Regarding the renewed efforts / public demands for
additional gun legislation (gun control) as a result of the murders at the
Umpqua Community College, I would like to address some of the comments that are
used to attack gun advocates and owners; often put forth in, what I consider to
be, an uninformed and often a most condescending way.
I am a gun owner. I
like to shoot guns. I like the
craftsmanship that goes into a quality gun; and understand why some people
collect them. Moreover, I think guns
still play a positive role in our society in hunting, sport and family
protection. Are they misused? Yes, of course.
I was once a hunter, but I guess it has been a few decades
since I last hunted. There was a pivotal
moment. I remember it well. I came home with a couple of pheasants that I
had shot earlier in the day, laid them out on some newspapers and prepared to
‘clean’ them. My young daughter came to
see what I was doing. Her comment was,
“Daddy, did you have to kill them?” I
still remember that moment and the look on her sad face. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.
If I had answered, I would have had to say, ‘No honey, I didn’t. I’m sorry.’
But, that was it. I was a hunter
no longer. And, I must say that I
haven’t missed it much. Oh, there is
something to be said about the comradeship and excitement of hunting. But now, I’m thrilled when a pheasant walks
through my back yard. I grab my
binoculars. Pheasants are after all
beautiful birds. I’m not against hunting
you understand. It’s just a personal
thing with me.
There are considerable (perhaps unbridgeable) differences
between ‘gun advocates’ and the ‘gun control crowd.’ Personally, I’ve fielded more than a few disparaging
comments in the guise of good-natured kidding.
It’s uncomfortable when you are surrounded by like-minded ‘gun control’
people – particularly those who know little or nothing about guns. Have you noticed that in a group everyone
resorts to ‘bumper-sticker’ logic (or lack thereof)? Statement:
“We should ban assault weapons!” Counter
Statement: “You can have my gun when you
pry it from my cold dead fingers.” OK, I
realize the last comment would be a rather long ‘bumper-sticker,’ but you get
the idea.
Regarding the Umpqua Community College shooting, were you
surprised at how quickly the politicians jumped in to politicize the actions of
a psychopathic killer, and then blame it largely on guns? I wasn’t.
My immediate thought, ‘shameful.’
But, as we well know, most politicians were born unable to feel
shame. That’s why they became
politicians.
The following are some of my favorite discussion points
regarding ‘gun control.’ Stick with me,
you might find that I am somewhat of a moderate and could / would be receptive
to some compromising, and additional legislation. Oh, and why did I resign from the NRA? I’ll explain.
Here are some topics that I will be discussing from a gun
owner’s, gun advocate’s perspective:
- How might security at a school like the Umpqua Community College be improved?
- The Second Amendment and the inceptive clause “A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state,…”
- Assault Weapons
- Universal Background Checks
- X-Felons in Possession of Guns
- The United Kingdom and Australia does it, why not us?
- Why I left the NRA
True Nelson