Once upon a time I had allergies and when I went to the doctor he prescribed Claritin-D and it was like a wonder drug. It cleared my nose up and I was able to breathe again and since he gave me a prescription for it and I had a prescription plan through my work it was relatively inexpensive. Then it was announced that Claritin-D would be available over the counter and that I would no longer need a prescription and that this would be wonderful news for allergy sufferers all across America because we would no longer have to see a doctor in order to obtain the drug. Of course now I had to pay full price for Claritin-D and it was much more expensive but at least it was still available.
Then one day I went to purchase my monthly supply of Claritin-D and it was nowhere to be found. It was now behind the counter and I had to show my driver’s license and sign a form in order to purchase it, and I could only buy so much because Congress passed the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 as an amendment to the renewal of the USA PATRIOT Act. Signed into law by president George W. Bush on March 6, 2006.
Apparently Claritin-D contains pseudoephedrine which can be used to make Crystal-meth and the methamphetamine craze is becoming so wide spread that all of us humans are potential Crystal-meth entrepreneurs so pharmacists must be wary of us all. And even though I pointed out to the pharmacist that pseudoephedrine doesn’t make Crystal-meth only people make crystal-meth, his response was, “Exactly!”
Now if I attempt to buy too much Claritin-D a red flag or whatever goes off at the pharmacy counter and I am promptly sent away. (No doubt the Feds are also notified!)
So now we fast forward to today where I read on my computer that James Holmes the Colorado shooter who killed 12 people and injured 70 others in a Colorado movie theater last summer was able to purchase a small arsenal including two semi-automatic pistols, a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle, 6,200 rounds of ammunition and high-capacity magazines that allow a shooter to fire more rounds without stopping to reload, a helmet, gas mask and body armor, fuses, gunpowder, chemicals and electronics, PLUS 2 hand grenades that he purchased on-line from a catalogue.
No red flags. No buzzers, No bells, no being turned away from the counter and absolutely no idea that James Holmes might be dangerous. I mean really? What does one do with a hand grenade that could possibly ever be considered recreational? Wow!
Perhaps we should simply ask Congress to pass a law that says that from now on all guns and bullets must contain 9 grams of pseudoephedrine.
And from now on when gun enthusiasts say, Guns don’t kill people, only people kill people” our quick retort should simply be, “EXACTLY!”
ipledgeafallegiance 
Awesome post!
well stated! It’s unbelievable how and where the government feels we need protecting. Another good topic RE government intervention in the name of protecting the population is food. So much legislation! maybe a topic I will tackle soon…
Hilarious!
Exactly. Just add yet another prohibition to something because that’ll stop meth makers from obtaining it and that’ll stop crazy people from buying arsenals! Crazy!
There needs to be a “LOVE” button!! So, so true – I can only buy two packages of Sudafed, IF I show my driver’s license, IF I sign a form saying I am using it for its intended purpose, and IF my local drugstore has it in stock (which they usually don’t). Ridiculous. The idea of including the pseudoephedrine in bullets and grenades is BRILLIANT!!
Poignant.
Where you took your post to in the end was not what I was expecting at all. There clearly needs to be regulation on guns… it’s a right, but we have come to a point where it needs to have ground rules. Put some pseudoephedrine in it, why not, at least then it will be regulated somehow.
More toward the allergies point, I understand that meth is rampant, though I haven’t known anyone doing it, or encountered people that made it in their homes, or even saw someone on the street shooting up, but druggies are going to get more drugs and if meth isn’t around they will try something else… like bath salts perhaps. While I don’t want anyone to blow up because their neighbor’s bathtub meth lab exploded I would really never like to hear about a man whose face was eaten off by a crazy mofo on bath salts again. It’s time to take our meds back, and let the addicts be addicts because it’s not going to change with a law that makes you sign your name on a paper to get “over the counter” meds.
Good point!
I’m sorry, but as a constitutional civil libertarian, I can’t wholeheartedly agree with you. Just to make sure I had it absolutely right, I reread the United States Constitution before replying. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that allergy sufferers have a right to purchase allergy medications without the government knowing about it. However, the Second Amendment says “… the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Now, we could argue what a well-regulated militia is, but there’s not a point to it because we can actually go back in history and see that a well-regulated militia was any patriot who showed up carrying his rifle and it included some women, African-Americans, Indians, etc.
As for hand grenades — Jim Holmes had tear gas canisters, not explosives. Actual hand grenades are illegal — have been for decades — and working ones are — according to the gun culture guys here locally — unavailable. I’m not saying you couldn’t get one from some where, but you’re not buying it out of a catalog. For verification, I emailed Michael Dukes over at KFAR 660 and asked him to address this on Firearms Friday this afternoon. He’s got a national fire arms expert coming on the show today, so the answer will probably be forthcoming. You can listen in on the web at KFAR 660. Look for the link. It comes on at 4:00 pm today Alaska Time. The tear gas canisters are similar to the pop smoke canisters some Alaskans carry in their backpacks in case they need rescue in the wilderness. A lot of law-abiding hikers would be on a federal red flag list under your suggestion.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think the government should be able to pull pseudoephedrine off the shelves and track ordinary allergy sufferers who buy it. It shouldn’t be the government’s business what you or I or my eccentric but otherwise harmless neighbor Herb does. Period! Soon as we gave our government that power, we were in big trouble and didn’t even know it. And prohibition never works (we proved that) and meth production here in Alaska has not decreased since Claritin D was made hard to get. Which is sort of my point. Make it illegal for ordinary citizens to own guns and only criminals will have them, which puts the rest of us at a great disadvantage because the cops are never around when you actually need them. You’re never going to see a theater shooting in Alaska because even crazy people (and I know quite a few from my former job with mental health) know that Alaskans ignore that “gun free zone” sign and carry concealed anyway. Crazy people are not stupid and these shootings only ever happen in gun free zones — even Fort Hood — gun free zone.
Oh, for the love of God.
Would you people please get over the whole rabid fascination with the second amendment, which specifically names the “well regulated militia” as the reason that the “people” should be allowed to bear arms?
If those rapid fire, extended magazine assault weapons are “arms”, then why the hell aren’t grenades “arms”? Clearly, there have to be limits. Everyone with an ounce of common sense knows that. Every civilized nation on earth (with the exception of this one) knows that.
Oh, and two additional things — there were no grenades. Holmes had no grenades. There is a huge difference between a tear gas or smoke canister and a grenade. Like I said, smoke canisters are used by Alaska wilderness hikers to flag rescue planes. I know a few military guys who carry tear gas canisters in the mistaken belief that they’ll work on bears, but the average joe has to have a special federal permit to get one — so in all probability Holmes had smoke canisters, which in a movie theater might as well be tear gas, but he could just as easily have used oil rags and a lighter for the same effect. Are we going to outlaw rags and olive oil next?
And, there’s no such thing as “rapid fire” semi-auto. Fully automatic weapons are not legally available in the United States and haven’t been for decades and contrary to popular belief, semi-autos don’t convert easily into fully automatic. That’s Hollywood, not reality. With semi-auto, you have to pull the trigger one time for every shell fired, which makes it no different than my 357 revolver. I’ve owned several semi-autos in my life and none of them ever fired more than one shell per pull of a trigger.
This is part of the problem. People like you who know NOTHING about guns but presume that you can tell those of us who do what the right to bear arms means. You think it’s going to save lives, but in reality, it just takes the limited gun-free zones that become free fire zones and extends them into the whole world. Society is not safer by being disarmed. All it would have taken was one concealed carry holder to stop Holmes early in his rampage, as happened in the Clackamas mall shooting.
http://www.kgw.com/news/Clackamas-man-armed-confronts-mall-shooter-183593571.html
You are absolutely right: I have no knowledge of guns. I admit it. I don’t know the right words to describe weapons which are designed specifically in order to kill as many humans beings as possible in as little time as possible. All I can tell you is that there is no reason on earth why anone SANE needs one. Nor is there any sane reason for defending their presence in a civilized society.
I was simply quoting the police report as it appeared in the news. If you know so much about everything that has to do with guns perhaps you should contact the police who published this report and set them straight. The trouble with people like you (as long as we are taking the time to presume to know what the trouble with each of us is) is that you watch too many movies and can’t seem to wait until the USA is restored to those good old Wild West days when people were free to carry guns and shoot each other at will and the good guy always won. How many people have you killed in your life so far? Is it frustrating to be a gun owner and not have someone to shoot? Do you see your weapons as deterrents to violence or as weapons of hopeful revenge? Must the mall murderers shoot someone first before you come to my aid or will your concealed carry holder be preemptive? If your owning a gun is predicated on the belief that someday, somewhere your life will be serendipitous enough to experience some innocent people getting shot to death so that you can heroically avenge their deaths by whipping out your gun and killing the killer then you are one french fry short of a Happy Meal!
Okay, you deserve a response. First, I never want to see a mass shooting and I hope I never have to take responsibility in a situation like that. I’m not looking forward to killing anyone.
However, I recognize that mass shootings do happen and they almost always happen in gun-free zones. If you make the whole of society a gun-free zone, it won’t stop those who want to harm people from carrying out their plans. As I said, gun-free zones do not protect people from violence. Mexican citizens are not allowed to own guns, but plenty of them get shot to death every day by drug cartels supplied with arms through the Mexican federales. Regular citizens are sitting ducks; their government won’t protect them because it is supplying the weapons that kill them.
Google Clackamas mall shooting and New Hope Church Denver shooting to see that concealed permit holders have saved lives in several instances of mass shootings.
The mother in George last week had retreated through several doors and backed up as far as she could. The burglar, armed with a shovel, had beaten down those doors and was entering the space where she and her children were hiding. What other reason would he have for that behavior than to use that shovel to kill them? She had no choice but to shoot him. The alternative was death.
So, since you were making some really erroneous assumptions about me, I’m going to return the favor. Would you rather than she and her children were dead? Would you prefer two people shot at the Clackamas Mall or two dozen? Do you like high body counts? Does that vindicate your hatred of guns? Is your resistance to concealed permits because you really like to see more people killed during shooting sprees? Are you opposed to people defending themselves? Do you root for the mass murderer?
You see, mean-spirited assumptions can go both ways. A dialogue on the subject that looks at the actual facts rather than the emotional rhetoric would be lovely, but unfortunately, people like you are unwilling to have a reasonable dialogue. You just want the government to do it YOUR way, even if your way makes us LESS safe.
If you want to have a REASONABLE conversation about it, come visit my blog. We can actually look at the facts rather than just arguing emotion.
Just because you’re afraid of guns doesn’t mean they don’t save lives.
“Just because you’re afraid of guns doesn’t mean they don’t save lives.” Guns save lives! You should start a religion with that wonderful motto. And just so we’re keeping score all I did was right a blog piece. You were the one who started the mean spirited assumptions. Then I returned the favor. See how easy it starts? I never should have bothered to answer your militant rant in the first place so let me end it here. PLEASE do not respond in the future.
Yep, you’re right, 26 children murdered is the price of freedom…just the way our forefather’s envisioned it. Black folks counted as only 3 fifths of a person in the constitution. We wouldn’t have been able to change that unless…wait for it…THE CONSTITUTION CAN BE AMENDED! Holy crap whose idea was that…wait for it…OUR FOREFATHERS!
Wow, well-stated! We need to hear more people like you in this debate.
I’d like to repost this on postdepartum depression (http://momshieb.wordpress.com/) with your permission.
Absolutely! And thank you!
Reblogged this on Post Departum Depression and commented:
This wonderful blogger, at ipledgeafallegiance.wordpress.com,has expressed exactly my sentiments about gun laws and gun control. Please read his post; he’s way smarter and more articulate than I am, and you’ll see that he makes a great argument.
Well said!
Reblogged this on njgarrell and commented:
Exactly!….I have the same problem and I was turned away in my Paramedic uniform because I didn’t have my driver’s license on me. Paramedics are allowed to carry controlled substances on trucks but can’t buy medicine containing pseudoephedrine? Give me a break. I agree with what you said. Put some in all weapons.
And the NRA solution is – everyone has a gun. Imagine at that theatre, everyone had a gun. How many people would have wiped their piece out and started shooting st the flash of the light over there. Every new gun being shot would have become a new target.
I am curious, how many of those people who demand to have combat assault weapons and concealed handguns have ever seen what damage a 9mm round does to the face of a child – the child that the gun in question was meant to protect.
Crazy world it indeed is. Enjoyed reading it I did.
Great post–and a brilliant solution!
You know … I am going against my grain by responding to, and agreeing with things political.
Then again … it is hard to remain silent at times.
Very well written indeed.
(PS – While the point of your blog was not about the restrictions on a particular drug … and more about the nonsensical rational of one restriction as compared to another … what I find ironic, though somewhat off topic, is that Costco, who sells items in bulk … still carry Sudafed!)
Reblogged this on Resident Alien — Being Dutch in America and commented:
Pretty interesting parallel!
Life is strange, is it not?
Excellent idea. I know this because I am a drug mule (not really, so please don’t send the cops to my blog.) http://honiebriggs.com/2012/11/12/the-drug-mule/
Best rant on guns I have ever took the time to read. Good job.
Fantastic comment on a ridiculous situation! So well-put.
Generally I am careful not to speak about topics that I don’t really have much knowledge about. But, in this case I have to mention a tidbit from my gracious friend from Quebec. Toronto had about 1 murder in the same year “my Baltimore” had its usual 300. I Wonder why I stay sometimes. I even chose to do Home PT in all those “bad neighborhoods” for a period. Each and every home had a family and its warm nest, pictures on the walls and hope for tomorrow. I guess that’s what brought us back from our Trampervoyage. Hope and a chance to pass on fragments or mustard seeds like those that fell into my young life.
-David
There is no sanity any more. The phrase ‘the path to Hell is paved with good intentions’ doesn’t even begin to cover this cray stuff. Too many laws and too many people controlling every aspect of your life. Good read.
I remember, as a former Claritin taker, I was initially thrilled that it was delisted–only to suffer sticker shock at the new, not-so-convenient price. I found it at Costco and that helped. But I went on a sleepless binge–I thought it was spring giving me all that energy. Weeks went by and I was charging around at high speed until I collapsed in exhaustion and victim to every bug that came around. My nurse discovered what had happened–my old prescription Claritin was a once a day 12 hour formula. The Costco stuff was a 24 hour formulation. I was a wreck. The moral to the story is that, even a good thing might not always be appropriate.
Items should be regulated when their potential harm outweighs their beneficial use. The greater the harm, the greater the regulatory imperative.
For whatever it’s worth–later I discovered that if I cut out dairy, I didn’t need the Claritin. So, what? Regulate milk?
I liked what you had to say, but the blinders were so evident on folks on both sides of the issue.
In my opinion:
Calling anyone who feels they need a gun insane to me demonstrates a classist and attitude toward and deep level of ignorance about the lives of the many who live with their loved ones in extremely dangerous zero police response areas. You might equally consider someone in that situation insane NOT to have a gun.
Blindly sticking to the idea that any attempt to limit rampant proliferation or widespread uncontrolled use of guns because it is an assault on 2nd amendment rights ignores the reality that what we are doing now is obviously not working.
I have no solutions.
Yes, the 2nd amendment clearly includes both “well-regulated” and “militia”, but since the intent was that the people not ever be able to have their control wrested from them by their government, that is moot. If you require registration of all guns, and limit ammo, you always run the risk of a future government running roughshod over the then feebly-weaponed people, and resisters being mown down before it. Liberal-leaning folk will disbelieve that is possible here in the U.S., no matter how many examples from history are cited.
At the same time, we need to control SOME people, don’t we?
I suspect technology is going to answer this problem sooner than people will. We will get to the point where each cartridge will be able to be unerringly traced to its weapon or the person who loaded it in that weapon, and each weapon unerringly traced to the person who last fired it. You will rapidly see gun crime drop after that.
Too bad PSAs and family hour are dead and gone. Many parents ttruly don’t know how to parent. If these knew that apes and human babies involuntarily learn from what they see…
I’d like to see a “Double Digit” campaign:
No news or “mature” films or shows or computer/phone games for children less than double digits of age. If children didn’t see all that exciting shooting until older, I think we’d see a drop in real shooting rates.
LOL! We are all criminals in the eyes of the people we put into power. Hmmmm. Hmmmm
Here’s the difference: This summer when a crackhead was banging on my front door, screaming and waving around a pistol at 11pm, allergy medicine wasn’t going to keep my babies safe. But a double barrel shotgun sure was.
There is no difference! Would the legal and proper registration of the shotgun have made killing the crackhead impossible? I can still get allergy medicine. I just have to show my license when I do. What’s so hard about that? Will only criminals have Claritin now?
Unfortunately, you are never going to get the guns away from the bad guys. The real answer is to make sure all the GOOD guys have a gun and know how to use them, like the Clackamas Mall shooting where the CC holder stopped the shooter mid-spree, before the police even got there.
Hi gpicone! Thank you for liking my recent post! Taking a look at your blog, I read this one of yours and must say: you nailed it! It’s sometimes unbelievable what is considered ok, and what not ok …
An excellent piece of writing. I loved it. It illustrates the craziness.
Thank you
Best wishes
Opher from Opher’s World
Excellent! and “funny.” I can’t tell you how many times I stood at the counter “begging” for my 15 pills ” and fuming! Made me want to go buy a gun….;)
What is the difference between the Sudafed and Claritin d,which is stronger,not true I have been perscribed Claritin for years I don’t buy it to damn expensive I don’t do it anymore I just know someone else recently for the first time with out Sudafed and Claritin d was the ingredient and Sudafed was the main ingredient what is stronger cuz my friend feels better
During my teenage years many many years ago there was very little help for the chronic and constant asthma attacks I had. I would say that pseudoephedrine saved my life on a number of occasions and without it I wouldn’t be here now. I still have asthma, but survive because of various inhalers. I live in the UK by the way.
Thanks for dropping by my blog post 🙂
Loved this article and yes.. amazing that the drug you need is tightly regulated whilst guns and fire arms is seemingly less tight. Too much shooting, too many deaths. Stay safe and allergy free 🙂
Reblogged this on Michael's Lair and commented:
I’m sorry I was one of the individuals that used. 11 yrs straight now but you shouldn’t be punished for my sins.
Who could possibly argue with THAT! It’s so true…and insane. But then the Patriot Act is insane so…. and the government… and the shooters….
No past is the past I have lots of drug charges none for meth but I need an answer to my question I have been perscribed Claritin for years I’m no criminal past is the past judgemental fucks
Hi! pseudoephedrine (pseudofed) is the decongestant (drug) in Claritin-D. Without the pseudoephedrine all you have is regular Claritin which is Loratadine (drug) an Antihistamine. It’s the pseudofed that clears one’s nose (at least mine) but I do find that together they work better for me than just the pseudoephedrine alone which is what you get when you by Sudafed (brand). So it’s the D in Claritin-D that is the drug that is regulated by the federal government and that’s the drug that is used in the making of Crystal-meth although I have never made any myself. All I want is to be able to breath and clear myself of congestion. I have found that without the use of pseudoephedrine I get sick (colds, flu, sinus infections) very easily. But if I take the Claritin-D regularly I hardly ever get sick at all any more.
Love this article!!!!
Two wrongs don’t make a right!
Wow. Had to look this up today because I had my first chemo treatment on Friday. Woke up with horrible pain in my bones. Called my dr and she told me to take Claritin d to ease the reaction to Taxol which is the chemo I am receiving. The pharmacist asked my husband for drivers license to purchase. He asked why and was told because clarintin had an ingredient used to make crystal meth. I binge watched Breaking Bad and may have missed Walters secret ingredient.
Anyhow, I took it today and pain has subsided.
When I read your comments it truly made me laugh at what you said about no red flags having gone up for the shooter. So true. Ironic, sad and funny all at the same time.
Thank you for sharing that. Made my day.
Thanks for reading and you’re welcome! I’m glad I made you laugh and sincerely hope that you are feeling better and can look back at this day as the beginning of a great and lasting recovery!
What is the difference between the Sudafed and Claritin d,which is stronger
I hope you got my reply about Sudafed and Claritin-D. If not please see above. BTW 12hr Claritin-D has 125 mg of pseudoephedrine and 24hr. has 250 mgs.