Point blank… gun laws will not happen
In less than seven days more than a dozen people were killed in mass shootings. Tears and grief grip our nation as we question the senseless loss of life. Laser-like focus turns to the shooters as we learn about the missed signals, the disturbing behavior and strange actions. All trying to understand what was their motivation to shoot to kill. I figured out the answer to this question a long time ago.
Because … they can.
They can purchase guns with few obstacles.
They can instill grief with the lives they take.
They can make people afraid to live their lives.
They can make everyone feel helpless.
We should no longer use the terms active shooters and mass shooters because they are domestic terrorists. The culmination of everything I listed is terror. When all this is said and done, children are afraid to go to school, employees are afraid to go to work and shoppers are afraid to go to the store. Terror has been instilled by the actions of the few.
In the aftermath of these acts of domestic terror, we cry for the victims and their families. The terrorist faces whatever justice the court system eventually metes out. Cries for gun control continue and go unheard.
In the end, nothing changes and we have to go through this vicious cycle over and over again.
It is so frustrating to hear our political leaders’ demands for gun control and do their songand-dance number about potential legislation. People hold vigils and rallies to further put faces with the names of those suffering in the hopes their voices will be heard and make a difference.
It’s like watching a tragic version of “Groundhog’s Day” every time.
In the end, everyone will stop grieving, posturizing and demanding to go back to their lives. The victims will be footnotes in the history of mass shootings in this country. Nothing will change.
Whatever proposed gun laws are flying around in Washington, D.C. are nothing but empty words. There are too many politicians who rely on the support of gun enthusiasts from all walks of life. Gun lobbyists are what help supply the bread and butter of many lawmakers’ careers.
I know I sound extremely jaded but all I have to say to that is … Dec. 14, 2012.
On that day in Newtown, Conn., Adam Lanza walked into
Whatever proposed gun laws are flying around in Washington, D.C. are nothing but empty words. There are too many politicians who rely on the support of gun enthusiasts from all walks of life. Gun lobbyists are what help supply the bread and butter of many lawmakers’ careers.
Sandy Hook Elementary School, after killing his mother, and proceeded to shoot and kill 26 people. Twenty of them were children 6 and 7 years old. He also took the lives of six adult staff members, but it is the murders of the children that haunt me.
Afterwards, there were the tears and demands for gun control laws especially focusing on preventing people with mental illness from obtaining access to guns. While there might have been attempts to establish regulations, they weren’t enough as we still see mass shootings happen to this day. So if the tragic shooting deaths of 20 children doesn’t prompt change in gun laws then I don’t think anything will.
The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives the
citizens of this country the right to bear arms which seems to include the military style semi-automatic weapons used in a number of mass shootings. While I am a staunch supporter of our constitutional rights, it has become clear that we need better ways to regulate guns in this country.
I’m not saying we need to ban all firearms because that is unrealistic. Yet we need to step back and evaluate why civilians need military styled weapons. Some would say for sport which is pointless in my mind when those types of firearms are used by soldiers overseas in extremely violent situations.
If I were to get a gun, I wouldn’t be anywhere near comfortable handling one without the proper education and training. For me,
it is like learning to drive a car. You need to learn the rules of the road to become a decent driver so that you may get your license. Sadly, that is not the case when it comes to guns.
While I can continue to rant and rave as well as espouse the benefits of proper regulating of guns, in the end it’s just words. There might be some who get riled up by what I have to say and use their words for and against this column. I am fine with that as long as maybe it gets people thinking and questioning.