Meet the obligation to arm yourself

The shooting at NIU was very tragic and horrible, and I would like to express my sympathy to all the families involved.

Let's look at this from a different viewpoint.

According to AFT/FBI statistics, there are about 1.5 million firearm owners in Illinois.

So on that terrible day, 1,499,999 law-abiding firearm owners in Illinois obeyed the more than 20,000 firearm laws that are on the books and hurt nobody.

It is estimated that private firearm ownership is used over 50,000 times a year in self defense or to stop a criminal.

More criminals are shot by private firearm owners than by law enforcement departments. These are seldom reported and when they are, it's a three-line article buried in the back of a newspaper.

The 48 states that permit concealed carry of a firearm are on the correct path. They have seen the crime rate decrease. Illinois needs to get on board and pass legislation that permits concealed carry.

The politicians in Illinois run around with armed body guards, yet they want to keep us defenseless and unarmed.

If people do not want to take the responsibility of protecting their own lives and the lives of their families, that's fine. After the crime has been committed and if you are still breathing, you can call 911 and fill out a report.

There are some of us who think our lives and the lives of our loved ones are too precious to be left to someone else to care for.

We take the responsibility ourselves. We train in the use and safety of a firearm and over time become proficient. We refuse to be a victim.

Ronald Navara

Arlington Heights