Guns in America

It’s a sure draw, just talk about any kind of gun law reform and the argument ensues.  As if drowning out the opposition would make any kind of difference at all.  The facts in this matter are that this can be a very violent country, and the American weapon of choice is a gun.  

We can blame violent video games, racial stereotypes, lax laws and just about everything else from the moral failure of our society to removing “God” from our schools, but guns are never the problem are they?

The fact is most Americans don’t own a gun and less and less choose to own a gun everyday.   Gun buybacks are getting record amounts of guns turned in.  Do we know why?  It’s probably because more and more of us don’t see guns as recreational or protective, we see them as a danger to our homes and families.  No one has taken these Americans’ guns away, or even infringed on their rights to own and use them, they just don’t want them around.

Of course that’s certainly not true for a great many Americans.  Large numbers of us see them as a reflection of one of our basic rights, vital protection for our homes and families and a simple tool for sport and hunting.  There are a few of us who simply collect them and treasure their artistry.  We still bear the awesome responsibility for their  safe and non-destructive use, though.  Guns are uniquely dangerous, in and of themselves.  They command a much deserved respect and disrespect, a centuries long legacy from all the mayhem and lives taken.  

That is the unfortunate truth about guns, while they may not kill anyone sitting on a shelf, they are the number one choice for anyone looking to kill others or themselves.  That’s because it is, and has always been, their designed purpose.  Guns weren’t first developed for hunting or target practice.  They were designed and crafted to kill people.  Later hunters discovered they were dandy for hunting as well.  That’s not true of the bow and arrow, the spear or even the knife.  These were all turned to killing people after they had been developed for hunting and utilitarian uses. No one wears a gun to bag a deer or turkey on their way to work.

As I’ve said before some gun control is important, not everyone should have easy access to guns.  Violent criminals, the insane and dangerous or even someone who has had a few too many should not have free access to guns.  I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.  As much as the right to bear arms is protected by the Constitution, few of us would approve the use of guns by people who pose a direct danger to others.

The supreme court, the final arbiters of the Constitution, agrees.  This is why states are free to regulate licensing, registration, permits to carry a gun and some of the sales of guns.  We all agree that guns do not belong in the hands of those who would misuse them.  Guns are especially dangerous, we know this.  While you can kill someone else or injure yourself with knives, bombs or just about anything hard or sharp, it’s not as simple or easy or as devastating.  Even the most ardent of gun-rights supporters will agree, guns make killing easy.  That is their purpose.

So, as we go through the endless debate of who should be a gun owner and which guns should be owned, we have to see the change in overall society’s opinion of these deadly weapons.  They make us all nervous and every time a gun is used to commit some new dastardly deed the anxiety will rise a little bit more.  It doesn’t matter who pulls the trigger, only that a trigger was pulled.

The NRA will still cite stories of the “good gun” from yesteryear,  legislators will still attempt to fine tune laws down to the last bolt and bullet of acceptable weaponry and the rest of us will read of the latest shootings.  Gun owners who haven’t realized where this is all going, that laws restricting gun ownership are in their own best interests, will be shocked when only 20% of households own any kind of gun.  That’s when I predict the tide will turn and the restrictions will actually have a serious effect on gun violence. 

In a recent Gallup poll having guns in households was down as much as 16% from the mid 90’s.  Recently there has been an increase in those numbers, more of those polled admitted having guns in their households.  The gallup pollsters made an interesting note here “Whether this reflected a true decline in gun ownership or a cultural shift in Americans' willingness to say they had guns is unclear.”  A very important point, considering the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one.