Journalists in Russia Want To Be Able To Protect Themselves

Written by Daniel White

Friday, 23 January 2009 01:55

Despite the arguments that disarming the population is the only way to reduce crime, it doesn't seem to have worked very well in other countries where it has been tried.

Take Russia, for example, where taking away gun rights is now causing the loss of freedom of the press.

Because law enforcement agencies in Russia increasingly have not been able to guarantee the security of journalists there, Aleksandr Lebedev, the co-owner of "Novaya gazeta" has asked the FSB to allow his journalists to carry weapons to protect themselves as they go about their entirely legitimate business.

Lebedev's request came only two days after someone shot down in cold blood on the streets of Moscow "Novaya gazeta" journalist Anatasiya Baburova together with attorney Stanislav Markelov and in the same week that Lebedev attracted attention for his purchase of the London "Evening Standard"

Far from creating a peaceful utopia, criminals and terrorists who have no inclination to follow the law in the first place now have easy pickings to enforce their will on others.

In this country, we are fond of saying that the Second Amendment protects the others. This story is yet another example proving that to be the case. Disarmed reporters are no match for those who want to take away their freedom of speech.

Now, it is all but too late and they are desperately trying to get permission to be allowed to protect themselves. But, what about the rest of the citizens? Are the lives of journalists worth more than a shopkeeper who gets robbed to supply the terrorists with food and supplies?

Gun control does work and it never will.