The threat to our homeland from domestic Islamic terrorism has never been greater in the history of the United States. The seemingly unimpeded march of radical Islam toward the West has indeed emboldened those who have sought to broaden their coercion of a caliphate, or a state governed in accordance with Sharia Law.

America reportedly now has ISIS members who have penetrated our borders and are actively recruiting domestic terrorists for attacks within the U.S. FBI Director James Comey has been traveling the country warning the terror group is now recruiting in all 50 states and Americans must be on alert.

“Those people exist in every state. I have homegrown violent extremist investigations in every single state”, Comey said to an ABC News team, describing their network as a “chaotic spider web.”

 In addition to the increasing threat of domestic Islamic terrorism, our nation continues to witness senseless murders by psychopaths on school campuses, in churches and in the streets. From Columbine, to Aurora, to Blacksburgthe list disturbingly lengthens.
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So, given the fact that American lives have arguably never been more at risk, why would President Obama ostensibly seek to disarm not only America but Americans?

Last week, in the wake of the latest mass murder in Oregon, Obama unashamedly politicized the massacre while taking aim at the National Rifle Association for blocking gun reform. Obama said it wasn’t enough to offer prayers after major shootings which continue to occur regularly throughout the country.

“As I said just a few months ago, and I said just a few months before that, and I said each time we see one of these mass shootings, our thoughts and prayers are not enough,” Obama told reporters after the latest shooting at the community college in which 10 people were killed and another 7 injured. He challenged Americans to hold their elected official accountable for acting on the issue.

So, Mr. President, since criminals by nature ignore the law, what sort of new gun law would have prevented this latest tragic attack? While it may be clich; when you take guns from law-abiding citizens, only the criminals will have guns. How do you explain your home city of Chicago, which has some of the nation’s toughest gun laws, having such rampant gun violence? According to the Center for Disease Control, Chicago ranks among the highest in metropolitan areas for gun violence!

 New gun laws will not deter criminals. We should focus on the training and education of law-abiding citizens in properly defending themselves from those who ignore the law. When I obtained my concealed-carry permit, I was required to complete a hands-on course with a qualified instructor. And only those ignorant of what this training involves would paint a scenario replete with wanton vigilante “blasting” where innocent lives are even more at risk.
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If a responsible, armed individual trained in the proper use of a firearm had been present at most of these massacres, lives would have been saved. It’s that simple.

Another law on the books would have been useless.

Mark Caserta is a conservative blogger, a Cabell County resident and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page.