Byron's Blog

Anonymous understands that there are intense emotions on all sides of the gun debate, but is certain that if the gun control crowd had its way, America would be even less safe than it is today.

Gun Insanity

by Anonymous

It is a natural, but unfortunate reaction anytime there's a tragedy as bad as the one on the Northern Illinois University campus to hear the chorus of voices crying out for a gun ban. Easy to see why. Seven people were killed, including the gunman who opened fire on a classroom full of students before he shot himself. Ban the guns, say the people for gun control. Snap, snap -- there it is, problem solved. The gun lobby is too powerful and politicians must stand up to them. It's simple, pass more laws and get tough with people who happen to believe in the Second Amendment and presto, no more shootings.

The unhappy reality is that all the nation's unworkable gun laws have left too many people too vulnerable and explains why the students who were killed never had a chance. Gun advocates point out that the shooting at N.I.U. happened in what's called a gun free zone. Those are places where gun restrictions are extremely high. The irrefutable proof that the restrictions do not work is the shooting itself. The regulation could not prevent the killer, or anyone else who acquires a gun, from entering a gun free zone.

What if well trained, law abiding citizens with the option to carry guns were allowed on the N.I.U. campus? Think about it. If just one student in that classroom had a weapon, there's at least a chance that the gunman might have been the only person killed. Instead the unarmed students did not stand a chance. Interesting that you never hear about these types of shootings at a gun range, or gun show. Wonder why? Oh, that's right, no one would dare. One individual said it well during a recent news report about guns. "An armed society is a polite society." Stands to reason. What thug wants to try to stick-up an individual who just might be packin' heat? Not many. Crooks are dumb, but not that dumb.

There still is that hope from the naive that enough laws will cause guns to disappear. Unfortunately for the ban-the-guns crowd, there is no way to remove guns from society. Sure, you can make them difficult, or just about impossible for responsible people to buy, but the result is criminals will have them and they will pay a premium to own them. The black market will thrive, law abiding people will be at risk and society will be that much worse.

One big problem is that too many people believe the gun itself as the source of social angst, but this argument is hollow and easy to overcome. Drunk or irresponsible drivers kill tens of thousands of people every year, but it is not the car that's the problem, it's the bad driver. Well trained, responsible people have a right to drive cars. Makes sense, right. Anyone want to ban cars? Not really, but ban cars and you'll never have accidents. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Jennifer Bishop from the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence recently addressed some matters involving gun control and made better sense than many who share her views. She is a bright, concerned woman who suffered personal tragedy because of guns and does not entirely see eye-to-eye with Anonymous, but outlined some worthwhile points that bear strong consideration. She was right to say that no individuals with a criminal or mental health history should be allowed to own guns and America should develop a way to efficiently accomplish background checks. She also believes, along with the people at the Brady Center that there are too few mechanisms in place to prevent illegal weapons transactions.

All that's fine, but that can never interfere with a responsible individual's right to legally own firearms. That's about to be tested because the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could shape gun law in America for generations. The case involves Dick Heller and a group of others who live in a dangerous Washington D.C. neighborhood, who wanted to own handguns. Ultimately, an appeals court ruled that the city's ban on handguns was illegal and now, the Supreme Court will decide the matter, probably this Summer. Unless the Justices figure out a way to strike the Second Amendment from the Constitution, you can expect some allowances for people to own guns.

That's how it should be. Solid citizens with guns will not lead the nation to a return to the wild west, with shoot-outs on every other street corner reminiscent of the O.K. corral. Like it or not, the ability for honest people to arm and protect themselves is a fundamental right. The Senior Editor of Gun Week said it well: "Our nation was founded on a principle of liberty. You take the good with the bad. That doesn't mean we can rachet down on a particular civil right simply because it's unpopular. It doesn't work that way in this country."

You cannot snip away the parts of basic rights that some people do not like. They are there because they are essential to maintain freedom. Remove the individual's right to protect himself or herself and you will give rise to tyranny. It's worked for dictators and despots, but Americans have rights, including access to guns and thankfully the will to fight the forces as well as the people who think they can take away that fundamental freedom.