On October 7–nearly one week after the heinous attack in the gun free facilities of Umpqua Community College (UCC) left nine people dead–The New York Times reported that the attack may have actually increased the attraction of gun rights and the thought of having a gun by one’s side for self-defense.
They reported that although a gun control push is underway in DC and there are anecdotal evidences supporting gun control to be found–even in Roseburg, Oregon–there is an overarching feel that these are countered by a strengthened conviction that Americans need to be armed for self-defense.
According to the NYT, while Democrats are pushing gun control 3,000 miles from Roseburg “many residents” in the town are “bristling” at the calls for more laws. In a real sense, the attack in the UCC gun free zone “has actually tightened the embrace of guns in a rural town where shots at the rifle ranges echo off the hills and hunters shoot deer and elk through the fall.”
The NYT pointed to families who fear the attack in the UCC gun free zone could happen in any gun free zone, so they are making the “common response” of buying guns for self-defense. Many members of families which already own guns say they will be getting concealed carry permits and others said UCC should change its policy and allow its security guards to be armed.
Nineteen-year-old J.J. Vicari was at UCC when the attack occurred and he said the experience of hiding under a desk in fear “opened [his] eyes.” He said, “I want to have a gun in the house to protect myself, to protect the people I’m with. I’m sure I’ll have a normal life and never have to go through anything like this [again], but I want to be sure.”
Again, although the NYT made clear that there are people calling for the passage of more gun control in the wake of the attack, they stressed the desire to acquire a gun for self-defense is “common.”
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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