I know that this has been discussed quite a bit here, but I thought I’d throw my own thoughts into the mix. I saw another thread that made me think to post this, but as that thread was (a) quite old, and (b) related to a specific anecdotal incident, it didn’t seem appropriate. So… please read on if you’re interested in my perspective on the subject.
I’m a gun-control advocate. Let’s just get that on the table. Note, however, that I say gun control, not gun ban. There is a definite difference between the two, despite the NRA’s constant equating of the two. The “slippery slope” argument is, frankly, a crock of pungent dung… at least, in my case it is. I am in no way for banning guns. I’m not trying to “wrest anyone’s beloved gun” away, unless they are using it unsafely. I will explain what I mean.
A little history… I grew up around guns. I took a fairly comprehensive Firearms Safety Course when I was 13, and my father had somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-25 guns in the house, of pretty much every variety; from .22 pistols to shotguns to hunting rifles, he had most anything. He also practiced reloading his own ammunition, when he had the time. Unfortunately, he did not store his firearms properly at all, and often they were in easy reach. I was smart enough not to handle them, though, and had been educated enough to know how to use them if I ever had to. The only worries I ever had about his lack of safety with them was that he would start playing with one while intoxicated (which was sadly often), and hurt himself, me, or someone in the vicinity. I was equally fortunate that this never came to pass.
This is all my way of saying I’m no stranger to guns. I myself have fired guns in the past, at firing ranges and at targets in the desert, and rarely hunting. I know how they work, and I could probably still take one apart without too mucch trouble. I don’t use them anymore, though, nor do I own one. I refuse to have one in my house, and I make a habit of asking the parents of friends of my children if they own any firearms before allowing them to spend time at those people’s house. If the parents do own firearms, I ask if they are stored safely. If they are uncomfortable asking either question, my response is simple. Sorry, my child will not be allowed to visit your child or your home. If I can’t be sure other parents are storing their firearms appropriately, then my kids won’t be spending time there. Simple as that.
Now… perhaps you see where I’m going with this. As I’ve said, I’m not for banning firearms, but I am for stricter laws as to who is allowed to own guns, and how they are allowed to keep them. I find that the current laws on the books are something of a bad joke, and I consider the following recommendations vast improvements.
First… every gun owner must get a permit to own their gun. This is pretty much already the case, but can be overcome by various loopholes. I am for eliminating those loopholes, or at least minimizing them.
Second… before getting their gun ownership permit, every gun owner should receive a battery of training regarding gun safety and the legal aspects of gun ownership, and then they must pass a test covering these topics. Fail the test, and you don’t get a permit. I consider the fact that this is not already the case uphauling. We require training and testing for all potential automobile drivers, but not owners of weapons designed to kill. Frankly, that’s just stupid.
Third… before being allowed to buy a gun, anywhere, anytime, a permitted gun owner must prove that they possess the means to properly store that gun in a safe way, such as a gun safe, locker, or similar. This could be a condition of gun ownership permits, perhaps. No safe storage, no gun… very simple. People who are found possessing guns without the means to store them properly will be guilty of a crime and fined, similar to seat belt laws.
Fourth, reckless use of guns. Anyone who is seen handling a gun recklessly or unsafely will also be guilty of a crime, and can be arrested. This includes waving a gun around in a public place, firing a gun in a populated area (even if it doesn’t hurt anyone), and most especially, handling a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In fact, I am a strong advocate of specific laws that prohibit gun use while drinking or high. I believe that the same limits that apply to driving while intoxicated should apply with equal vigor to firing or handling firearms while under the influence, and they should be prosecuted with the same zeal.
This is the extent of my gun control ideas. Nothing further. The only law that already exists is the permit law, but it is poorly enforced and a nightmare of disorganization. I believe this could be improved upon, and I believe the others would be great improvements. I think they are all quite reasonable, and many (though not all) gun owners have agreed with me in the past. I consider it quite incredible that we have far more legal controls and restrictions on the everyday use of automobiles, an arguably productive tool, than we do on the use of firearms, an inarguably destructive tool. I think that, at the very least, the laws restricting the use of firearms should mirror those restricting automobile use. Until they do, they lack the proper respect for guns. I think that’s pretty simple.
These laws will do little to prevent the types of maniacal attacks we’ve seen in Columbine and elsewhere… but then, I don’t think there are any laws that will accomplish that. If someone is determined to kill on a massive scale, then they will find a way to do so, whether with an illegally-obtained firearm, or with a bag of fertilizer and an accelerant. I may not like guns, but I recognize that some people just want to kill, and they will use whatever tool comes most easily to hand to do so. No, the laws I have described are more to require those who own and use guns in America to do so safely, and with full respect of the tool they hold in their hands. I think this is a reasonable approach.
It pretty much comes down to respect, for me. I am not afraid of guns, but I understand and respect their power. They are potent tools, designed to hurt or kill, and they perform their function easily. The laws restricting their use should reflect and respect their capabilities, and I find that they currently they do not. I hope to someday effect some change in this regard.
While I am not, and will never be, a gun owner, I do own several swords. They are ornamental only, but I like what they stand for, and I respect their capabilities as well. A sword has also been designed to hurt or kill, and can be a potent tool. Neal Stephenson explained the difference between a sword and a gun best, I think, in Snow Crash:
Swords demonstrate their power in their shape and their weight and the way they move. Guns only demonstrate their power only through action, and by then it is often too late. “Gun control” is a loaded concept amongst gun owners especially… hopefully I ave explained my ideas reasonably.
Comments are welcomed.
So, please accept my invitation to share what you know on this issue. I hope being an expert is not a requirement for participation in GD. In other words…I invite you and others to “make me wrong”.