The Second Amendment of the Constitution reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
As a big game hunter and fisherman, as well as backcountry wilderness educator, conservationist, and a conservative Republican, to me personally — besides religious freedom and all men are created equal under the Constitution of the United States — the Second Amendment right to own and bear arms is a sign of a free country. Lose the Second Amendment and the United States is no longer the free country it is.
For sporting in the great outdoors, nothing truly wonderful escapes my view. One of the greatest products the NRA has offered recently is a homerun; it is the NRA carry guard.
The NRA carry guard is a one-stop resource for those who carry, concealed or otherwise, to prepare them for the real world of gun ownership which would include training and the education necessary to carry a concealed weapon.
It is an unequivocal and non-negotiable fact that in the United States today we have some bad cops. Really bad. Bad to the core, dishonest, and on the take, and also trigger happy. OK everyone I said it, and it is true. But the percentage is so minuscule compared to the men and women in blue who are prepared to put their life on the line on a moment’s notice for you and your kid at a salary often less than that of a garbage collector. Policemen and people of service today are personally my heroes. They are the ones to respond to a 911 call in the middle of the night. And now recently are ambushed by those waiting to kill them.
For those who do not know I am in a wheelchair for the rest of my life being paralyzed from my chest down. I am an active outdoorsman in hunting and fishing, among the best of them. I have a Florida carry permit and usually carry an LC or a glock, concealed. There is not a day in my life I hope I never have to use my pistol to defend my life, my wife, family's life, or that of an innocent bystander.
Any reasonable, intelligent, lawful American citizen who has a carry permit realizes the day they discharge their weapon being completely justified in accordance with the law that their life the way they know it is over. They will be thrown in jail; they will be questioned by attorneys, asked to sign statements. It will be assumed that they are not innocent of using their weapon and that by the time the process is over they will have used hundreds of thousands of dollars defending themselves with the liberal anti-gun left threatening and doing everything in their power to throw you in jail. During this process if you are not rich you will probably be forced to mortgage your home and the time involved will absolutely put you out of business, if you are in business. I’ve actually had people tell me that they are so afraid of the aftermath of using their firearm legally that they no longer carry. I personally consider my right to carry the greatest privilege in the history of the world and I say this to you with all humility and respect, it is a fact. I live in a free country, I carry a loaded pistol and the responsibility of which that carries is enormous. It is also what makes America great.
The NRA carry guard is a service of the NRA; I believe I pay $360 per year for myself and my wife who also carries. NRA carry guard members receive up to $1.5 million of civil protection and $250,000 in the criminal defense costs reimbursement after acquittal or dismissal with up to 20 percent of the criminal defense costs limit available as supplementary payments for expenses. Each NRA carry guard member receives individual insurance protection up to the dollar amount indicated by their membership level. I am an NRA gold member. There is also bronze which carries $250,000 civil protection and $50,000 in criminal defense. The silver offers $500,000 in civil protection and $100,000 in criminal defense. Your insurance program with the NRA is supported by a very respected name in the business, Chubb, the largest publicly traded property and causality insurance company in the world. The NRA’s official statement is “Our mission is your protection.” Today more than 15 million Americans legally carry firearms in defense of themselves and others. These are among the safest, most reliable, law respecting group of people on the planet. It was for this group that the NRA carry guard was created.
I truly hope that I never have to use my pistol. On the other hand, if I ever have to I do not want the aftermath of legal trauma to influence whether I discharge my firearm or not. On the back of my NRA carry guard membership card it says the following: If you are forced to act in lawful self defense. #1 – Call 911. Identify and describe yourself and your location. Provide information to insure safe arrival of first responders. #2 – Wait for the police. Follow officer’s commands. Identify the attacker. Tell police you are exercising your right to remain silent until you speak to a lawyer. #3 – Call NRA carry guard 1-888-672-9111.
My name is Tred Barta. I am a proud NRA gold carry guard member. I have been a lifetime member of the NRA yet I never can be found in the register. My name is Tred with a T. They write me letters calling me Fred Banta, not Barta. I am not paid by the NRA; I have not talked to the NRA in 20 years. I receive no money or sponsorship whatsoever from the NRA. The NRA has no idea I have written this article. So everyone you figure it out. I am a proud American, I carry my pistol and I bought the insurance program. As I see on an advertisement on TV which I would like now to paraphrase: “What’s in your wallet? In mine there is freedom.”
Tred Barta is an American hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman who hosts "The Best and Worst of Tred Barta" on the Versus Channel. As a fisherman, Barta has amassed several world records, some still current. Barta experienced spinal stroke and cancer in 2009, leaving him paralyzed from the armpits down. However, Barta continues to hunt and fish as he did before the accident. Overcoming limitations and fears is part of "The Barta Way." To read more of his reports — Click Here Now.
© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.