I can't speak for people who reside in rural areas of our nation.
However, I can speak from an urban context.
The ready availability of guns, including semi-automatic weapons designed for military and law enforcement actions, destroys our confidence and sense of safety. Tragically, the presence of these weapons all too often destroys families and permanently disrupts lives.
These realities explain why the President's words during his state of the union speech last Tuesday night meant so much to me.
How about you?
Nothing he says means anything to me because he is a chronic lier.
ReplyDeleteThe current Mother Jones magazine has a great page of actual statistics about the collateral damage caused by guns. Amazingly, one of the interesting statistics is that the number of gun owners is decreasing but they own an average of 8 guns. And so often these guns are used in domestic violence, accidental shootings, etc. 1/3 of boys 8-12 will fire a gun if they find it -- and many guns in homes are not secured.
ReplyDeleteHis words would mean even more if he came clean on Fast and Furious. How about that?
ReplyDeleteGuns are a blight on our cities. It is also one of the most difficult issues to take on because of the political clout on the other side and the fact that guns are embedded in our constitution. Power to him! I hope he can make progress.
ReplyDeleteWhat about passing laws against the people who murder? That would seem to work better than restricting implements. 16,290 highway fatalities occurred in 2012. Should we legislate a prohibition on automobiles?
ReplyDeleteWhat are cars for? That's right: transportation. What are guns for--the kind we're talking about? See?
DeleteEvery state requires every driver of a motor vehicle to be licensed, after passing an examination, and that license must be renewed every few years. Every motor vehicle must be registered, licensed, and insured for liability before it can be driven. In many states, every motor vehicle must pass an annual safety inspection. The same kinds of regulations should be applied to firearms and their owners and operators, for the protection of everyone.
ReplyDeleteGod's Peace to you.
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All kinds of laws apply to cars and how they are driven. Drunk driving - illegal. Reckless driving - illegal. Speeding - illegal. That conmparison works against the arguments of those that usually use it. Our use of cars is highly regulated to try to prevent accident and injusy. Our use of guns should be, too.
ReplyDelete