Growing state budget cuts show why Americans need guns and Second Amendment

[RugersGR8]

Unless you are a total anti-2nd Amendment gun-grabber, THIS ARTICLE NEEDS NO EXPLAINATION WHAT SO EVER.

http://www.examiner.com/article/gro...-why-americans-need-guns-and-second-amendment
Growing state budget cuts show why Americans need guns and Second Amendment
Guns
July 17, 2012
By: Kenneth Schortgen Jr

 

[reddog1]

http://www.examiner.com/article/gro...-why-americans-need-guns-and-second-amendment
Here is the text:


As President Obama and Congress begin to debate gun rights for Americans in preparation of the U.N.'s passing of a Small Arms Treaty, a growing occurrence in many states is providing justification that now, more than ever, Americans need the Constitutional right to own guns and defend themselves in accordance with the rights granted under the Second Amendment.

The event that is leading citizens to become their own line of defense against criminals is the growing number of budget deficits in states and municipalities, and their dwindling funds available to house prisoners and to fight crime. On July 16, budget deficit problems in a county in the state of Oregon forced the local sheriff to release almost 100 inmates before their completed sentences, many of whom were indicted or convicted of murder and other violent crimes.

A $100 million budget deficit in Oregon's Lane County has prompted the sheriff to release nearly 100 detainees and inmates from his jail, including several accused of killing people. Ninety-two prisoners were freed over three days this month as the jail closed a whole wing of its 507-bed facility.

Among those released with only an electronic ankle bracelet was 33-year old Aaron Curry, who police say admitted he killed a man who had taken him in.

Lane County is filling less than a third of its jail beds following the elimination of 64 positions in the Sheriff’s Department. Twenty-eight deputies have been laid off, forcing the sheriff to also cut back on patrols. There are now 6-8 hours every day when citizens may call for help from a deputy, but there won’t be anyone on duty to respond. - Foxnews.com

Lane County is not the only area in the United States forced to cut their police forces, and release prisoners early due to lack of funding. In 2008, several states chose to release or parole many inmates that they could not afford to house due to budgets and overcrowding.

Some states are considering early prisoner releases or related ways to cut costs. In 2008, for example, Arizona, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey and Vermont reduced the sentences of thousands of parole and probation violators who had been returned to custody. But closing prisons as a solution to the economic crisis has become increasingly popular. “Many states are trying to cut corrections budgets, and the only way you can cut them is to close facilities,” said criminologist James Austin. - Prisonlegalnews.org

America has the largest incarcerated population in the world, with more than 2.3 million people behind bars according to a 2007 report. Additionally, the amount of money dedicated to housing convicted criminals is over $60 billion per year, with most of that funding obligated to the states. These massive costs leave only three options for municipalities and state legislatures to choose from as their deficits grow wider in America's economic decline. First, they can vote to release several hundred thousand low level criminals from prison, which would then remove completely the deterrent factor of crime and punishment. Second, they can move the housing and care of inmates to private agencies and facilities, but lose the power to implement many programs built to council and rehabilitate convicts. Or lastly, they can legislate many crimes off the books which would lessen the number of citizens who would be arrested and incarcerated for minor acts.

Yet, the growing problem with funding prisons is simply a microcosm of the entire system of law and order that requires hundreds of millions, to several billion dollars worth of dedicated resources each year. And as Americans deal with the growing number of cities insolvent and filing for bankruptcy, many of these municipalities are being forced to layoff field officers, and leave public safety in the hands of citizens. In fact, during one busy weekend of crime last April, the city of Oakland admitted they were unable to respond to all the emergency calls that came into their 911 system.

The purpose of the Second Amendment, along with a well regulated militia, was to allow states and local communities to deal with crime and violence without the need for municipalities to have a large standing support organizations dedicated and funded for this purpose. However, as city revenues and budgets grew larger during the 20th century, the creation of large public safety offices and agencies took over the roles that citizens primarily held in their communities in years past.

These bureaucracies has finally reached a climax in the 21st century, as the costs to fund public safety, prosecute criminals, and house the convicted are now greater than most states can afford. With new policies by cities, counties, and states around the country being implemented to release prisoners they can no longer afford to keep, the need for guns and the Second Amendment is necessary for all citizens now more than ever, as they are forced once again to be their last line of defense against crime.