Via email, from reader Chris:

All,

While preparing for the upcoming IDPA match I have decided to make this a Glock Solidarity match. If you own a Glock, please use it to shoot this week’s match.

Let me preface my explanation with the following: I am in no way affiliated with, or compensated by, the Glock Corporation. The following comments are mine alone and are not endorsed by the International Defensive Pistol Association, Bulls Eye Marksman Range, or the National Rifle Association.

Here is “the why”.

The incredibly sad and tragic shooting of 19 innocent people inTucson, AZ, including a Congresswoman and a federal judge, deserves a moment of prayer for all of the families impacted. As the details emerged over the course of this past week, it became apparent that this shooing was the act of a lone psychotic. It also became quite clear that the tool used was going to be demonized, yet again.

As I watched the media during the past week begin their pro forma attack on the Second Amendment, Glock, and by association gun owners, I became outraged at the sheer mendacity of the media and the anti-2A groups at the description of a Glock 9mm being an “assault weapon” or a “weapon of mass destruction”. It was at this point that I thought that we, as law abiding shooters and IDPA competitors, do not have to sit idly by and be maligned. It may only be symbolic, but my idea is simply this; let us stand in solidarity with the company that makes a fine product, supports competitive shooting, and strongly supports the shooting community in general. Glock has the same amount of culpability in Saturday’s shooting as Boeing did in the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York City and the Pentagon. Just as Ford, Chevy, and Dodge don’t entice someone to drink and drive, neither did Glock put their product in the shooter’s hands, whisper instructions in his ear, and point him toward his victims. It is simply outrageous to say that Glock, or anyone else, is responsible for this shooting.

Unlike individuals and groups that are opposed to the safe, responsible, and constitutional use of firearms, I am not trying to capitalize on the death and mayhem created by the shooter. I am not dipping my pen in the blood of the victims in order to “grandstand” or garner attention (I’m looking at you mainstream media, Congressman Peter King, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, and Brady Campaign!). Since much of the commentary regarding this event has been ignorant at best, and malicious at worst, I made a personal decision that at the next match I would shoot my Glock 19, if only as a symbol of my willingness to stand by a company that has been unrelenting in their support of my hobby. I hope that you will join me in this effort.

I fully understand and accept that this email and show of support for Glock may be viewed as inappropriate and incendiary; I can only say that this is not my intention. I alone have decided to ask my fellow IDPA shooters to participate in this call to action. I alone will suffer any criticism for these comments.

No matter how horrid this episode of violence has been, the opponents of God-given, individual liberties are holding nothing back in their attempts to reignite their gun control agenda, and I will not be cowered into submission. I resent and reject the premise that by responsibly exercising my rights I have abetted the acts of a deranged murderer.

If you have read this far into my “declaration”, I thank you for your patience, and hopefully, an open mind. I look forward to seeing everyone at this week’s match!

Sincerely,
Chris Wardell
Match Director-IDPA
Bulls Eye Marksman Range
Cumming, GA

Posted in uncategorized on January 17th, 2011 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |