden on the Police Departments in this country is already at such a high level, why not hold them responsible when they don’t prevent a homicide, rape or aggravated robbery?

The Gun Control Lobby will tell you that firearms have killed over a million Americans in firearm related Homicides, Suicides and unintentional injuries. According to VPC’s website, “in 2004 alone, 29,569 Americans died by gunfire: 16,750 in firearm suicides, 11,935 in firearm homicides, 649 in unintentional shootings, and 235 in firearm deaths of unknown intent, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.� Have we forgotten that cigarettes are available for sale on every street corner in America and according to the Centers for Disease Control, take the lives of over 400,000 Americans each year? If you look at the firearms related deaths for 2004, 56 % of those deaths were by Suicide. Eliminate the number of suicides and you are left with 12, 819 firearms related deaths. Does someone have the right to take their own life? Well, that is not part of this debate. However, I would like to point out that in the State of Texas it is not illegal to commit suicide, it is only illegal to aid in suicide (per Texas Penal Code Title 5 Chapt 22). I will suggest that we make it illegal to commit suicide and keep our citizens safe from themselves; of course then we are burdened on how to punish these offenders.

Many of the Gun Control lobbyists that I have encountered will tell me their interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. I have them qualify to me that they do know the Bill of Rights and what protections we are guaranteed. Only, it seems many people have forgotten what the 3rd Amendment says: “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.� Some claim the 3rd Amendment to be insignificant. I will have to disagree. Under British rule, the British soldiers could just walk into your house, eat your crops and slaughter your livestock – Leaving you without a way to support yourself. How could this be allowed to happen? Well, the citizens were outgunned. When the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, they also saw that it was of great importance to ensure that the citizens of the Republic had certain protected rights and that States also had certain rights. They had lived under a Government that made citizens into subjects and in creating a new government; the Founding Fathers did not want to create the opportunity for their Government to become oppressive towards the people. This is the whole reason behind our current system of checks and balances.

If you believe that American citizens should live in a world where only the Law Abiding Citizens have no guns, then I propose that we conduct a nationwide social study on this idea. All those in favor of banning guns should post signs in their front yards that say, “This house is Unarmed, We Let the Police Handle it.� After all, that’s the message that businesses are portraying when they post signs banning legally carried firearms on their premises. Businesses should cut to the chase and declare their Gun Free Zone as a “Violent Crime Empowerment Zone.� If after a year there is a dramatic drop in violent crime committed in these Gun Free Zones, then maybe the Right To Bear Arms lobby needs to re-evaluate their position.

A Concealed Handgun License (CHL) in the State of Texas is only issued after someone takes a class on the Laws in Texas regarding carrying a firearm, use of force, Conflict Dispute Resolution, a firearms qualification and a thorough background check conducted by the FBI and the State of Texas. If you would like to eliminate the right of the Quarter of a Million law-abiding citizens that have their CHL (according to the TXDPS), just remember that you are disarming citizens and making them better victims.

Some Gun Control lobbyists want you to think that people who carry firearms concealed are wannabe vigilantes. Let me ask, is the woman who pulls a firearm to stop a rape a vigilante? Is the storekeeper a vigilante when he pulls a pistol during an aggravated robbery? Was Jeanne Assam a vigilante when stopped a deadly attack in a church in Colorado? (Jeanne Assam - woman with a CHL in Colorado volunteering on the security staff) - Gary Southwell, a man at home recovering from Open Heart Surgery, shot and killed a burglar as he made entry into his home. Is he a vigilante? I would say, absolutely not. The act of Self Defense or Defense of a Third Party is a legal and, some would argue, a moral obligation to their fellow man.

I will agree that laws need to be changed, but those laws need to limit criminals, not law abiding citizens. Lets go after the problem. I think Criminals are the ones who need to be punished.



By Gemeinschaft
Sugar Land, TX
xxxxxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com

Keith J. Midgen of Plano is retired from the hair and beauty business.

sbb wrote:What a great reply to the editorial. I would only hope that the DMN has the bollocks to print your response.

Mr. Midgen,


After reading your article, I wanted to respond and give you my perspective.


I am a former Law Enforcement officer who currently works in the Global Security industry. I also teach many citizens how to use firearms. I have had five of my students use firearms to defend themselves.


One case in particular occurred two years ago south of San Antonio. A 23 y/o burglar smashed the glass out of the storm door and made entry into the home of my former student, a 65 year old grandmother.


She was watching the evening news and he walked right into her Living Room. She had her firearm ready and told him to leave. Regardless of her warning, he charged at her. She discharged a shot of birdshot into his legs and he quickly made an exit.


She immediately called 911 and the Police found the suspect two blocks away curled in the fetal position. He was taken into custody and later was connected to some other crimes.


The truth is, the police are limited in their ability to protect the public. When seconds count and the Police are moments away, you need to be able to survive inside of the gap. The idea that police can handle all situations is like me saying that I should not learn CPR, because EMS is a phone call away.


VPC would have you believe that guns cause crime. They want everyone to just let the Police handle it. If guns cause crime, why would you call the police? They are guaranteed to be armed with guns, which VPC has already established cause crime.


I would challenge you to post a sign on the front of your house that says, " We have no guns in this house." Post that sign for 90 days as a social experiment. I would interested in the outcome.


I will offer this to you, if you ever want to get on the range and get some instruction or speak further about the importance of law abiding citizens to own firearms, the invitation is open.


Respectfully Yours,

Keith J. Midgen of Plano is retired from the hair and beauty business.