I must be missing something/Gun Control
Violent images currently clogging the media with madness and tragedy prompt some sort of response ... but what response is adequate? What could I possibly say that would make any difference to the events unfolding in Virginia?
Let me start by saying that I have owned a gun in the past- a shotgun that my grandfather gave me when I was 15. I am also in favor of gun control. No ... not just in favor .... IN FREAKING FAVOR OF!
Now the pro gun argument that is given over and over again has the following two points (in no particular order):
1) It's our constitutional right to bear arms and,
2) We only have our guns for hunting or for our personal protection.
To issue number 1 - this is perfectly true, we do have this right. I would point out though that having the right to something doesn't make exercising it ... erm.. right. We have the collective right to declare war on other nations but that doesn't necessarily mean we should do so at the drop of a hat without some mighty compelling reasons. Keep in mind; when the "right to bear arms" clause in the constitution was created when "arms" meant single-shot, muzzle loaded cumbersome devices - slow to load and difficult to conceal. I doubt the founding fathers could have envisioned semi-automatic hand guns let alone such devices in the hands of the general population.
To issue number 2 - well, in the case of handguns and automatic weapons, these justifications just don't stand up under scrutiny.
A hunter doesn't need a handgun or an automatic weapon for hunting. A real hunter uses shotguns and/or a rifle. You don't go after a deer with an UZI. You just don't.
As for the protection angle .... well that one makes very little sense if you just think about it. Guns are NOT and never were designed for protection... armor was designed for protection, security systems were designed for protection, FLIPPING DEAD BOLT LOCKS were designed for protection!! Guns were designed to propel a bullet at a target with the purpose of KILLING IT. Their purpose is killing. Even if we stretch our minds to accept that possession of a gun might act as a deterrent therefore providing protection in that way, the only way that would work is if the person we are trying to deter KNOWS we have said deterrent gun. This means that, if we accept this argument we need to walk around with our guns in holsters on our hips like in the old west or with automatic weapons slung over our shoulders. Even then it isn't really about protection but about power.
I owned a shotgun and went duck hunting twice a year with it, but I at least knew what it was ... it was a weapon.. it was for killing. Anyone who owns a gun and doesn't have the self awareness to admit that simple truth has a BIG problem.
So - I offer this song by Cheryl Wheeler - her words are much better than mine. you can hear the song here: http://www.leighm.net/?p=33
If It Were Up to Me
Words and Lyrics by: Cheryl Wheeler
Let me start by saying that I have owned a gun in the past- a shotgun that my grandfather gave me when I was 15. I am also in favor of gun control. No ... not just in favor .... IN FREAKING FAVOR OF!
Now the pro gun argument that is given over and over again has the following two points (in no particular order):
1) It's our constitutional right to bear arms and,
2) We only have our guns for hunting or for our personal protection.
To issue number 1 - this is perfectly true, we do have this right. I would point out though that having the right to something doesn't make exercising it ... erm.. right. We have the collective right to declare war on other nations but that doesn't necessarily mean we should do so at the drop of a hat without some mighty compelling reasons. Keep in mind; when the "right to bear arms" clause in the constitution was created when "arms" meant single-shot, muzzle loaded cumbersome devices - slow to load and difficult to conceal. I doubt the founding fathers could have envisioned semi-automatic hand guns let alone such devices in the hands of the general population.
To issue number 2 - well, in the case of handguns and automatic weapons, these justifications just don't stand up under scrutiny.
A hunter doesn't need a handgun or an automatic weapon for hunting. A real hunter uses shotguns and/or a rifle. You don't go after a deer with an UZI. You just don't.
As for the protection angle .... well that one makes very little sense if you just think about it. Guns are NOT and never were designed for protection... armor was designed for protection, security systems were designed for protection, FLIPPING DEAD BOLT LOCKS were designed for protection!! Guns were designed to propel a bullet at a target with the purpose of KILLING IT. Their purpose is killing. Even if we stretch our minds to accept that possession of a gun might act as a deterrent therefore providing protection in that way, the only way that would work is if the person we are trying to deter KNOWS we have said deterrent gun. This means that, if we accept this argument we need to walk around with our guns in holsters on our hips like in the old west or with automatic weapons slung over our shoulders. Even then it isn't really about protection but about power.
I owned a shotgun and went duck hunting twice a year with it, but I at least knew what it was ... it was a weapon.. it was for killing. Anyone who owns a gun and doesn't have the self awareness to admit that simple truth has a BIG problem.
So - I offer this song by Cheryl Wheeler - her words are much better than mine. you can hear the song here: http://www.leighm.net/?p=33
If It Were Up to Me
Words and Lyrics by: Cheryl Wheeler
- Maybe it's the movies, maybe it's the books
- Maybe it's the bullets, maybe it's the real crooks
- Maybe it's the drugs, maybe it's the parents
- Maybe it's the colors everybody's wearin
- Maybe it's the President, maybe it's the last one
- Maybe it's the one before that, what he done
- Maybe it's the high schools, maybe it's the teachers
- Maybe it's the tattooed children in the bleachers
- Maybe it's the Bible, maybe it's the lack
- Maybe it's the music, maybe it's the crack
- Maybe it's the hairdos, maybe it's the TV
- Maybe it's the cigarettes, maybe it's the family
- Maybe it's the fast food, maybe it's the news
- Maybe it's divorce, maybe it's abuse
- Maybe it's the lawyers, maybe it's the prisons
- Maybe it's the Senators, maybe it's the system
- Maybe it's the fathers, maybe it's the sons
- Maybe it's the sisters, maybe it's the moms
- Maybe it's the radio, maybe it's road rage
- Maybe El Nino, or UV rays
- Maybe it's the army, maybe it's the liquor
- Maybe it's the papers, maybe the militia
- Maybe it's the athletes, maybe it's the ads
- Maybe it's the sports fans, maybe it's a fad
- Maybe it's the magazines, maybe it's the internet
- Maybe it's the lottery, maybe it's the immigrants
- Maybe it's taxes, big business
- Maybe it's the KKK and the skinheads
- Maybe it's the communists, maybe it's the Catholics
- Maybe it's the hippies, maybe it's the addicts
- Maybe it's the art, maybe it's the sex
- Maybe it's the homeless, maybe it's the banks
- Maybe it's the clearcut, maybe it's the ozone
- Maybe it's the chemicals, maybe it's the car phones
- Maybe it's the fertilizer, maybe it's the nose rings
- Maybe it's the end, but I know one thing.
- If it were up to me, I'd take away the guns.