About a week ago, my friend told me he saw white supremacists handing out pamphlets in Manassas, VA.

Thursday afternoon, me and three of my friends (two of us were minorities, the other two were white) were driving on Fairfax County Parkway when a car pulled up beside us. The car had four guys in it, all white, and they were yelling at us, flipping us the bird and holding up little swastika flags. After about a minute of just staying next to us, they pulled off and did the same thing to a car up ahead of us.

Let me state for the record that I don't care if people are racist or supremacists...that's their choice. If they want to believe they are superior to me because of their skin color, that's their belief and choice.

But I do have a problem with people that take it to that next level and do what these guys did or attack someone or deface their property or whatever.

The sad thing about this whole situation is that just when I think racism may be calming down, something like this happens again. It also made me think about my own personal safety. What if I was by myself and they followed me, hoping to catch me out of my car? I have faith in my fists, but four guys is a tall order for anyone. So, I went and bought a handgun yesterday.

I'm not happy about my decision; as a combat veteran, I know what it's like to kill someone. When I was discharged, I told myself that I would never touch a gun again. But I also realize that there are people out there who hate me for the color of my skin and I would rather shoot and live then die by their hand.

The last thing I want to say about this is that I don't want them to die either. No matter how much I disagree with their beliefs or the way they harrass, they are people and I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to be safe and left alone.