Yet
another mass shooting with no end in sight. And after each sad event,
the best our politicians can do is throw their arms in the air and do
nothing. To make matters worse, the country is deeply divided on how
this regular occurrence might be repaired. One side blames the tools of
mass destruction, “Get rid of guns!”, they cry. The other side blames
human nature, “Guns don't kill, crazy and evil people do!”. So nothing
gets done and more innocent people die. Of course, both groups are right
and both are wrong as they are looking at two different sides of the
same mass shooting coin.
I see this differently. This should not be an argument about whether some folks are crazy and/or filled with hate, or whether guns can kill dozens of people in a matter of seconds. This should be an argument about responsibility.
The second amendment gives each American the right to own a gun. Back when this was written, it was assumed that each American gun owner would be responsible for their actions. They would purchase, handle, take care of and use their gun in a responsible fashion. And I would assume that most current gun owners would consider themselves to be responsible gun owners. However, it is clear that the murderers who commit these mass shootings are not responsible gun owners. They may be responsible for committing murders on a large scale, but they are definitely not handling a gun in a responsible fashion.
So then, who is responsible for guns being misused for mass shootings? Some might say it is the gun manufacturers as they design guns that can kill large groups of people faster than you can say your name. Some put the blame on the individuals who use these lightning fast guns. Some blame the second amendment for allowing anyone to own an offensive weapon. In fact, all are to blame. The problem is that the guns have been built, the crazy people are out there, and the second amendment is going no where. But there is a simple answer that can turn this around and it lies in the one word that we hear over and over when these mass shooting happen; responsible.
This country needs individuals and institutions to be held responsible for their part when these terrible events happen and this is what I suggest.
1. All new gun owners would take a simple course in responsible gun ownership and would be required to own a license for their gun. This would be a step in the right direction for new gun owners to learn safe handling of a weapon. It would also allow law enforcement and the government to know who is a responsible gun owner and restrict guns from crazy, hate-filled, terrorist (place your own adjective here) individuals.
2. All guns would be registered with the owner so that the owner would be responsible for the gun, it's use and it's future ownership.
3. Any gun used in any crime would hold the individual responsible for the crime (as it is now).
4. Any gun used in a crime by an unlicensed shooter would also hold the gun seller responsible for the crime (for selling to an unlicensed individual).
5. Any unregistered gun used in a crime would also hold the seller responsible for the crime (for selling an unregistered weapon).
It is clear that there is no way to unring the bell that is the Second Amendment. As such, Americans should be allowed to purchase and own as many guns as they wish. However, we must create a system of responsible gun ownership and sales because it is also clear that there will always be people who will to do harm with a gun. If care is taken in keeping track of guns, gun sales and properly training of the owners, gun violence will ebb. In addition, careful scrutiny of future gun owners by gun sellers and government oversight will also slow the purchase of guns by dangerous individuals. These simple guidelines will not stop gun violence, but will slow the proliferation of weapons to criminals, and the mentally unsound. With over 300 million guns in the US alone, there is no way to unring this bell, but gaining control over how weapons change hands and who should have this right will make mass shootings and gun crimes more difficult.
I see this differently. This should not be an argument about whether some folks are crazy and/or filled with hate, or whether guns can kill dozens of people in a matter of seconds. This should be an argument about responsibility.
The second amendment gives each American the right to own a gun. Back when this was written, it was assumed that each American gun owner would be responsible for their actions. They would purchase, handle, take care of and use their gun in a responsible fashion. And I would assume that most current gun owners would consider themselves to be responsible gun owners. However, it is clear that the murderers who commit these mass shootings are not responsible gun owners. They may be responsible for committing murders on a large scale, but they are definitely not handling a gun in a responsible fashion.
So then, who is responsible for guns being misused for mass shootings? Some might say it is the gun manufacturers as they design guns that can kill large groups of people faster than you can say your name. Some put the blame on the individuals who use these lightning fast guns. Some blame the second amendment for allowing anyone to own an offensive weapon. In fact, all are to blame. The problem is that the guns have been built, the crazy people are out there, and the second amendment is going no where. But there is a simple answer that can turn this around and it lies in the one word that we hear over and over when these mass shooting happen; responsible.
This country needs individuals and institutions to be held responsible for their part when these terrible events happen and this is what I suggest.
1. All new gun owners would take a simple course in responsible gun ownership and would be required to own a license for their gun. This would be a step in the right direction for new gun owners to learn safe handling of a weapon. It would also allow law enforcement and the government to know who is a responsible gun owner and restrict guns from crazy, hate-filled, terrorist (place your own adjective here) individuals.
2. All guns would be registered with the owner so that the owner would be responsible for the gun, it's use and it's future ownership.
3. Any gun used in any crime would hold the individual responsible for the crime (as it is now).
4. Any gun used in a crime by an unlicensed shooter would also hold the gun seller responsible for the crime (for selling to an unlicensed individual).
5. Any unregistered gun used in a crime would also hold the seller responsible for the crime (for selling an unregistered weapon).
It is clear that there is no way to unring the bell that is the Second Amendment. As such, Americans should be allowed to purchase and own as many guns as they wish. However, we must create a system of responsible gun ownership and sales because it is also clear that there will always be people who will to do harm with a gun. If care is taken in keeping track of guns, gun sales and properly training of the owners, gun violence will ebb. In addition, careful scrutiny of future gun owners by gun sellers and government oversight will also slow the purchase of guns by dangerous individuals. These simple guidelines will not stop gun violence, but will slow the proliferation of weapons to criminals, and the mentally unsound. With over 300 million guns in the US alone, there is no way to unring this bell, but gaining control over how weapons change hands and who should have this right will make mass shootings and gun crimes more difficult.
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