Stepping into the debate on gun control

I have wanted to write about this issue for a long time. I had convinced myself it wasn't worth the debate. It would make people too emotional. I feel though that the time has come, and I want to share my feelings.

Today I found myself in a unique situation. I opened up the handy local news app on my phone and saw that the leading politician in my state had the same opinion as me. Governor Hickenlooper not only stated that the legislature should discuss gun control laws, but he indicated that it was the perfect time for this discussion. As one of the people I follow on twitter posted, “@MarkReiley Woman beaten? Let’s talk domestic violence laws. Terrorist attack? Let’s talk terrorism laws. Shot by a gun? How DARE you bring up gun laws.” This seems to be the attitude that gun lobbyists have held for some time. If a major shooting has recently happened we should be worried for the victims healing. If there hasn't been a shooting for a while, then there is no need to discuss it. Somewhere we must find a middle ground.

I have not always had a strong opinion on gun control. I knew owning a weapon wasn't for me, but I accepted that it was people's right to own them. It never affected my nice little suburban bubble. My new feelings were forever altered when I had to start my daughter's 7^th birthday out by telling her what had happened at the movie theater we had been to twice in the preceding two weeks. Seeing the effects on the community, knowing people who were there, being close to so many people who knew the deceased, it can't help but mold and solidify my feelings on gun control.

As a country, change of any kind will be a struggle. The saying that you can't turn the Titanic around is exceptionally relevant to this debate. There are so many guns in the hands of so many people we cannot hope to change the country overnight. But I am inclined to think that we as a nation have already hit the iceberg and we have to do everything we can to preserve life from here on out.

It is unreasonable to think that legislation at any level would attempt something like banning guns. I would just like to see a little more regulation. How is it that one man can purchase multiple assault weapons and more ammo than anyone would need in a lifetime, and nobody cares until he barges into a midnight showing of a hit film and takes 12 innocent lives? Fine. It is your right to own guns. It is in the Constitution (and it's not like we have ever changed that...27 times...or the fact that your right to bear arms is one of these changes...) but I think it is our responsibility as a society to see how people are exercising that right. Fine, have a gun for hunting. But why do you need 5 handguns when you live in suburbia?

I have decided that this post will be most effective if I put out some of the opposing arguments I have heard and address them individually.

“It is one of our Constitutional rights.”

When this was added to the Constitution, a gun was a musket and took minutes to load even a single shot. Do you really think that if there was a semi-automatic rifle that could use a 100 drum magazine that the founding fathers would have wanted those in the hands of anyone with money? I truly cannot accept that we as a society have become so desensitized to the danger of these weapons that we not only allow anybody to own them, we defend their right to own them. I have no doubt that there are people out there who still see no problem with James Holmes owning such weapons, the unfortunate part is just how he used them. That is ridiculous. Why would anyone own such a weapon if they didn't somewhere, in the back of their mind, have an idea that they may use it?

“Guns don't kill people, people kill people.”

Another variation on this is, “We don't need to regulate guns, we need to teach our children to respect life.” Ok, fine. Instead of regulating guns, our government can release a curriculum for raising our children that all parents MUST follow. That will go over really well. Seems to me it is a little easier to monitor the weapons.

“More people die from other types of violent crime.”

First off let me say I have not been able to find solid statistics to support or refute this statement. There is such plethora of biased and false information on the internet it is hard for me to analyze within a few hours while studying from home. What I do know is we are not facing an outbreak of mass strangulations in our public places. Yes, when Jevon Belcher snapped, the outcome for his victim would likely have been the same. But when you look at the scale of something like the Century 16 attack, how can you say loose gun regulation is not a factor? We cannot stop some forms of violent crime, but it is absurd and irresponsible that we make no attempt to control factors we can change.

So for all of my loud mouth opinions, you'd probably like to know what I want to see happen. I do understand that we cannot take all guns off the streets. Anyone who believes so is delusional. Here is a first step that I think is feasible: I will give you your right to own guns. But I think the government has a right to pay attention to which ones you own and why. I need a license to drive a car. I have to pass a test. I have to get insurance. And the government can take my license away if I show myself to be irresponsible on the road. So let's make it the same for a gun. If you want a gun, you have to get licensed. Not just for concealed weapons, for any weapons. They can check up on you. If you weapon is not stored properly, cared for properly or accounted for properly, you can lose your license and your gun. This small bit of regulation would go a long way to allowing responsible, law abiding citizens to own guns, while weeding out some of the less responsible people. I think the next step is the banning of assault weapons. There is no reason for anyone to own them beyond “because I can.”

I know this is a hot-button issue, and I know for many people my opinion on it might be a dealbreaker in our continued friendship. But if people do not state what they believe in then we will continue on in unhappiness, frustration and fear. It is your right to disagree with me, and I respect that. However, if you think you can change my mind on this overnight, just remember, it is hard to turn the Titanic around.