"Blow You Away" by Robert Earl Keen
You take off from work a bit early
The boss doesn't care if you stay
The guard with the key has to check your ID
But he'd just as soon blow you away
The cops have stopped ten miles of traffic
They're sorry for all the delay
No need for alarm as they're waving their arms
But they'd just as soon blow you away
Two pretty blondes in a Porsche
Their bumper says, "We love L.A."
They look pretty fair, but they're crazy out there
And they'd just as soon blow you away
You got in some trouble in high school
But you feel like a new man today
You keep to yourself because anyone else
Would just as soon blow you away
You're standin' in front of the teller
She's countin' out all of your pay
There's twenties and ones and there's guards with their guns
And they'd just as soon blow you away
And one old ex con at the station
Fixes flats in the back of the bay
He winks and he jokes and he borrows a smoke
But he'd just as soon blow you away
You like the new girl at the hotel
She drops your room key in the tray
No words will pass through the bullet proof glass
'Cause she'd just as soon blow you away
You climb up the stairs every evening
To your room right above the cafe
There ain't much mystique, but you pay every week
'Cause they'd just as soon blow you away
And you turn out the light that you read by
You pray that you're one of the few
When you're in with the Lord, there's just one reward
And they'd just as soon make it come true
Your mattress is mildewed and lumpy
But you fall fast asleep where you lay
Under the lump there's a twenty gauge pump
'Cause they'd just as soon blow you away
"Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today issued a report indicating that more than 145,000 concealed carry licenses were issued in Ohio in 2013, the largest number since licenses were first issued in 2004.
"According to statistics reported to the Attorney General’s office, county sheriffs in Ohio issued 96,972 new licenses and 48,370 renewal licenses in 2013, or 145,342 total licenses. The number of licenses is also the largest in a single year since licenses were first issued in 2004. The previous record for new licenses issued and total licenses issued was in 2012, when 64,650 new licenses and 76,810 total licenses were issued. The previous record for renewal licenses was in 2008, the first year licenses could be renewed, when 31,139 licenses were renewed.
"Chief Deputy Todd Miller of the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office said 996 new licenses were issued and 671 licenses renewed. Looking at other Scioto County numbers, eight licenses were suspended, 9 revoked and 2 denied."
I completely understand the need for self protection. Some people need a concealed weapon for very good reasons -- they live in threatening environments; they work in jobs that demand special protection; they must repeatedly travel through risky areas. Yet, I worry that so many citizens feel protection in the form of a concealed firearm is just normal safety procedure for everyday life in Scioto County.
Granted, our county has a high crime rate; many explain they feel "safe" with a weapon. And, I guess, everyone should be allowed to use their own best resources to commit to adequate security.
During the last 10 years crime data was available for Scioto County, Ohio, (1999-2008) crime has gone up. Over that interval, reported crime in Scioto County increased by 10 percent. Over that same time frame, violent crime increased by 7 percent. Overall, the crime numbers reveal a gradual increase in crime over the last 10 years in Scioto County. If the current trend continues, predicted crime numbers could hit more than three thousand for Scioto County, Ohio in 2009.
Yet, I know residents of the area also feel a high rate of aggravation, and many are simply impatient people who seem willing to meet their fears and concerns with firepower. To me, just considering who may be "packing" is frightening. Gone are the days of not fearing that a fistfight may escalate into a gun battle.
I know all about the special training required for concealed carry. Those who are issued a license must train and qualify for the license in order that they learn proper procedures for actions, God forbid, of drawing their weapon, aiming it at an assailant, and firing their deadly ammunition.
"In accordance with Ohio Revised Code 2923.125(A) and (B)(3), the required concealed carry training must be conducted by either a currently certified National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor or an instructor who is currently certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission."
Yes, people do conceal and carry out of fear. Fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to the conditioned confrontation or escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear such as horror and terror can be a freeze response or paralysis.
I'm not a psychologist, but I believe a person with a concealed weapon may be more prone to stand his ground and fight than to walk away or flee from confrontation. In cases where his life is threatening and he is in imminent danger, he may be justified to take a life with his firearm. I fully understand that. But, since a firearm is the most deadly form of protection, I see advantages to other less-deadly means of defense.
How often do murders occur between family members and loved ones? According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 22% of murders in 2002 were family murders. Nearly 9% were murders of a spouse, 6% were murders of sons or daughters by a parent, and 7% were murders by other family members.
Are we even sure a concealed weapon is an effective deterrent to violent crime? There are many factors that effect crime rates, and concealed carry weapon laws are just a minor one. Of course, the reported deterrent value of concealed weapons depends upon the publisher of the report -- the bias of the source.
Research has shown no significant change on crime rates when concealed carry weapon laws are passed. These studies show that by slightly changing the criteria, altering the filtering of the data used in the analysis, or using different analysis techniques, different results can be produced that indicate that the crime rates either increased or decreased after the law was implemented in comparison to what it was before.
You take off from work a bit early
The boss doesn't care if you stay
The guard with the key has to check your ID
But he'd just as soon blow you away
The cops have stopped ten miles of traffic
They're sorry for all the delay
No need for alarm as they're waving their arms
But they'd just as soon blow you away
Two pretty blondes in a Porsche
Their bumper says, "We love L.A."
They look pretty fair, but they're crazy out there
And they'd just as soon blow you away
You got in some trouble in high school
But you feel like a new man today
You keep to yourself because anyone else
Would just as soon blow you away
You're standin' in front of the teller
She's countin' out all of your pay
There's twenties and ones and there's guards with their guns
And they'd just as soon blow you away
And one old ex con at the station
Fixes flats in the back of the bay
He winks and he jokes and he borrows a smoke
But he'd just as soon blow you away
You like the new girl at the hotel
She drops your room key in the tray
No words will pass through the bullet proof glass
'Cause she'd just as soon blow you away
You climb up the stairs every evening
To your room right above the cafe
There ain't much mystique, but you pay every week
'Cause they'd just as soon blow you away
And you turn out the light that you read by
You pray that you're one of the few
When you're in with the Lord, there's just one reward
And they'd just as soon make it come true
Your mattress is mildewed and lumpy
But you fall fast asleep where you lay
Under the lump there's a twenty gauge pump
'Cause they'd just as soon blow you away
"Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today issued a report indicating that more than 145,000 concealed carry licenses were issued in Ohio in 2013, the largest number since licenses were first issued in 2004.
"According to statistics reported to the Attorney General’s office, county sheriffs in Ohio issued 96,972 new licenses and 48,370 renewal licenses in 2013, or 145,342 total licenses. The number of licenses is also the largest in a single year since licenses were first issued in 2004. The previous record for new licenses issued and total licenses issued was in 2012, when 64,650 new licenses and 76,810 total licenses were issued. The previous record for renewal licenses was in 2008, the first year licenses could be renewed, when 31,139 licenses were renewed.
"Chief Deputy Todd Miller of the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office said 996 new licenses were issued and 671 licenses renewed. Looking at other Scioto County numbers, eight licenses were suspended, 9 revoked and 2 denied."
(Frank Lewis. "Concealed Carry Licenses Increase to Largest Number."
The Portsmouth Daily Times. March 4, 2014)
Granted, our county has a high crime rate; many explain they feel "safe" with a weapon. And, I guess, everyone should be allowed to use their own best resources to commit to adequate security.
During the last 10 years crime data was available for Scioto County, Ohio, (1999-2008) crime has gone up. Over that interval, reported crime in Scioto County increased by 10 percent. Over that same time frame, violent crime increased by 7 percent. Overall, the crime numbers reveal a gradual increase in crime over the last 10 years in Scioto County. If the current trend continues, predicted crime numbers could hit more than three thousand for Scioto County, Ohio in 2009.
Yet, I know residents of the area also feel a high rate of aggravation, and many are simply impatient people who seem willing to meet their fears and concerns with firepower. To me, just considering who may be "packing" is frightening. Gone are the days of not fearing that a fistfight may escalate into a gun battle.
I know all about the special training required for concealed carry. Those who are issued a license must train and qualify for the license in order that they learn proper procedures for actions, God forbid, of drawing their weapon, aiming it at an assailant, and firing their deadly ammunition.
"In accordance with Ohio Revised Code 2923.125(A) and (B)(3), the required concealed carry training must be conducted by either a currently certified National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor or an instructor who is currently certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission."
Yes, people do conceal and carry out of fear. Fear response arises from the perception of danger leading to the conditioned confrontation or escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response), which in extreme cases of fear such as horror and terror can be a freeze response or paralysis.
I'm not a psychologist, but I believe a person with a concealed weapon may be more prone to stand his ground and fight than to walk away or flee from confrontation. In cases where his life is threatening and he is in imminent danger, he may be justified to take a life with his firearm. I fully understand that. But, since a firearm is the most deadly form of protection, I see advantages to other less-deadly means of defense.
How often do murders occur between family members and loved ones? According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 22% of murders in 2002 were family murders. Nearly 9% were murders of a spouse, 6% were murders of sons or daughters by a parent, and 7% were murders by other family members.
Are we even sure a concealed weapon is an effective deterrent to violent crime? There are many factors that effect crime rates, and concealed carry weapon laws are just a minor one. Of course, the reported deterrent value of concealed weapons depends upon the publisher of the report -- the bias of the source.
Research has shown no significant change on crime rates when concealed carry weapon laws are passed. These studies show that by slightly changing the criteria, altering the filtering of the data used in the analysis, or using different analysis techniques, different results can be produced that indicate that the crime rates either increased or decreased after the law was implemented in comparison to what it was before.
(Prof. Ken Wiegman. "Impact of Concealed Carry
Weapon Laws on Crime Rates." December 7, 2009)
A 2004 National Academy of Science survey of existing literature found that the data available "are too weak to support unambiguous conclusions" about the impact of right-to-carry laws on rates of violent crime.
But, in a contradictory study, economist Mark Gius, using data for the period 1980 to 2009 and controlling for state and year fixed effects, suggests that states with restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons had higher gun-related murder rates than other states.
(Mark Gius. “An Examination of the Effects of Concealed Weapons Laws and Assault Weapons Bans on State-level Murder Rates.” Applied Economics Letters. 2014)
The results of Gius's work? Something to consider is an increased awareness of gun safety in those qualifying to carry a concealed weapon. Do reduced murder rates include figures on accidental gun deaths and suicides? I believe those who complete concealed carry requirements do better understand how to safely operate firearms and how to secure them from the prying hands of children. Of course, this is good.
But Gius must also know that facts show the most likely perpetrators in the nation are criminals preying on other criminals. Historically the 18 through 24 age group is the highest crime-committing group. In 2007 alone, there were a whopping 1547 gun deaths in just the 18 through 19 age group.
At age 18, part-time drug dealers leave school and become full-time drug dealers. Despite the propaganda from the gun control lobby, criminals in general and drug dealers in particular are the group of so-called children most likely to be shot by their fellow criminals.
Gun homicides are overwhelmingly tied to the gang violence in America. In fact, a staggering 80% of gun homicides are gang-related. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), gang homicides accounted for roughly 8,900 of 11,100 gun murders in both 2010 and 2011.
That means that there were just 2,200 non gang-related firearm murders in both years in a country of over 300 million people and 250 million guns.
Cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Cleveland, and New Orleans all have very high per-capita murder rates. Individual police estimates usually find at least 65% and often more than 80% of all murders in those cities are gang-related.
Journalist Dustin Hawkins proposes:
"Solve the problem of gang violence, and a huge chunk of the gun homicide and violence problem is solved. If politicians were really worried about gun deaths, wouldn't they be specifically targeting where a majority of the problems exist?"
(Dustin Hawkins. “Putting Gun Death Statistics in Perspective.
about.com. 2014)
Older people's gun deaths are most likely to be suicides. Suicides typically make up 56.5% of all gun deaths according to information available from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. And, many of those suicides are drug related. In 20 of the last 25 years, gun-related suicides have outnumbered accidental firearm deaths and firearm homicides
In 20 of the last 25 years, gun-related suicides have outnumbered
accidental firearm deaths and firearm homicides. - See more at:
http://www.totalcriminaldefense.com/news/articles/criminal-evidence/gun-deaths-suicides-statistics/#sthash.12kaz6iZ.dpuf
The statistics support that the best way to prevent gun deaths is to treat depression and other mental illness, teach children not to sell or use illegal drugs, treat drug addiction, and have police concentrate on enforcing drug laws.
Our culture of armed civilians is unparalleled in the history of the world. There are reportedly 114,000,000 handguns in civilian possession in the United States. The percentage of U.S. households with one or more handguns is reported to be 21.9% (2012).
I am not against guns or those who use these firearms for self-protection. I am concerned that so many people feel the need to conceal and carry firearms into the public arena. Here is a list of prohibited places by law for conceal and carry:
- A police station, sheriff’s office, or state highway patrol station, premises controlled by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation, a state correctional institution, jail, workhouse, or other detention facility, an airport passenger terminal, or an institution that is maintained, operated, managed, and governed pursuant to division (A) of section 5119.02 of the Revised Code or division (A)(1) of section 5123.03 of the Revised Code
- A school safety zone if the licensee’s carrying the concealed handgun is in violation of section 2923.122 of the Revised Code (See School Zone Carry for more information)
- A courthouse or another building or structure in which a courtroom is located, in violation of section 2923.123 of the Revised Code
- Any premises or open air arena for which a D permit has been issued under Chapter 4303. of the Revised Code if the licensee’s carrying the concealed handgun is in violation of section 2923.121 of the Revised Code
- Any premises owned or leased by any public or private college, university, or other institution of higher education, unless the handgun is in a locked motor vehicle or the licensee is in the immediate process of placing the handgun in a locked motor vehicle
- Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship, unless the church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship posts or permits otherwise
- A child day-care center, a type A family day-care home, a type B family day-care home, or a type C family day-care home, except that this division does not prohibit a licensee who resides in a type A family day-care home, a type B family day-care home, or a type C family day-care home from carrying a concealed handgun at any time in any part of the home that is not dedicated or used for day-care purposes, or from carrying a concealed handgun in a part of the home that is dedicated or used for day-care purposes at any time during which no children, other than children of that licensee, are in the home
- An aircraft that is in, or intended for operation in, foreign air transportation, interstate air transportation, intrastate air transportation, or the transportation of mail by aircraft
- Any building that is a government facility of this state or a political subdivision of this state and that is not a building that is used primarily as a shelter, restroom, parking facility for motor vehicles, or rest facility and is not a courthouse or other building or structure in which a courtroom is located that is subject to division (B)(3) of this section
- A place in which federal law prohibits the carrying of handguns
- Detention facilities or institutions as listed in 2921.36
And, if I believe that guns only lead to more and bigger guns, I am not a nutcase or an idiot. I have been accused of being a coward because I don't think I need guns for self-protection in public. How silly is that? I really think some do want to "blow away" others with different viewpoints. The writing is "on the wall" for all to see.
By the way, can anyone see the danger of arming young people? Even 21 is a volatile age. Look at the gang culture, and I think you can verify the lethal mix of under-developed frontal lobes and handguns. What model do we give our children when we strap on our pistol to enter Krogers?
I am in favor of much stricter laws and stricter, mandatory sentences against those who inflict violence with the aid of firearms or who possess firearms while being arrested in any criminal activity. Gang mentality and gang violence must end. In some areas of our country, people openly display and use guns as power pieces for violent activities. Familiarity with weapons has bred a vengeful, bloodthirsty mentality in these places.
If concealed weapons are so beneficial, why not allow them for protection in schools, in churches, and in day-care centers. I can tell you why. Because in your own psyche, you understand that handguns are deadly killing machines incapable of making good judgments, and you understand that each human being possesses a dark side and the ability to unleash its potential and use that weapon without the least rationality.
State statues and rules should never confine my freedom. The highest freedom is my right to live without a gut fear of needing protection. I am aware that we now live in a society that accepts the use of violent means to correct any sin of violence. This is an "eye-for-an-eye" mentality that may have its rightful place, but, to me, it should never have a permanent home in my day-to-day peaceful existence.
I refuse to live a life being afraid of your gun, no matter if you wear a white or a black hat. Strap it on, conceal it in a purse, or hide it your boot, but be assured when you draw it on me, I will assume you want to "blow me away." So, shoot to kill.
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