Learning Along the Way
As I study the Constitution, and examine my philosophy of limited government and protection of individual liberties, I have to shift my view to one more supportive of gun ownership. And let me point out; I’ve always supported 2nd amendment rights, but I didn’t regard registration as an undue infringement of ownership. The more I’ve studied the issue and considered the potential bureaucracy and limited utility to law enforcement, I don’t see appropriate benefits from registration. I’m still concerned that certain segments of our population are fundamentally threatened by weapons violence to the point they are denied “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” And although weapons are a key component of that threat, they do not seem to be either the cause or a “manageable” factor. We would do better to focus on the educational, cultural, and especially the economic factors that create impoverished, violent subcultures that seem to perpetuate themselves. I’ve changed my platform statement to remove my support for registration. I have to hedge a bit and say that I’d love to see the NRA and others come up with some leadership to keep weapons out of the hands of those with bad intentions, but the root of gun violence is the person who picks up any tool to impose his will on others. Whether the tool is a gun, an axe, racist language, a Katyusha rocket, or tax policy, the effect is to impose one person’s intent at the expense of another. The weapon employed is not particularly relevant. Michael Previous: Special Interests -- Next: Florida’s Harris is Unfortunately Typical. Comment from Weird: I think education is a major part of the equation. Learning what guns are at an early age and learning their proper use from a responsible citizen is what seems to differentiate the gun users from the gun abusers. It is entirely an issue of appropriate behavior versus inappropriate behavior. Gun violence, IMO, is a social issue which results from inadequate upbringing and unacceptable education. I have ideas on how to solve it, but none are by outlawing guns. I am also concerned with registration. I understand the thought process of those that believe it to be a good thing. However, my personal experiences get in the way of my accepting that belief. I have had the opportunity to witness illegal guns sold on a New Haven street corner. I am reasonably certain the buyers had no intention of registering the weapons. Weapon control is a device of oppressive governments as evidenced by many instances in the past. One of my favorites is Scotland, ”... in 1746, the Hanoverian government tried to obliterate all Scottish culture, forbidding the wearing of tartan and carring of weapons. Since no clan ever went into battle without a piper, bagpipes were banned as a weapon of war.” There are many things more dangerous than guns that are more readily available. Things that can be had at any local hardware store for less money, less hassle, and are given no second thought at purchase. Registering them won’t make anyone safer either, but it will cost the people more money and give the government more control. Weird Posted by Weird Aug 25, 11:30 AM # Comment from willCode4Beer: Funny Scotland is mentioned. They have recently initiated a plane to get rid of knives and swords. It just goes to show, too much focus on the tool of the criminal takes attention away from dealing with the ‘person’. Posted by willCode4Beer Aug 25, 03:55 PM # |
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