The Peaceful Responsible Owners of Guns (PROGUN) condemns in the strongest possible terms the mass shooting committed by a purportedly deranged gunman at a youth camp at Norway. Police investigations indicate that the same suspected gunman may be responsible for the bombing of the Oslo government offices the other day, likewise killing scores of people. We send our condolences and sympathies to the victims and the people of Norway.

While the victims deserve our utmost sympathy and condolence, we likewise realize on a practical level that criminals will always be with us and will always commit crimes and prey upon innocent and helpless victims, in every country in the world, and using whatever means possible to commit crimes. Human nature being what it is, there will always be those who are born or raised to be deranged, mentally imbalanced, sociopaths, and bent on inflicting harm on others. Criminality and lawlessness is a fact of life which can strike in even in those places and countries which claim to be the most peaceful and crime free countries in the world. Neither the reputed efficiency of the Norwegian police or the reputed “crime free” environment of Norway prevented such a tragedy from happening.

As in the case of the Virginia Tech shooting and other similar tragic incidents, we must also ask ourselves the question: What if any of the victims were armed, could such a tragedy not have been prevented? There was no other evidence other than the perpetrator was a mere lone gunman wielding a weapon – an easy target for an armed civilian carrying a concealed pistol. 

This likewise makes the case for civilian concealed carry rights. We have long ago laid down the premise that deranged criminals and sociopaths canot be reasoned with. The police cannot be everywhere to protect us and prevent crimes from occurring. The only thing that would stop deranged and determined criminals from committing henious crimes is decisive action from a determined would-be victim. While we certainly respect the decision of those who opt not to carry a firearm, those of us who choose not to become victims should be given the right to protect ourselves. Crime does not choose when, where, and how to strike. This incident could happen anywhere, anytime, including the most secure and “safe” countries or neighborhoods. No place and no one is immune. 

By using this incident as a pretext for disarming law biding citizens or enacting stricter anti-gun laws, we are simply making the job of deranged criminals, such as this gunman, easier. Let us stress that this is a crime problem, not a gun problem. On the contrary, we choose not to be victims, and should be allowed the means to fight back and defend ourselves. We also push for better and more pervasive law enforcement presence and a stronger criminal justice system that will put criminals such as this gunman in jail, not on the streets.

Stay Safe.