I am totally amazed at the number of firearms "experts" who tell people how to deal with a confrontation involving a firearm in the hands of someone who wishes to do them harm but they themselves have never had to make that choice. It is like people telling someone how to sail a ship yet they have never have been to sea. I believe the term is “armchair quarterbacking”.
If you have never had to make the choice, shut up. Period, you do not have any idea what you are talking about.
They say how this firearm or that is just for killing and has no other use, yet, they have never even handled one nor no nothing about how to. They make grand pronouncements about how much safer we would be without guns, yet ignore the factual proof we have from places with such gun control. The gun itself is not the problem. It is the mindset many have about guns. Mostly people who have never been taught to respect them or their capabilities seem to espouse this view.
They shout about licenses, limits and this or that. Regulate. We already have regulation. What seems to be missing and more to the point is that the object itself is blameless. It is the intent of the user. Let us say for a moment for this exercise that guns are outlawed. So, consider this, will a criminal with mental issues say “I can’t use a gun…that would be illegal.” No, it would not even hinder for a moment. And since we are in the land of make believe for a moment let us say he does pass on the gun. He will find another way. Explosives, gas attack, poisons are all possible. Anyone with even a few minutes time can figure out how to do something of this nature. The object is removed and we are again left with the person. It is their intent and if so motivated they will find a way.
Some say it is the availability of guns. Again we hear the chants of those who have never tried to buy one legally. It is not as easy as it sounds with the background checks, waiting periods and such. It is much easier to go to your local grocery store and buy the necessary items to kill THOUSANDS at once without even getting a second look. I think in the area of legal ownership we have right now struck a balance between law and rights. It may not be a perfect balance but it is a reasonable one.
Where the imbalance exists is once again with the individual. I would say that what is needed is not more laws or restrictions, but more availability of compassion for your fellow human being. Who knows how many times a simple 'hello' or 'how are you doing?' has tipped the scales for someone. An act of kindness that helps draw them back from the brink of destruction can perhaps never be measured. We expect those with mental problems to seek help yet few are willing to extend a hand to help them.
This is a very cogent argument regarding the recent fervor that's been going around the media. I'd agree with you that we have a pretty good balance laws and rights. I'm not entirely convinced that people need to be able to get an AR-15 assault rifle (people such as my grandmother/ you mother-in-law), but it's a blurry line between okay and too much.
ReplyDeleteI also completely agree with your last paragraph. Where is the support system that helps people that are so obviously disturbed that believe that they can change their life or that things will get better? Why is it so easy to get a firearm, but so difficult to know where to go for help? I find it funny/sad, how many die-hard conservatives are quick to discount evolution by natural selection but advocate a society where the weak and needy are left to their own devices. (I realize that not all conservatives discount evolution, but it helps my argument, so shush). A lack of compassion and empathy is a major driving force behind things like this.
But it's not the availability of guns. If this guy had taken his Bronco and mowed down a crowd of people, would there be the same outcry? "Why did he need so much horsepower?" "What's the point of the big tires?" People are looking at the wrong thing to blame. But of course, it's much easier to look elsewhere for the cause than to face oneself in the mirror...
Good post Bryian. I look forward to more and I'll check out your archive when I have the time.