Saturday, December 19, 2015

Writing My Wrongs: A Book Review

Writing My Wrongs: A Book Review
A few days ago, I finally got around to reading a book in my library. For me, buying books is sometimes as fun as reading them. However, finding time to actually read them is a challenge. Accordingly, last Thursday I looked at my ever-growing pile of books to read and selected this one to read. The funny thing, to me, is that I actually bought this one at the author's book signing a few years ago. Better late than ever.

Despite measuring in at 314 pages, I jumped in and knocked it out in two sessions. It was an easy read and gave me some insight on thoughts I have had over the last decade I have been a Firearm Instructor. You see, at times, my ideological foes have unsuccessfully tried to paint law-abiding gun owners as contributing to the problem of criminals using firearms to commit violent crimes.

I have never tried to present lawful gun ownership as the solution to everything that ails us a nation. My stance is and has always been that no one has anything to fear from a lawfully armed and law-abiding citizen. I staunchly believe that owning a firearm does indeed solve at least one particularly vexing problem in Detroit and many other cities and communities across the country - violent thugs who rob, rape, and murder innocent victims. Lawfully carrying a firearm solves a seemingly pervasive problem - defending your life when attacked. Nothing more - nothing less.

Anti-gun advocates - in my opinion - seem to be on the side of the criminals who commit violent acts against the innocent. From their statements, it appears that the bad guys were dealt a bad hand and were forced by "society" to make bad decisions and know not the consequences of their actions. The excuses for the crimes of bad guys are numerous: broken homes, physical abuse, lack of opportunity, and a dysfunctional neighborhood community. Unfortunately, the solution is elusive.

The author of the book did a good job of documenting his crimes and his reasons why he did them. For his crimes, he spent the better part of his life - 19 years - in prison. To his credit, in the spirit of Malcolm X, he educated himself while incarcerated and eventually took responsibility for his actions both in words and deeds. 

Whereas the life he took can never be restored, he has done an admirable job of attempting to atone for his crimes. However, the indiscriminate taking of a life is not trivial. How long should one be punished for a grave transgression is a difficult question to answer. I am sympathetic to the concept of redemption but I also strongly believe in the concept of justice.

How do we eliminate crime, especially violent offenses, is a topic that was not addressed in this book. I did get insight as how one gets caught up into a life of crime. In my opinion, none of them justifies the choices the author made. I will continue to advocate that when citizens are presented with imminent and grave danger that they protect themselves with justified lethal force without any consideration as to how and why the violent criminal is putting your life in danger.
About The Author
Rick Ector is a National Rifle Association credentialed Firearms Trainer, who provides Michigan CCW Class training in Detroit for students at his firearms school - Rick's Firearm Academy of Detroit.

Ector is a recognized expert in firearm safety and has been featured extensively in the national and local media: Associated Press, UPI, Fox news, New York Times, USA Today, Bearing Arms, NRAnews, Guns Digest, Tactical-Life, The Truth About Guns, The Politics Daily, Fox News Detroit, The Detroit News, The Detroit Examiner, WJLB, WGPR, and the UrbanShooterPodcast.

For more info about free shooting lessons for women and Michigan CCW Classes, please contact:

Rick's Firearm Academy of Detroit
Web: http://www.detroitccw.com.
Email: detroitccw@gmail.com
Phone: 313.733.7404

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