Below are a lot of questions
gun-restriction/ban advocates and American citizens should be asking themselves
today. It’s sad and frightening that I can only hear one question being asked,
when it’s the least important question of all.
If you are in favor of what are
commonly referred to as “common sense gun laws” but nothing more, let me offer
this. In Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City and Washington DC these gun laws (and
far stricter versions as well) have been around for years already, yet these
are easily the most violent cities in America, per capita. Not forgetting that
children were murdered in Newtown, which is the spark for this current
gun-law-go-round, are you suggesting these laws are absolutely the only
solution to the violence in America? Are you certain these laws will protect
children from mass shootings? Are you certain nothing else will?
In 1994 the government, under the
leadership of Bill Clinton, passed an Assault Weapon ban and magazine capacity
restriction laws exactly like those proposed today. Have you forgotten
Columbine? 1999, years after the ban was well established, children died in a
school. Why is it, in nearly 15 years since Columbine, our leaders have made no
significant strides to tackle the real causes of mass shootings and violence in
general? Are you absolutely certain, when you look at America’s most violent
cities, that guns are really the problem? What I am saying is, gun laws are
band aides and I think it’s shameful that Americans aren’t demanding real
solutions to our problems. And we haven’t just wasted 15 years. Even though the
1990s were our most violent years under the Assault Weapon Ban, in 1984 James
Huberty killed 21 people in a McDonalds. Our government passed some crime and
gun laws and mass shootings steadily increased from that point forward. Are you
absolutely certain this time, gun laws will help heal this nation? In nearly 30
years, why hasn’t it worked? Why haven’t things changed for the better? For all
our progression, for all our new knowledge, for all our advancements, why are
people still violent, still mean, still suffering mental illnesses? Do you
think things have improved in the last 30 years? Do you think it’s shameful to
continue forcing ideas that we know won’t work, while at the same time ignoring
the real problem when it’s the lives of our children at stake?
Are you aware that aside from guns,
mass shootings mostly have mental illness in common? Considering our nation’s
debt, unemployment rate, decaying morality, integrity, and personal
responsibility, the only cause you can think of is firearms? Were you aware
that so called “assault weapons” were not used at Columbine or Virginia Tech?
Were you aware that so called “assault weapons” account for fewer than 10% of
all firearm related deaths from year to year and often fewer than 5%?
If your response to what I’ve said
so far is all guns should be banned, then you’re in luck. Many countries
already have such laws. In these countries, if you protect yourself with a gun,
you go to prison. In places like the UK, violent crime is higher than the
United States. I guess the concept is, the criminals still run rampant, but at
least you will survive an encounter with one. Are you comfortable living in a country
that, by law, expects you to accept the very likely possibility of being a
victim? Are gun-ban advocates suggesting all human beings are physically equal?
Are you willing to accept being vulnerable to rape or being beaten, especially
if you are smaller than the criminal? The next question is the toughest because
the answer isn’t easy. Is human life so valuable that everyone should live in
fear to protect it? Is it right that a government can strip its citizens of the
choice to protect their own life, property or well-being, yet essentially admit it can do nothing
else to protect those citizens? I am absolutely certain by owning a firearm, I
am not infringing on anyone’s rights. I enjoy hunting and the shooting sports
which, the last time I checked, is covered by my guarantee to pursue happiness in
America. Are you saying, because you don’t think I “need” it, you are justified
to infringe on my rights? I know that some criminals are much bigger, much
meaner and much stronger than I am. Last time I checked, my unalienable right
to “life” comes before the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of
Independence. These are core American values which formed the entire concept of
what America is. Are you willing to give these fundamental rights up in the
name of safety? Are you suggesting your personal safety is not your
responsibility?
It would seem the anti-gun logic is, if you can just manage take the tools away from criminals they will suddenly become kinder, gentler citizens, give up their unlawful ways and contribute in a positive way to society. And apparently, addressing the causes of criminal behavior, perhaps the conditions contributing to crime and mental illness, is completely rash. Does this strike you as sound logic? Total firearm bans turn law abiding citizens into criminals if they do not turn over their property to the government. Give us your property or go to prison. You are of the opinion that sentence does not sound like tyranny? Isn't the unwarranted search and seizure of property also protected against by the Constitution and its Amendments? And if you aren't in favor of gun bans, why are countries with gun bans so often cited as shining examples during times like these? It might also sound absurd to suggest that we punish criminals for their behavior. Is it unreasonable to say that people who directly and purposefully violate America's fundamental rights are therefore forfeit of American rights? Aren't our rights specifically dependent upon living by and upholding them?
It would seem the anti-gun logic is, if you can just manage take the tools away from criminals they will suddenly become kinder, gentler citizens, give up their unlawful ways and contribute in a positive way to society. And apparently, addressing the causes of criminal behavior, perhaps the conditions contributing to crime and mental illness, is completely rash. Does this strike you as sound logic? Total firearm bans turn law abiding citizens into criminals if they do not turn over their property to the government. Give us your property or go to prison. You are of the opinion that sentence does not sound like tyranny? Isn't the unwarranted search and seizure of property also protected against by the Constitution and its Amendments? And if you aren't in favor of gun bans, why are countries with gun bans so often cited as shining examples during times like these? It might also sound absurd to suggest that we punish criminals for their behavior. Is it unreasonable to say that people who directly and purposefully violate America's fundamental rights are therefore forfeit of American rights? Aren't our rights specifically dependent upon living by and upholding them?
And what about this “needing”
certain types of firearms? It would seem some Americans still haven’t figured
out that the Second Amendment doesn’t have anything to do with hunting,
sporting or self-defense. These are all unalienable rights covered by America’s
fundamental guarantee to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Self-defense
is my responsibility and right. Sport and hunting are not just about my right
to pursue happiness, but my right to simply feed myself. By saying a person
doesn’t “need” a certain type of firearm are you suggesting there is nothing
and no one to fear in the world? Have you forgotten 9/11? Do you still believe
our government can protect you when thousands of people died in a single day on American soil? Is World War II so far in the past that it has no
relevance today? Do you believe there are not thousands of disarmed people in
the world being slaughtered by tyrants in 2013? The Second Amendment specifically
protects “military style” firearms because these are the only firearm with
which we can legitimately combat foreign (or domestic) threats. People who think
this means gun owners want rocket launchers, tanks and nukes are confused. A
firearm is something an individual can use against an aggressor and has the
means to keep and maintain without specialized tools or knowledge. I’m not suggesting
the world we live in doesn’t involve threat of weapons capable of causing
massive casualties. I won’t try to draw a morality line in the sand for you on
this issue, because no one can.
Furthermore, as a gun-ban advocate,
what do you actually know about firearms and their associated laws, and do you
believe that you should be allowed to strip fundamental American rights based on
ignorance? Often we hear arguments like, these weapons are not designed for
hunting or self-defense or sport. Are you aware that all of these statements
are false, or worse, blatant lies? All firearms, every single one of them, was
designed for ending human life. Therefore, all firearms are “military style”
weapons if your concept is that taking human life is a military function only.
Before firearms existed, the creation and perfection of black powder was pursued
to end human life. The argument exists because of the complete misunderstanding
of firearms, not because it actually has any merit. Do you actually know
anything about the shooting sports? If you do, do you find it somewhat
confusing that gun-ban advocates insist “military style” weapons are not used
in sporting events, yet they are the most popular firearm in the most popular
shooting sports today? How is it logical to suggest something designed for
ending human life is inappropriate for self-defense? Isn’t that a contradiction?
Why do gun-ban advocates insist these firearms (the AR-15 specifically) and their associated ammunition
are not for hunting when they are among the bestselling firearms in the country,
widely used for varmint hunting and fire a cartridge designed specifically for
varmint hunting? Our military modified this varmint cartridge for its purposes,
not the other way around. Are you aware that this cartridge is not considered
powerful enough (and therefore not allowed) to hunt large game such as deer in
most states?
The most important question of all;
is it time for real meaningful change in America, or will we continue pursuing
band aides? Do you actually care about the violence and mental illness, or do
you just want to feel better until the next tragedy comes along? Should we continue punishing and stripping the rights of law abiding Americans, or start punishing criminals instead? For decades
America has done nothing to change the societal cancer growing in our
neighborhoods, homes, schools and cities. Passing gun laws, whether you like
guns or not, is the same as doing nothing and it always has been. What’s more,
I believe many gun-control advocates are disingenuous liars who, by taking
meaningless gun-control measures, prove they don’t even care about public
safety or the decay of our nation. Until the public takes a genuine interest in
the fate of America, we can expect the decline to remain steady.
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