SectionsLoose gun laws make it easier to be killed
J.D. Garretson
Issue date: 3/2/10 Section: Opinion
Occasionally, I get letters from readers accusing me of being too political and partisan. I humbly disagree. I try to stay squarely in the center, giving both sides of every debate a fair shake, with analysis based on exhaustive research and contemplation. I feel I go out of my way to not point fingers or make bombastic claims. Some, though, remain critical, and it's specifically with these readers in mind that I chose my topic this week.
Local Republicans want to kill you.
You might call me paranoid, but I don't mean, like, crawling into your window and murdering you. Only Roy Blunt actually wants to do that. Slowly and surely, though, from weapons and wealth reduction to urban violence, I think they're trying to kill us all. I'll leave it to you to decide if they can read our thoughts or not.
Guns, for example. Local legislature has enacted or repealed a number of initiatives concerning the possession of firearms, and several of the changes, statistically speaking, make it more likely you're going to die.
I want to say that I spent last weekend shooting guns. I love the things. I grew up in small-town Arkansas. One of the happiest memories of my life was coming upon a washing machine on the side of the road while driving around with my cousin, who promptly announced he had a shotgun and several boxes of ammunition. By the time we left, the once-shining appliance looked as if it had been struck by a missile. Then we shot at some trees for looking at us funny. Good times all around.
But, I don't come from handgun country. You own rifles for hunting and shotguns for home defense (specifically because should you ever find your self burgling and should you hear the sound of a shotgun cocking behind you, your next decision is whether you should soil yourself before you run or while you run). Handguns are a city thing, and more often than not, they're for causing trouble.
Handguns are responsible for more homicides than any other firearm. To paraphrase Salinger, they're our people-shooting weapons; you shoot people with handguns. Not wild game. And you're far more likely to be killed in an assault than to kill someone in self-defense.
Local Republicans want to kill you.
You might call me paranoid, but I don't mean, like, crawling into your window and murdering you. Only Roy Blunt actually wants to do that. Slowly and surely, though, from weapons and wealth reduction to urban violence, I think they're trying to kill us all. I'll leave it to you to decide if they can read our thoughts or not.
Guns, for example. Local legislature has enacted or repealed a number of initiatives concerning the possession of firearms, and several of the changes, statistically speaking, make it more likely you're going to die.
I want to say that I spent last weekend shooting guns. I love the things. I grew up in small-town Arkansas. One of the happiest memories of my life was coming upon a washing machine on the side of the road while driving around with my cousin, who promptly announced he had a shotgun and several boxes of ammunition. By the time we left, the once-shining appliance looked as if it had been struck by a missile. Then we shot at some trees for looking at us funny. Good times all around.
But, I don't come from handgun country. You own rifles for hunting and shotguns for home defense (specifically because should you ever find your self burgling and should you hear the sound of a shotgun cocking behind you, your next decision is whether you should soil yourself before you run or while you run). Handguns are a city thing, and more often than not, they're for causing trouble.
Handguns are responsible for more homicides than any other firearm. To paraphrase Salinger, they're our people-shooting weapons; you shoot people with handguns. Not wild game. And you're far more likely to be killed in an assault than to kill someone in self-defense.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 32
Justwow
posted 3/02/10 @ 11:36 PM CST
LOL! If you consider that a center position, I would hate to see what you consider left of center.
If you're going to give opinions on different topics, at least do a little research. (Continued…)
Steve St. John
posted 3/02/10 @ 11:40 PM CST
Concealed carry means that people can't see you are carrying a gun, not that you can deter criminals with "Display of force - buy a large gun and just carry it on your back, First Person Shooter style". (Continued…)
Daniel
posted 3/02/10 @ 11:41 PM CST
The problem is, gun laws only make it easier for law abiding citizens to be killed. Law abiding citizens do not, by definition, commit crimes. Therefore making it harder for law abiding citizens to own the means of self defense most logical in a cramped urban setting (pistol) only means they are more likely to be unarmed when the assault you say is likely to happen happens. (Continued…)
Amazed
posted 3/02/10 @ 11:59 PM CST
Wow.
The fact of the matter is the 2nd Amendment is about citizens being able to protect themselves from tyranny in government. Slaves don't own guns. (Continued…)
Dan Parker
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:05 AM CST
As you so effectively demonstrate, any fool can spout disingenuous and inflammatory rhetoric...but the capacity for honest, informed commentary remains the province of a minority of humankind. (Continued…)
Greg Nieman
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:20 AM CST
I can sum up your entire op ed by quoting one sentence.
"I mean, I'm not mature enough...."
Grow up and get back to us in a few years.
Ralph Smith
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:32 AM CST
Your disillusioned. You spent the weekend shooting guns but deplore their nature? That makes you a elitist or a hypocrite, or both. Luckily because of the second amendment we have the first. (Continued…)
SeenTheElephant
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:48 AM CST
Ah, the delusions of the young who somehow think that someone inclined to commit homicide cares a whit about precious laws to protect your prissy sensibilities. (Continued…)
Anthony
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:48 AM CST
Sir, You are a moron. All you do is write about your emotions and not facts. You Liberals are stupid. I hope someone breaks into your house when your sleeping. (Continued…)
Db8sGr8
posted 3/03/10 @ 12:56 AM CST
Perhaps where you live, there are no people intent on indulging their violent tendencies, and the police are 100% effective at arriving just before anything bad ever happens. (Continued…)
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