March 21, 2017
Kyle Guthrie
In August 2016, the Islamic State released the names and addresses of over 700 U.S. service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Along with this list, the Islamic State posted these names online and ordered all Muslims living in America to “kill the dogs,” along with their families.
Unfortunately, my name was on that list.
But ISIS underestimated the humanity and patronage of American Muslims; so far, there have been no reports of anyone acting on these orders, just a few scattered threats made against service members.
It makes sense that I carry a concealed handgun with me at all times to protect myself, my family and others in the chance that an extremist decides to follow through on this order, and the UCCS campus is no exception.
Carrying allows me to intervene in the defense of others should the need arise.In an ideal world, this wouldn’t be necessary, but this is the real world, and while we may not like to admit it, here there be monsters.
It is very easy for these monsters to get their hands on an illegal weapon, and you have the recipe for a potential mass killing.
Even if I didn’t have an execution order hanging over my head, I would still carry due to the peace of mind and security it gives me.
As I attend an institute of higher learning, I’m aware that we are one of an active shooters favorite target.
The campus police cannot be everywhere at once, and in the event of an active shooter, a student with concealed carry could prevent a larger death toll.
I have had the campus police called on me more than once when my shirt has lifted on occasion and exposed the grip of my weapon.
But I am glad that students called the police on me, since it shows a sense of constant vigilance on the behalf of students on campus. I would much rather students be aware of their surroundings when it comes to keeping themselves safe.
It is for this very reason that I carry and have no problem with others doing the same.
Left-leaning media sites argue that no reported instances exist when a mass shooter was stopped by a non-law-enforcement individual with a concealed handgun.
Their justification is often that nobody knows for sure if the active shooter would have continued shooting had they not been shot.
While this logic is faulty at best, there are plenty of instances that say otherwise.
Just last April, an Uber driver shot and wounded Everado Custodio, a gunman who was firing indiscriminately into a crowd. As a result of his actions, no one other than Custodio was injured.
Since Custodio was found with his weapon half-loaded and carrying several additional magazines of ammunition, it is safe to make the assumption that he was far from finished.
In these moments, I remember a key saying by Franz Kafka.
“Better to have, and not need, than to need, and not have.”
Or my personal favorite, “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”