The Fact That a House Subcommittee is Looking at Self-Defense is Insane

Yet it seems a House subcommittee has been looking at self-defense for some insane reason.

Now, I’m not saying that the House is somehow wrong to look at self-defense if it’s under attack. I’m saying it’s insane that we live in a world where a House subcommittee feels the need to look at it.

And yes, they really are.

The U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, under the leadership of Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Arizona), held a committee hearing focused on the right of law-abiding Americans to protect themselves.

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‘No one wants this to happen’

Subcommittee Chairman Biggs set the table succinctly during his opening remarks about why the hearing was so critical.

“At a time when violent crime continues to plague our communities and rogue prosecutors allow criminals back out on the streets, it is important to preserve our right to defend ourselves and our loved ones,” Chairman Biggs stated. “It’s disgraceful to think that someone defending their family from a deadly attack would be punished.”

House Democrats on the committee, including ranking member Lucy McBath (D-Georgia), Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida), and Dan Goldman (D-New York), repeatedly stated the need for strict gun control was rooted in the belief that more laws means less crime. One hearing witness, however, had firsthand experience about why that is the wrong belief paradigm.

David McDermott, a self-defense attorney in Chicago, explained why self-defense is so important to him.

“At the age of 17, I was walking with my now-wife, Dana, and some friends when a large group of gang members ran over to us,” McDermott said. “I was sure we were going to be attacked, and before I knew it, I was hit in the head with a blunt object. I immediately went down to my knees as I was beaten repeatedly with a lead pipe and baseball bat. Dana and my sister were held at gunpoint as these gang members continued to beat me bloody.”

McDermott went on to note that no one wakes up and says, “Hey, today’s the day I’m going to be attacked.” He’s right, they don’t. While we all pray we’re never the victim of such a brutal assault, or any assault, that’s not necessarily up to us.

Sure, we can try to avoid dangerous places, have good situational awareness to avoid suspicious people, etc, but no one can be “on” all day, every day. Sometimes, we’re putting ourselves in a less than ideal situation for whatever reason. Sometimes, we did everything right and trouble still comes to us.

The right to keep and bear arms is so important because we don’t get to know when something is going to happen. We don’t have the initiative. That’s on the bad guys.

So, we have to be ready all the time.