Guns, Virginia and the NRA: An Unholy Triumvirate

The Virginia gubernatorial race is heating up, with both sides trading barbs and making aggressive claims and accusations. One of the points of contention between them is interesting - R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate favors requiring background checks for purchasers of weapons at gun shows, while his Republican opponent Robert F. McDonnell is against it. As you might imagine, the National Rifle Association (NRA) is dead set against anything that smacks of 'gun control,' even a sensible requirement that would contribute to keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals or those who pose a danger to themselves or their communities.

They use the argument that restrictions on guns means only the criminal elements will have guns seems at odds with their support of individuals who are not licensed arms dealers being able to sell weapons without checking to determine if the purchaser is legally entitled. Apparently, protection of the right of someone to have a basement filled with all manner of weapon trumps the protection of society's right to be free from the fear of firearms' violence.

The state of Virginia is already the 'wild west' of the northeast. No permits or licenses are required to purchase or own a gun here, and if you have a permit, there are very few limitations on carrying a concealed weapon. If your intent is aggressive or offensive, you can't own a machine gun in Virginia, but if you can prove lack of such intent, you're only required to notify the police and register your machine gun within 24 hours.

With a population of some 7.5 million people, in 2005 Virginia ranked number 18 in handgun deaths in the United States. There're approximately 5.23 homicides per 100,000, and 69.4% of those homicides are handgun related. In the U.S., handgun homicides accounted for nearly all the increase in homicides from 1985 to 1993, while deaths from other causes declined. A 2002 survey indicated that 38% of households in Virginia had guns in or around the home, and 1 in 6 were unlocked and unloaded. In 2004, firearms accounted for 73% of Virginia's homicides. Firearms related deaths exceed automobile crash related deaths in many states - in 1991, this was the case in Virginia.

What is all this leading to, you might ask? I think it is long past time for us to reconsider our love affair with guns and violence and come into the 21^st century. The 'right to bear arms' clause of our Constitution was written in a time when there was no standing army, very little in the way of professional police forces, and a largely rural population. I cannot imagine that the founding fathers could have envisioned assault rifles either. It is instructive to read the entire amendment: "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 this is to be interpreted literally, as the NRA often maintains, it means the Federal Government cannot prevent anyone from buying and carrying a weapon at any time or in any place. Of course, the states are not so restricted, and that is where NRA puts its lobbying efforts.

I would offer a scenario for those who would argue that having a lot of armed people in a public place contributes to security and safety. Imagine you're sitting in a crowded restaurant, and the majority of the patrons are armed - duly licensed to carry concealed weapons. Some idiot does something, or perhaps a car backfires - any number of anxiety provoking incidents - and everyone reaches for his or her 'piece.' Would you want to be a diner in that situation? Does that picture make you feel safe and secure? If it does, then you should be a member of the NRA. If, on the other hand, it scares the holy crud out of you, you should join the rest of us.

Reference:

http://www.nra.org/home.aspx

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/federal/read.aspx?id=522

http://crime.about.com/od/gunlaswbystate/a/gunlaws_va.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States

http://www.vahealth.org/injury/topics/gunsafety/index.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00023655.htm

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/peds_safety/frarmhub.cfm