American Gun Logic: Will More Guns Make Us Safer?
In the aftermath of the shootings, gun rights advocates have come up with a solution to end the violence: more people need guns.
More Weapons Equals Less Violence?
Their reasoning, if it can be called such, goes like this: if some sane, rational person had been carrying a concealed weapon on campus at Virginia Tech that day, perhaps he could have shot Cho, and none of this would have happened.
See how that works? Rather than stricter regulations on gun ownership, what our country needs is a more heavily armed citizenry. An entire campus of students with Glocks holstered to their ankles is actually safer than one where only criminals have weapons.
For example, suppose some troubled student has a bad day and decides to shoot his math professor. We've all been there, right?
No worries! There is sure to be a well armed sycophant willing to draw his weapon in defense of his mentor; and if the professor isn't particularly popular, then let him gun down the attacker himself. Isn't a showdown in the auditorium once or twice a semester better than mass carnage?
At least we wouldn't have to give up our guns. Nobody wants to be that guy walking around un-strapped.
What If It Were Really Hard To Get A Gun?
Unless, of course, we could assume that our fellow citizens are exactly what they appear to be - average, unarmed people going about their business with no intent to commit murder and mayhem. In that case, our rationale for hiding a saturday night special under our jacket for self defense doesn't make much sense.
What if we could even assume that most Americans are horrified by the idea of carrying around a concealed weapon, and only want to be reasonably certain that the angry guy behind them in line at the Complaints counter isn't packing heat, either? When push comes to shove, most of us would rather dodge punches than bullets.
In that light, stricter gun regulation makes sense. Stricter regulation equals fewer guns in the hands of hotheads and psychopaths, which in turn equals less killing.
Nobody's paranoid need to purchase and carry a concealed handgun should outweigh my right to live in a society free from the constant threat of gun violence.
Published by Buddy Bolden
Buddy Bolden is a freelance writer from Denver, Colorado. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentGovernments kill more people than criminals. Think about it.
Right here is the problem in America right now. Daniel, Jim. I agree with what you're saying about the face that criminals are going to get guns regardless of whether it's legal or not. Because that is something statistics do support; 100% of all murderers have broken the law. That's the definition of murder: The unlawful, premeditated killing of another human being. And Mr. Bolden, you also make sense when you say we all shouldn't go about are day to day with a Beretta in our pocket, "just in case," but the problem is neither of you are creating middle ground. You want to keep a handgun in your house for protection or some rifles in your locker for hunting, that's fine, but you can't buy guns like you're little kids with trading cards. Because honestly you don't need a military grade .50 caliber sniper rifle for hunting, or to protect your home. I'm sure the fact that your rifle gets another bullet in the chamber before the trigger pulls back and can pick off a deer from across the fo
Daniel and Jim -
I don't think either of you are getting my point. Obviously, dedicated criminals will always be able to find a gun, so thank you for re-stating the obvious. What I wrote at the end of this article is that if gun laws were stricter, then fewer people would have them, which would equal less killing. It won't stop all the killing, and it might not even stop the mass killings. But don't you think less killing is better than the status quo? All in favor of less death, raise your hand. The agenda that the Ted Nugents of the world are pushing is that if every citizen carried a weapon, we would all be safer. That is self evident lunacy, isn't it? Doesn't the picture of an entire auditorium full of armed students seem at least a little absurd to you? How about at your kid's soccer game - can you picture how bad it would get if all the psycho sports dads were carrying guns? I'm just going with the basic logic: people with guns are more likely to cause death than peop
I am near willing to bet you are afraid that the government is usurping rights....ever stop to think how much they could do of that if we were reduced to throwing stones and making crossbows? We need to do something...and a lot of that something will be when we stop cow-towwing and molly coddling the lame and dis-affected. That clown you areusing was in front of shrinks over and again...why did they not find this malady? That is the question I want answered. But yeah, I can see the connection between the gun pedaler and the killing...about as much as I see the connection between the guy who sold him his bus ticket or the gasoline in his car to get there... or, hell, let's go after his car salesman too!
"Just 'cause you're paranoid, doesn't mean someone ain't out to get ya." (Anonymous) I hate to ruin your perfectly good article, but are you aware the statistics do not support your fear of a "well armed sycophant" in any way? LEGALLY armed citizens are not the problem; criminals are the problem. Sounds like you're a little paranoid to me, but what do I know? I'm just a sycophant with a gun.