As the feeding frenzy over gun control and the second amendment consumes both sides on the issue of what is acceptable, what isn’t, and is there any common middle ground, the passion on the issue sometimes overcomes common sense and constructive debate, and such is the case in a petition by “We the People (WTP).”
For those who are not familiar, WTP provides a new way to petition the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country. The Whitehouse web site states that “we created “We the People” because we want to hear from you. If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure its sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.”
There are thresholds that must be met before the administration will respond or acknowledge a petition and they are that:
- To cross the first threshold and be searchable within WhiteHouse.gov, a petition must reach 150 signatures within 30 days.
- To cross the second threshold and require a response, a petition must reach 100,000 signatures within 30 days.
It used to be only 30,000 signatures, but because of the popularity of the petitions, it was raised to 100,000 signatures, perhaps that an indictment on the Obama administration in itself.
The again, perhaps it’s intended to weed out frivolous and ridiculous petitions like the one out there now on a computer near you.
The Obama Administration has been petitioned to:
“Eliminate armed guards for the President, Vice-President, and their families, and establish Gun Free Zones around them.”
The petition reads as follows:
“Gun Free Zones are supposed to protect our children, and some politicians wish to strip us of our right to keep and bear arms. Those same politicians and their families are currently under the protection of armed Secret Service agents. If Gun Free Zones are sufficient protection for our children, then Gun Free Zones should be good enough for politicians.”
The petition did not even come close to the 100,000 signatures needed; only 32,001 people signed it which is encouraging in that even those who are die hard second amendment advocates have a sense of perspective. Let’s be real, this petition is only symbolic in nature, it could have three million signatures and stripping guns from Secret Service agents or national security officials who protect the President of the free world no less who receives thousands of death threats a month, would not take place.
This is the type of lunacy and actions that discredit those who want a legitimate and fair gun control law. Dumb petitions like this lack common sense and proper judgment. It does not help the cause and only gives those who oppose the second amendment more ammunition.
To suggest that we ban the use of guns to protect our leaders is just bad press. Most realize a majority of those who signed the petition did it to make a symbolic statement and do not actually believe in the actual concept, for those who signed because they actually believe that, perhaps they just made the argument that a mental health background check should be done on anyone who applies for a gun permit.
The fact that this petition was shot down and missed its target is encouraging. Those who support the second amendment need to be heard and fight for their rights, but in an educated and common sense approach, not one that is irresponsible and lacks credibility as this petition does.
You can click here to see the petition.
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