I meant to get to this story last week, but like many things in my life, it got pushed aside and partially forgotten.
Although cleared of shooting charges in a 2007 dispute at a Key Largo trailer resort, a Hialeah man still faces a felony count of carrying the handgun he used to defend himself.
Why, pray tell, is this man facing felony charges for a right enumerated in the Constitution? Because he didn’t have a permission slip to do so.
Jorge Correa, 44, must return for a November trial on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, Monroe County Circuit Court Luis Garcia ruled Friday at the Plantation Key courthouse. Garcia denied a motion by Correa's attorneys to have the concealed-weapon charge dismissed.
Had Mr. Correa played by the rules, he would have been dead. However, since he did not prostrate himself before the all powerful state and beg for permission to be able to protect himself, he is going to be charged with felonious ‘contempt of state’.
I have severe issues with ‘licensing’ of a right. A license does nothing to stop the criminal, has no bearing on public safety (if you believe it does, then explain to me why there are so many auto accidents if everyone is licensed), and in cases like this, puts people’s very lives in jeopardy. The anti’s would much prefer Mr. Correa have died than admit that he had every right to defend his life using a tool that put him on equal footing with three thugs who were trying to kill him.
Demanding that people genuflect before the state and beg for permission to protect themselves is immoral. Those who wish to make the process harder share in that immorality. I’d love to see one of you anti’s tell Mr. Correa and his family that he deserves prison time to their faces. You won’t because you’re cowards who hide behind the states’ guns to push your evil views.
I for one stand with Jorge Correa.