My Two Cents on The Gun Control Debate

The following article is a timeline of mass shootings in the US since Columbine:

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/12/14/1337221/a-timeline-of-mass-shootings-in-the-us-since-columbine/

As the debate for gun control continues, it is important that we look at this subject objectively. Liberals, in general, are for gun control. Conservatives, in general, like to have no limits when it comes down to guns. Personally, I love the idea of a world without guns. However, we know that men have historically armed themselves for thousands of years. When we see the story of David and Goliath, we know that David did not go after this giant with his bear hands; he used a slingshot to kill him. Also, the use of the sword has been around forever.  As time has gone by, men have found more effective ways to kill in masses and have justified such weapons of mass destruction as a way of self-defense.

I hear the arguments from the right as they state that gun control will only affect the good people, while the criminals will continue to buy their guns as they do now. Lets keep in mind that what is prompting the Obama administration to change policies and laws regarding laws are the mass shootings that are taking place. It seems like the shooting in Connecticut was the last drop. Now, lets take a look at some alarming statistics:

According to ABC News:

 

• There have been 31 school shootings in the US since Columbine in 1999, when 13 people were killed.

• The rate of people killed by guns in the US is 19.5 times higher than similar high-income countries in the world.

• In the last 30 years since 1982, America has mourned at least 61 mass murders.”

Again, if the argument against gun control is that the laws will only affect the good citizens, as we will make it more difficult for them to buy guns, then we must take a look at the people that have done these mass shootings since Columbine. As you check that list you will quickly find out that almost everyone on that list was technically a good citizen. When was the last time that you heard of a Drug Dealer entering a mall and killing a bunch of innocent people? Or did you ever hear about a mafia member doing mass murders outside of their own criminal business?

I am not a liberal, I am an Independent Conservative, but I do applaud some of the efforts made in New York and by the Obama Administration concerning gun control. I don’t agreed with limiting police officers…I consider that stupid! But something needs to be done. Keeping things as they are is irresponsible.

I do believe that we must do better background checks. I believe that there must be some kind of physiological clearance before you are allowed to own a gun. In Puerto Rico, if you want to be a police officer, they do an investigation of your character in your community. They ask your neighbor and the people in your community about you and if you do not pass that test you will not be allowed to be a police officer; something similar should be done when someone is inquiring owning a gun. I also believe that people with mental health issues should never have access or be taught how to shoot a gun. It can be argued that the mentally disabled also has the right to defend themself; nevertheless, one with mental disability should be in the care of others, regardless. I believe that a person who owns or carries guns should have with him/her a special license as evidence that he/she has meet all of the requirements necessary to own and carry that gun with him/her.

I believe in freedom and in the right to defend ourself; but I also believe in change when a system is failing to protect its citizens. Our current gun laws are irresponsible and the current system is failing to keep guns out of the hands of unstable people. The shooters, as you see in this list, were good people and the teens that did the shootings got their guns from other so called good citizens. So it is time to do something about it!

We can close our eyes to the reality that we have indeed become a society obsessed with violence; video game sales and movies confirm our obsession. There is enough blame to go around! As I always tell my students; the profile of these school killers seems to be the same…the kid that no one likes, the one with little social skills and the one that everyone makes fun of…what about if we reach out to these kids and let them know that they are loved and accepted the way they are…how many shootings can we avoid that way? What about if we stand up against bullies and defend the innocent…how may shootings can we avoid that way?