In the wake of the latest mass shooting, here's my response to the world if I am ever a victim of one.

My handgun. Own work. 

1. I am opposed to gun control. Being killed in a mass shooting will not change that. Nothing will ever change that. I have opposed gun control before I had even graduated high school and I have never wavered in my support of the right to keep and bear arms. If I have anything resembling a core belief it is this: Self defense is the most basic and important human right and gun ownership is the best way to defend yourself from those that would wish you harm.

2. I absolutely refuse to have gun control advocates attempt to use my death as a talking point. I despise them and want nothing to do with them. I am proud to live in a country where guns are legal and common. I am disgusted that I live in a country where people can honestly advocate for disarmament with a straight face, though I do, of course, support their 1st amendment rights to do so. I consider most gun restrictions to be misguided at best and evil at worst.

3. If I die in a mass shooting my last thoughts are going to be "damn, wish I had my gun on me". I don't currently have a CCW permit and don't open carry but if I do die in a mass shooting the responsibly for that is on me and me alone for not getting a CCW permit. And if I do have a permit by the time this event occurs let it be known that I'd rather die fighting than live in a country that is disarmed.

4. I am also disgusted by CNN and refuse to have any of my work published on their site, though I understand that isn't legally binding. Anyone who knows me and speaks to CNN is doing so against my wishes and does not represent me. This contempt for the media extends beyond CNN but as of this writing they are the worst of the worst.

5. I have written about what I think can be done to stop mass shootings and what a real compromise on gun right/control would look like. If there is a discussion to be had, let it be those two posts or any of the posts where a good guy with a gun stopped a mass shooter.

6. I am also disgusted with the Democratic Party and do not support their attempts to pass laws restricting gun ownership. I have never voted for them in my life and would be horrified to be used as a talking point for them. I also do not wish my death to be used to support Republicans, third party or independent candidates who support gun control. However, I do approve of any gun rights supporter to use my story in favor of gun rights regardless of political affiliation.

7. Though I am not a member of the NRA or any other gun rights organization at the time of this post, I do support them. I have given a small amount of money to the NRA via Amazon Smile. If someone wants some good to come from my death, a donation to the NRA, the GOA, the 2nd Amendment Foundation or any other gun rights group is an acceptable alternative to a monetary donation to my family or other victims of this crime.

8. I also understand that dying in a mass shooting is extremely rare and not something that should be used as a discussion point on the wider issue of crime. I had a much better chance of dying in my car on the way to work or slipping in the shower than getting killed in a mass shooting. Mass shootings are rare and not the main type of violence in this country. Much more common is one criminal killing another criminal. I was at a very low risk of being killed in any kind of violence whatsoever and dying in a mass shooting is even more unusual.

9. If the attack I was killed in was politically motivated, let it be known that being killed in a mass shooting would not change my mind on the core issue. Death isn't a strong enough motivation for me to change my mind and we should resist those who would impose their views on others via the threat of violence, unless that violence is part of an armed conflict where the rules have already gone out the window.