From time to time, I find it necessary to write about those who would be on the side of conservatives and individual rights, were it not for their very loud and uncontrolled mouths. I find such people to be very annoying and honestly wish they could understand just how much damage
they are doing to our cause. Such is the case of one Brett Reese, who resides in Colorado. Reese is a member of a local school board in Weld County and has his own radio talk show. The current controversy stems from an editorial Reese has been running on his show, in which he denounces Martin Luther King Day, citing various reasons, which shall go unnamed. You can see those reasons in the Fox News article I am linking to, but they are not to be the focus of this post. Even though I disagree with Reese’s assertions about Dr. King, he does have the right to voice his displeasure.
Because of his editorial, which he has been requested to cease running, another local radio station has been calling the local businesses that underwrite Reese’s station, obviously trying to woo them over to advertising on their station. As it turns out, Brett Reese had a concealed weapons permit, but it has been revoked by the Weld County Sheriff, after Reese threatened the owner of the other radio station with a shootout, if the station refused to stop calling his underwriters. A restraining order has also been issued against Reese. He is crying foul, saying he needs to be able to carry his weapon to school board meetings because of the threats he has received for running the editorial, but methinks he doth protest too much. Really now, what did he expect to happen when he made such a threat, especially after the recent events in Arizona?
I am a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and I have a tendency to really dig in my heels when someone starts suggesting gun control as a way to prevent crime, but in this case, I can’t help but feel Reese is getting what he deserves. If I had the chance and opportunity, I would ask him a couple 
of questions. First, did he really mean the threat, did he really intend to start shooting if the radio station refused to stop calling his underwriters? If not, and he made the threat as a show of intimidation, then I would ask what the threat accomplished? I would say nothing good, especially when it comes to defending our 2nd Amendment rights. If anything, it damages our case. If he meant the threat, then he deserves to loose his weapons permit. That may not be the popular position to take, but I think it’s the right one.
I am sure most of us realize the uphill public relations battle we are in, especially when it comes to detailing the truth about guns and the 2nd Amendment. For years, the media has been doing their best to make it seem that guns are bad, that the 2nd Amendment doesn’t apply to individuals, or that it should be repealed altogether. We battle that perception on a daily basis and people like Brett Reese are not helping our cause. It’s bad enough that we have to fight this battle in the first place, but having to defend ourselves against ourselves makes it even worse.
I’m interpreting your piece as arguing that Reese’s behavior will provide more “fuel” to the anti-gun fire. Notice, however, how rarely you hear about people who drive away invaders with a gun. The attention almost always goes to the negative side of any issue.
You are correct in your interpretation, Ted and yes, the negative side of any issue seems to get more attention than the positive. Do you suppose it’s because negativity sells better than being positive? Just a thought.
Negativity sells a narrative. Just like the media tends not to cover events where people stop crimes with firearms.
As for this guy, I’d categorize him under, “this is why we can’t have nice things.”
That classification fits Reese very nicely, Matt.
Concerning the media coverage of incidents that would show gun ownership in a positive light, I have wondered about that before. Maybe I should do some research and look at how the media covered some of those events. It might shed some light on the subject.
What a stupid thing for Reese to do. And Country Thinker is right, you don’t hear much about the very many instances in which guns SAVE lives.
Very much so, Karen. I don’t understand why he thought threatening a shootout was a smart thing to do. If he really cared about the 2nd Amendment, he would have kept his mouth shut.
My local paper would LOVE to print stories about all the times gun owners drove away invaders or attackers by pulling out there own weapons. I’m sure yours would as well. Maybe the reason you don’t read about it is because it just doesn’t happen all that often. Reese is an idiot and he definitely gives ammunition to the argument to keep weapons out of the hands of people who use them to proactively threaten others.
I honestly don’t know how often that happens, Mike. I would like to think it would never have to take place, but given the nature of humans, it is sure to happen every once in a while. Some of the times when I have heard of such a situation, it seems the law-abiding gun owner gets the third degree from the authorities. That’s not a good thing, I think.
The idiot was probably only trying to improve his ratings. I agree with you, Larry, with friends like him we don’t need any enemies.
Some people will do anything to get higher ratings.
People like Reese are most unhelpful — to say the least.
Now, I don’t object to his voicing his opinions about Martin Luther King, Jr. It matters not whether I agree or disagree with Reese on that issue.
But Reese’s behavior with his firearm makes all those who support the 2nd Amendment look bad!
I do wish that people would not hand ammunition for the propaganda war to the Left.
It might have been a case of his mouth engaging before his brain was in gear, but at any rate, he should have been much more careful with his words.
BTW, a picture might not tell all. But is it my imagination that Reese has a wild look in his eyes? Jus’ sayin’.
If he threatened people with violence, he should lose his permit. Plain and simple. Everyone except liberal nut jobs who kill people are responsible for their actions, he chose to be an ass, he should suffer the consequences.
He really doesn’t have a legitimate gripe about losing his weapons permit. He should have thought about it before he started running off at the mouth.
I would say thanks but no thanks Mr. Reese. We really don’t need this fool making the case for second amendment rights. The constitution and writings of the founders will do just fine.
Amen to that, John. We really don’t need his brand of help.
Best to stay under the radar right now IMO, No one is taking up the banner of gun control, in spite of all that has happened. This too shall pass with some luck and keeping one’s mouth shut.
Ha, I like your last sentence. Very fitting for the occasion.
A shootout? Yea, that’s beyond the line.
Just a little, yes. He should have kept his mouth shut.
Yes he should have. That is simply a childish response.
Almost sounds like a plant to justify gun control.
Do you suppose they would stoop to that level?
With gun ownership comes responsibility, you simply can not go around making these types of threats–whether you are serious or not–and expect to not face repercussions. It is people like this that giver the rest of us gun owners a bad name.
I didn’t really mention the responsibility of being a gun owner, but you are exactly right, Steve. What was it Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker in Spider-Man? “With great power comes great responsibility”. I know that was a fictional character, but truer words could not be spoken. When a person makes the decision to carry a weapon for self-defense purposes, it can not be made lightly. The weapon should not be flaunted and the person should not make threats such as Brett Reese made, idle or not.
Good case, LD. I also support the 2nd amendment when it is used with temperance and measured wisdom. You made a good case of both.
All I tried to do is apply a little common sense to the situation at hand, John. It’s obvious that Brett Reese did not.
I agree with Steve in that with gun ownership comes responsibility and accountability. If this guy did as is being reported, then he deserves to deal with the consequences of his actions.
You are exactly right, Dominique. He has no room to fuss because his weapons permit was taken away. Really, he should have seen it coming.