HR 47, aka the Citizens’ Self-Defense Act of 2005, gives everyone except those listed under Section 922(g) of title 18 of the USC the right to purchase and keep a gun in their home for the purpose of:

(1) in defense of self or family against a reasonably perceived threat of imminent and unlawful infliction of serious bodily injury;

(2) in defense of self or family in the course of the commission by another person of a violent felony against the person or a member of the person’s family; and

(3) in defense of the person’s home in the course of the commission of a felony by another person.

The list of justifications for the legislation is impressive. It cites that court rulings have determined that police do not have an obligation to protect individuals, only the general public. It cites statistics that show only 200,000 of 700,000 calls for help to the Dade County authorities receive a police response. But best of all:

(A) Every year, more than 2,400,000 people in the United States use a gun to defend themselves against criminals–or more than 6,500 people a day. This means that, each year, firearms are used 60 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives.

(B) Of the 2,400,000 self-defense cases, more than 192,000 are by women defending themselves against sexual abuse.

(C) Of the 2,400,000 times citizens use their guns to defend themselves every year, 92 percent merely brandish their gun or fire a warning shot to scare off their attackers. Less than 8 percent of the time, does a citizen kill or wound his or her attacker.

Impressive.

This bill has 38 cosponsors in the House. My rep is not among them, which is why my email has already been sent urging her to sign on.

You should do the same.