Follow the Law

The state of Washington recently passed an initiative that, among other things, makes sure that anyone buying a gun in Washington State passes the same background check, no matter where they buy the gun and no matter whom they buy it from.

Although I don't live in the U.S. I still see this as a good thing.  It keeps more firearms out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them.  I personally don't like guns but I don't have a problem with people carrying them as long as it's required for their lawful employment and/or they're members of the military.

You have to register your car before you can drive.  You need to register to vote, to get married, to keep pets.  Background checks are often required to rent an apartment or work at certain companies.  What's the matter with background checks and registration for owning a firearm?

A friend of mine who lives in WA strenuously disagrees with the initiative, saying that it was "bought not won" and he now despises Microsoft for its financial backing of it.  On top of that, he wrote:

"I won't be following this joke of a law just like a lot of other folks I know.  It makes zero sense and takes nothing from the criminals, making myself and others one.  So, I'll be a criminal then until a nice fat lawsuit destroys this infringement on my rights.  I refuse to comply nor will I buy anything now in such a way that can be tracked.  Tired of liberals that think they can tell me what to do.  They can go live with [Michael] Bloomberg and let him protect them when the need comes.  I sure won't, I'll be only protecting my family and those I care about. The rest of you anti-gunners can go straight to hell and let [Bill] Gates and [Steve] Ballmer and the other anti-freedomers here in WA who have private armies, protect you. If they will."

Being a law-abiding citizen means that you FOLLOW THE LAW even if you might not agree with it.  So, my friend has admitted that he condones not complying with the law, and he condones acquiring and possessing non-registered firearms, and even seems to encourage such.  He's branded himself as a criminal through his own actions, not through the law itself as he claimed.

I feel sorry for him.  And I feel sorry for his family who will suffer because of his extremist attitude.  I'm also sorry that I might have to stop speaking to him, because he and I have known each other for a long time.  I wish I knew what happened to change him so much.