So many people have weighed in on the recent shootings. I’ve had to go on a “news diet.” After a while, the details, the repetition of what happened, it all becomes overwhelming. And I’m basically a busker. I sing and dance on the boardwalk for spare change, metaphorically. Who am I to add to the babble?
But we have to speak out. We have to have a babble, and more than a babble. We can’t afford complacency.
Over 370 shootings in America last year that had four or more victims each. More than one a day. Most of the answers will doubtless be hard to come by, and someone won’t like whatever it is. But there are a few things we should do right off.
Ban assault weapons. Understand that I grew up the child of a military vet who collected guns. I learned target shooting when I was so little I had to lean against something so the kickback wouldn’t land me on my butt. Half of my childhood was spent in NRA country. And I’ll tell you a truth — guns are fun. They’re often even pretty. You want a rifle to hunt or a handgun for target practice? Go for it!
But. An assault weapon is not a hunting weapon. It has one purpose — to kill human beings, many of them, quickly and efficiently. And nobody who isn’t active military or police needs one. Nobody. The Founding Fathers could not have envisioned such weapons when the Second Amendment was written.
And while we’re at it, the Second Amendment reads, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” If you’re a strict Constitutionalist, you can’t escape the fact that it starts out with the words “A well regulated Militia…” Not just “regulated” but “well regulated.” In other words, there was no thought of just anyone being able to just own anything. If you wanted to have a gun, you were going to be regulated. We didn’t have a standing army as such, so the idea was that you would own a gun and be part of a state militia. Not a private one. Not one you concocted with your friends. Not an independent, private army. A “well regulated Militia.”
If the Founding Fathers had seen assault weapons, would the Constitution read otherwise? Probably. But it doesn’t. It reads the way it does and the Bill of Rights includes rights, but also responsibilities. So let’s throw away that tired saw that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of anyone to own any old gun. It doesn’t, clearly.
Which leads to the next thing we need to do. Whether you think Remington, Smith & Wesson are right up there with God, or you think guns are scary and make you a bit nauseous, you can get on board with one easy fix for our gun problem. Right now, the feds can put a person on a watch list or a no-fly list because he’s going to meetings where they talk about how to kill people, but they can’t stop him from legally buying a gun.
Let’s review. Someone who is judged violently insane, who makes radical proclamations that people he doesn’t like should die, who’s looking up bomb making guides, that person can be kept from flying from Portland to Los Angeles… but he can buy as many guns as he wants and drive there.
So how about that, for a starter? How about we get that national database going and require that anyone selling a gun, be it gun shop or gun show, refrain from selling to people on the terrorism watch list? Are there people on that list who will never hurt anyone? Without a doubt. Do those people need guns? Nobody outside of a police officer or military member needs guns. He might want a gun, and if there’s no reasonable reason why not, he should be able to buy it, but nobody needs a gun.
Lastly, registration. Before you rip my head off demanding why you should have to register as a gun owner, explain to me why you shouldn’t? No mentioning the Second Amendment — it calls for you to be well regulated. So. You have to take a test, get a license and register your car (as well as provide proof of insurance) to drive a car legally. If you’re caught driving illegally, you will be fined (if your butt doesn’t land in jail). And a car has many non-fatal uses.
A gun is designed to shoot stuff. It makes a poor shovel. It’s not much use as a screwdriver. It has one use, and that use is dangerous, especially in the wrong hands. So why shouldn’t you have to demonstrate that you know how to clean, load, shoot and store it safely? Why shouldn’t you have to register it? If nothing else, the money from the license fees could be put toward victim assistance.
I could argue that “concealed carry” and “stand your ground” laws are making us less safe, not safer. Everyone would like to believe he’d be Clint Eastwood when it all goes pear-shaped but really, think about the people you know. Are there more Clint Eastwoods, or more Barney Fifes? I know people who have concealed carry permits who I wouldn’t want to have a sharp stick, let alone a gun, especially in stressful situations. Put them in a shootout and wait for the casualty count to rise as stray bullets take people out. But that’s an argument for another day. Let’s start with the easy stuff that any rational, reasonable person can embrace. The low-hanging fruit.
Because gun regulation is coming, neighbors. It just is. Too many mass shootings. We’ll reach a tipping point where even politicians who are sucking from the NRA like piglets will be put in the position of doing something. If you’ve ever seen what the government does when it panics, you can understand why it would be better if those of us on either side of the issue come up with some legislation we can live with and tell our states and DC what to do.
So, in this year when “Hamilton” is all the rage and we’re experiencing a renewed interest in our Founding Fathers (and Mothers), let’s really honor our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Let’s put that basic regulation into place. Reasonable, rational gun legislation.
Before another Sandy Hook. Before another Aurora. Before another Orlando or any of the other places where our people are gunned down.