Guns

12-17-12


I don’t like guns.

I say this because it seems like it needs to be put out there first. I truly see no reason to own a firearm unless you are a person who goes to a shooting range or uses it to hunt. I have never understood the appeal of collecting guns. I have never wanted to fire a gun. I get nervous just using the laser blasters at Disneyland.

I am a child of the 80’s who watched all those after school specials in which some kid accidently shoots another kid all because they were showing off their parents’ guns. Who else was just as shocked as me when I watched David Silver’s buddy shoot himself accidently on 90210? Seriously, they freak me out to no end.

This being said, never has it crossed my mind during all of these senseless shootings that the gun is to blame.

We need to stop blaming the NRA and any other gun owning individual when someone decides to shoot someone else. I know people personally who enjoy going out shooting and are incredibly responsible with their weapons. They cherish them and would never allow them to fall into the hands of their children.

I know that there are people out there not as safe. I am not giving them a pass. I don’t know how the shooter from Friday’s massacre got a hold of his mother’s guns, but for all we know, he had always been very safe up until that time. His mother may very well have had them locked up. How is it the fault of an organization that enjoys their rights the reason for a person having a sickness?

There are gobs of danger in everyone’s houses. I am guessing we all hang our car keys up somewhere accessible for our kids. So if Bobby decides to go on a joy ride tomorrow and kills a few people, are we to blame Chrysler because they happened to make the car her drove? Of course not. What about if he takes out one of those Ginsu knives you get on the tv and stabs me. Should we assume that it means the knife maker did this? Or perhaps we should blame the television since they are the ones who convinced me to purchase a knife that can cut a can in half? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to this.

Guns are serious weapons. They shouldn’t be treated carelessly and truly, anyone who does own a firearm should take every single class places like the NRA provide for gun safety and handling. Villainizing a group who doesn’t advocate violence doesn’t bring back these victims. Instead, we need to as a society figure out why someone would want to cause this kind of carnage. I can assure you, even if guns were not allowed, a person who really wants one could find a way to get one.