Recent waves of gun violence has made firearms a topic on the nightly news, football broadcasts, talk shows, and on the radio. In Portland Oregon, a senseless shooting at a shopping mall, is a reminder of Kip Kinkle and Columbine.
Today, I just offer my opinion. I mean to offend nobody.
As a first note, an important one in my opinion. The shootings by children in America, are of epidemic and catastrophic proportions. Access to firearms is never going to be "zero", therefore, owning a gun safe can limit some access to weapons.
From the 2nd Amendment on, America has been a culture of guns. The first documented school shooting was reported by the New York Times in April of 1854, six months after the actual shooting. Since that fateful day, kids with guns in schools, has not ceased.
If children do not have access to guns at home, school shootings become somewhat harder to execute. Safes at home that store firearms, are relevant.
The reality of the safe goes further than just restricting access to your guns by criminals(shooters have stolen guns to kill), restricting access in your own home prevents accidents as well. The entire idea of the safe is to prevent unauthorized and unsafe access to guns. Some will say that the 9mm or the .357 Mag that is the primary home defender cannot be in a safe, too far from effective service. Even still, safety locks on triggers & safe storage does not limit successful defense of one's home.
Pea shooter. Author's 9mm Luger, loaded.
Keep in mind that most responsible firearms owners have a safe, and keep guns in a safe and appropriate place. The changing demographic requires education on reality and safety in regards to guns.
The fact is, if a person wants a gun bad enough, that person will probably acquire a gun. Gun control laws and legislation do little to deny that access. To their credit, no laws will ever stop real criminals from using guns, and the rule-makers cannot be blamed for this. Gun control law is simply not followed by criminals.
There has been much debate about access to guns. But a ban on guns would only make the current status worse, and denying citizens the right to defense will never happen. Guns are here to stay.
Since our access to guns will never be zero, lowering existing statistics on gun violence is the best way to address the issue. Education about peer pressure, anger, counseling, depression, and suicide should be discussed and solutions must be sought. Education about gun danger and gun safety should be taught at a young age, and continued into adulthood.
In addition to limiting access to firearms, a keener eye may help deter or deny certain violent actions. Especially in regards to youth violence or any suicidal attempts with guns. Awareness is key here. In many cases of violent crime, simple awareness may have aided victims and even prevented the crime.
In theory, awareness and preparation, help the victim and first responder in their effective response to the situation. Before a tragic event, awareness may take the form of medical help or family intervention. During a violent event, awareness may help minimize the risk of injury or fatality. After an event, the informed responder can triage the scene and prevent further risk.
Knowledge of a person who is suicidal, angry, and potentially violent is not enough. Society must do something. Across the board, we have red flags. The murder-suicide in the National Football League(NFL) last weekend, had multiple reports of prior knowledge of distress and dysfunction. Columbine was recognizable. The Colorado theatre shooter, whose psychiatrist had reported the shooter's behavior in the weeks leading up to that tragedy, could have been stopped. Signs in Oregon, of trouble with the Clackamas Mall shooter, could have prevented him from stealing the deadly rifle and ammunition. These are all examples of "Intervention Situations", and as a society, we should accept our responsibility and address a solution.
Most communities have local resources to help with suicide, depression, and rehabilitation. The following links are just a small number of resources. There are many...
National Suicide Prevention Hotline : 1 800 SUICIDE, 1 800 784 2433
National JustTalk Hotline : 1 800 273TALK 1 800 273 8255
Community and State Health Offices, school counselors, and consortiums offer assistance as well. These outlets are online and in phone directories.
Notifying parents, law enforcement, employment supervisors, and friends- and whoever else is around, can address a problem before it becomes tragic. Restriction to guns, access to help...
Of course stats like Great Britain and Germany leave much to be desired in the way of gun violence. The rate of occurrence of violent gun crime is very low in those countries, and America's very high- of course. Crime in the U.S.A., in the way of drug trade, organized crime, and gang activity, is a gun culture. As is the American culture in general. The pride of the 2nd Amendment, of sportsmen, and of free men, is what drives the protection of gun rights.
Banning assault weapons will not change the future. Banning firearms will not change the violence in the U.S. Tragic gun violence in America will continue. To effectively change the status quo, Americans need to adjust priorities. Americans need to think critically. We live in a culture where we cherish power and guns. For some, that power lies in the barrel.
Columbine. Jefferson County Sheriff Dept. Photo
In my opinion, the public has not done enough. The people are content to let propaganda inform the masses. That propaganda says that banning weapons and creating useless rules is the answer. I say that giving the guns to only the government and the criminals is a huge mistake.
The National Rifle Association(NRA) responded to gun control rhetoric by saying that "...if the victim HAD a gun, she might have been able to defend herself...", and I happen to agree. The days of blindly going about our business, are over.
In another opinion, the risks that are listed could be overcome with education and common sense. There are many valid points to opposing gun rights. In my opinion, those points are weaker than the virtues of social reform and education about guns.
I am not implying that we all go out and buy a Sturm&Ruger .357 Mag, but I am saying discussion, awareness, and solutions should be sought out. Even an unarmed person can help society avoid tragic violence.
Even if you think I am wrong, and that is okay, you still need to change focus. Advocate safety awareness. You may believe that guns are wrong, but accept that guns are here to stay, and educate yourself and your kids about the culture and the mechanics of guns. Only then, will your children avoid, or even prevent, scenes with guns. And only because they were educated.
The Study Bookcase. Notice the children's row. Educate and expand minds. Ignorance can kill.
In an informative and still relevant article about children and guns, The Future of Children discuss through various authors the social benefits of education and of restricting youth access to guns.
For those of you like myself, that own guns and have families- education and practice, are the answers. Responsible gun ownership includes moral rules, safety rules, and rules of engagement. Moral rules are things like respect for life, respect for people, and respect for self. Life is of course, never pointing a weapon at somebody. People means respect their property- we would never shoot out windows of a barn, for example. Respect for self, is the key.
I think Hunter Safety should be a general education requirement. But not for sportsmen, for everyone. And not "Hunter Safety", but rather Firearm Safety. Knowledge about firearms, and about their consequences, needs to be front and center in our development as a responsible "gun culture", and I certainly don't think that our present status achieves that responsibility.
Finally, Personal Defense, a topic as divided as the gun issue itself. I believe in my right to defend my life with a firearm. What comes with that "right", is a moral and ethical responsibility in owning a firearm. How to handle the gun and yourself is of the highest importance. Classes, both live and virtual, exist for these kinds of educational purposes. Consult local firearms dealers or community colleges about classes.
In review:
Three things really, and the first starts in your own home. Conversations and education about firearm mechanics, safety, and culture- does not empower kids to take up arms, but rather empowers them to be aware, avoid , and report concerns. The second is the current status quo. Change the public's awareness factor, and make it a defense mechanism for violence. The Colorado shooter could have been stopped, if the awareness and response was better. Columbine might have better prepared. In Oregon, if the weapon used at Clackamas had been locked...And finally third, BE PROACTIVE. Tell your politicians you want better legislation. Tell your kids to be aware and be honest. Be active in civic duty, and get your neighbors to do the same. Some violence cannot be stopped, but help prevent the ones that can be stopped.
Make no mistake, guns are not going away. Do something real, and change our reality. Prevent the violence. Not the guns.
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