Computerized Background Check Flags Retired Veteran

ron-kelly-second-amendment-400x210He served 20 years in the military, which included being on the front lines. He shot numerous weapons defending our country. But when he tried to purchase a firearm to defend himself, a computerized background check flagged him and he was denied his 2nd amendment right to own a gun.

On July 11, Retired Veteran Ronald Kelly walked into a local Walmart to purchase a gun. He wanted a firearm for home defense. He thought nothing of it as he had served in the Army for 20 years and had been in retirement since 1993. Little did he know that he was in “the system” for a misdemeanor pot charge in which he spent one night in jail with one-year probation.  He was in high school at the time and he was just 17.  That was 42 years ago and although he was trusted with military-style weapons while serving our country, he somehow cannot be trusted to own a simple firearm for the purpose of self-defense.

Pro-gun activists have been taunting this all along. This has been the fear of many as the background issue continues to be at the front of those leading the attacks on our 2nd amendment rights.  We have no problem keeping guns away from the proven mentally unstable and violent criminals, but where will the line be drawn? Who is to determine what constitutes a criminal or a criminal activity? Clearly this case does not. Although I do not advocate the use of pot by teenagers, I hardly consider this to be an instance to strip a citizen from their right to purchase a gun.

Now that the Zimmerman trial has been decided, we can expect some new attacks on our 2nd amendment rights, coming from those that wish to avenge the jury’s acquittal.  Already, Eric Holder and ilk have come out swinging.  Last week at an NAACP convention in Orlando, FL, Holder expressed his concern for the “Stand Your Ground” laws that allow citizens to protect themselves in a situation without having to retreat first.  The laws were originally put in place for home invasions but were expanded to other areas in which a citizen feels that they may need the use of deadly force in order to defend themselves.  Said Holder, “By allowing and perhaps encouraging violent situations to escalate in public, such laws undermine public safety….  it’s time to question laws that senselessly expand the concept of self defense …” Reps. Raul Grijalva (D- AZ) and Chaka Fattah (D- PA) weighed in as well on CNN’s State Of the Union.  “ You empower individual citizens to basically take the law into their own hands”, said Grijalva. Fattah went on to say regarding the jury’s decision, “Here’s George Zimmerman back, here’s his gun back and what he did was perfectly fine. And he’s coming to a neighborhood near you.”

I expect that the Obama administration will try to capitalize from the Martin/Zimmerman trial while they have the opportunity.  The 2nd Amendment is a great diversion from the many scandals that have been haunting them lately. The push for background checks will creep back into the headlines in their push to infringe on our 2nd amendment rights. And while we fight the battle, Ret. Army SFC Ronald Kelly, who fired tanks, cannons and machine guns on the front lines while serving our country with a top secret clearance, will be fighting his own battle. He will somehow have to convince the FBI that he is worthy of owning a .22 caliber rifle for the purpose of home defense. Especially since he couldn’t pass that background check.

Ruthie Thompson

Nevada PolitiChick Ruthie Thompson moved to Reno, NV at age 19, married, had two children, divorced and spent many years as a single mother. She continued to follow the political world closely and started engaging in grassroots activities, volunteering at the local GOP HQ. She has volunteered for many campaigns, working events, knocking on doors, making phone calls and attending political rallies and Tea Parties. Ruthie traveled to DC for the 9/12 rally and even to southern Nevada for the Showdown at Searchlight, home of Harry Reid. She attended the Leadership Institute in Arlington, VA where she studied every aspect of running a successful campaign--but her true passion is writing. You can follow Ruthie on Twitter @ruthie2theright, Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/ruthiethompson1/ and Google https://plus.google.com/u/0/117615692833169125740/posts, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ruthie.thompson1

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