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This is an opinion piece, meaning I’m making claims based on
MY personal experience more than through the use of data. In fact, the only
outside source I’m using today is list25’s Countries
With the Highest Murder Rates in the World. The top 25 most murderous
countries, and the U.S. isn’t on there. This data is from January of 2015.
Guns in America is one of the top divisive topics on
American minds right now, especially since yet another shooting just happened at
Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.
I am a gun owner. I was raised in a family that owned guns.
I was taught the power of guns in a ridiculous, overemphasized manner- my
father shot a bird at close range and told me to note the damage a bullet had
done to its body. He then told me a bullet will do the same to me, or somebody
else. You know what, I decided I didn’t want to shoot anybody. I also decided I
didn’t want to hunt unless it proved necessary.
My children know I own a gun. They have held it without
bullets in the magazine, and with. They have watched me shoot my Taurus .45 at
targets (not live birds). They know what a bullet will do if it hits them, or somebody
else. My children know not to touch my gun without my express permission, and
know they must ask each time.
I know not everybody gets raised that way. I’m aware there
are sick people who want ten minutes to three weeks of fame. I know some people
really do just want to watch the world burn. Those are the scary people, and
yes, they’re getting ahold of guns.
These are the type of people who, once they do something
wrong, must be put down. Like a dog who bit a child, it’s too late to save them
after the fact. Those who haven’t done terrible things yet, I think, are being misled by media into thinking they will
mean something if they just do something horrible. I think most of these people
have a mental illness that wasn’t diagnosed because America is so terribly
afraid mental illness.
I think guns are a tool, in and of themselves not
responsible for heinous acts and atrocities. There is an underlying cause, a
basic un-appreciation for human life in general that’s infected America. Taking
away guns will not cure this ill. It might slow down one or two of the crazies
wanting a showdown, but it won’t suddenly stop. If need be, these types of
people will pick up a kitchen knife and start slitting throats. They will use a
lead pipe to bash in heads. Whatever it takes to make the news. Whatever it
takes to be remembered.
At the same time, I can only fit 10 rounds into my .45. Maybe hunters and gun enthusiast could afford fewer rounds per magazine. Maybe, if these were more limited, the animals would have to take a break to put in a new magazine and be taken out earlier. For me, in my own house, if I miss an intruder 10 times, I am going
to die anyway.
Some people want to remind us that the 2nd
Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms even against a tyrannical
government. While true, it also states that this is as part of a well
disciplined and efficient militia. So, perhaps we’ll have to leave the current
and future militias alone, but the rest of us, we don’t have the manpower, discipline,
training, or guns to take down the government should it become tyrannical, at
least not the general citizen. We’ve been allowed to bear arms anyway. It’s
time, finally, to admit we need to do so responsibly. I don’t know what all that
should entail, but we’re not cowboys anymore. Thanks for reading, and please,
stay safe out there.
James
Neal writes fantasy, both novel-length (Of Blood and Blade) and shorter stories (Paints the Invisible Eye).
He’s
also on social media, so are fire ants, but we digress. Click to join him on:
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