This isn't a fun post, and for that I apologize, but I'm writing this because last week, after the Colorado shootings, I had a very rude response by another fellow shooting victim because I posted something on Facebook that wasn't about gun control. She said I was delusional for not being focused on gun control. To make sure it's clear, I'm speaking as someone who was shot twice by someone who purchased their handguns legally--despite being treated for mental illness. So, I'd really like to explain my thoughts so that others can try to understand.
The gut reaction to mass shootings is just to make it so people can't get guns at all--but would that really stop the violence? Someone could run people over in their car, make a bomb, stab people, use a cross-bow. There are many, many ways that someone who wants to hurt people can get the job done. Right now gun are just the easiest to access and use.
I think we can all agree on a few things:
1. Bad people shouldn't be able to get guns
2. Crazy people shouldn't be able to get guns
What we don't agree on is:
1. Handguns should be banned
2. Semi-Automatic weapons should be banned
3. Assault rifles should be banned
4. Everyone should keep guns locked up in their homes
5. All guns should be banned
So my question is how do we come together--come to some sort of agreement about what should be done. It seems like we should focus on what we CAN agree on rather than what we can't agree on. We all know crazy and bad people shouldn't be able to get guns--so maybe better background checks, mental health evaluations, required gun safety classes, etc. Right now even people on the terrorist watch list can buy guns... something is just wrong with that! It seems silly to focus on the things we can't agree on when there are some simple things we can do to prevent mass shootings.
This isn't to say that we shouldn't change other gun laws that we can't agree on. I just think that focusing on what we can get done quickly and efficiently seems to be a lot more logical than fighting over what sort of guns/clips should or should not be banned.
The other thing I find to be annoying is that there are virtually NO support sites for people who have been victims of shootings (I'm considering making one). If people are so concerned about gun violence, then why aren't they providing more long term support to shooting victims?
There will always be killers, always be crazy people, and humans are violent and vulnerable beings. No amount of government control will stop this. All we can do is treat our neighbors as we treat ourselves, prepare for the worst, and plan for the best.
I'll agree that we should work on what we agree on. But I don't think the NRA or millions of voters actually do want to keep guns away from the mentally ill. They certainly don't want background checks or waiting periods. I stand mostly with what you are saying here, except I think assault weapons should be banned as well. The level of efficiency of ability to kill goes up significantly with the ability to throw more ammunition in the air as quickly as possible. That being said, I would feel a lot safer with quality background checks, better licensing, or something of that nature. I am really not concerned about getting all guns away from all people; although in other societies that do this, they experience a much lower rate of death by violence (not necessarily causal, but with our high volume of deaths by gun, it might be). How about something like this?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/opinion/kristof-safe-from-fire-but-not-gone.html
Just better regulation? NRA advocates worry about licensing allowing for the government to come for their guns at some point. Like if assault weapons were banned, then a lot of people would get to keep theirs because there is no list of assault weapons. So how could we create real regulations that don't really infringe on the rights and abilities of the millions of incredibly responsible gun owners out there, while making it significantly more difficult for the mentally ill to get a hold of them? As for the terrorist watch list, there are so many who are put on there for incredibly dubious reasons; how can we make that more meaningful?
Thank you for such sanity and grace, Layla.
ReplyDeleteFrom Cathy Everitt, your mom's friend in Florida
Thanks all :).
ReplyDeleteThis is a seriously complicated issue with no 'easy' solutions. Nothing will make 'everyone' happy, so we just have to find compromises that both sides can live with. Just as an FYI, I do think assault weapons shouldn't be 'totally' banned, but it should require quite a lot of work in order to be licensed to buy or own one.
I was actually really surprised, Quinn, to see some new information that says that most gun owners actually do want better control (including NRA members!)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/gun-owners-frank-luntz_n_1699140.html
I do like the suggestions in the article you posted, it makes a lot of sense to work on safety in ways other than just the knee jerk 'ban all guns' sort of perspective. I absolutely love the idea of required gun safety classes!
Keeping guns away from the mentally ill is complicated in a number of ways. First off, if you really look at it, most people will have 'some issues'. Hell, I have PTSD, anxiety and depression and I can safely own a gun. I guess it is a matter of seeing if someone is planning to harm themselves or others, and maybe having friends or family vouch for them? I think the best way to implement this sort of thing is to require yearly psychological evaluations if you wish to purchase guns. Either that, or have a psychologist run the 'gun safety' classes, which would hopefully give them an opportunity to see if anyone was acting strangely.
For the terrorist watch list, I think that there needs to be a good system in place to appeal if you are denied a gun (or ability to fly) because you are on this list. Does seem silly that we won't let these people fly, but we do let them buy guns... at least from what I've heard!
Mainly, I think a great place to start is with gun safety classes and gun licenses. This is a good way for gun shop owners to get to know the people who they are selling guns to. It is also a great way to make sure whoever buys the gun knows how to use it safely. I think that in any case, if you have family, they should all be invited to join in the class for free, as everyone in the house should know how to use a gun, especially if it won't be locked up.