I posted this originally on Facebook, but wanted to share it here. This article from the New York Times talks about one small town’s struggle with the legal but frightening increase in the use of semi-automatic rifles (SARs). The troubling and reoccurring theme I am seeing on Facebook and other sites is the use of freedom as a defense to continue to allow people to own SARs. These guns weren’t allowed until a few years ago, but now people see any restriction on them as an attempt to take away gun ownership from all Americans and an attack on the 2nd Amendment. I think that’s a crock. Anyway, here’s what I wrote.
“He said he was distraught at the school massacre but said guns should not be made the ‘scapegoat.’ Guns are why we’re free in this country, and people lose sight of that when tragedies like this happen,” he said. “A gun didn’t kill all those children, a disturbed man killed all those children.” ~(Excerpt from this article which I encourage you to read)
No… a disturbed man with a semi-automatic rifle and bullet-proof vest killed all those children.
Listen this isn’t really a debate. I know friends who have these guns (semi-auto rifles) – and they don’t need them – they want them. Big difference!! Our country is full of examples of the limitations of our freedoms being established to protect us from ourselves. Guns don’t make us “free” – especially these types of guns… that’s a ridiculous backwoods ignorant argument.
“But the bad guys have them and we need to defend ourselves”, they argue. This kid was not a bad guy, he was a very troubled person who had easy access to these weapons. This isn’t a situation where it’s a drug war, or gangs or the mafia. This was one person who, because of his easy access to these types of weapons, was able to inflict incredible amounts of carnage in a very short period of time.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s not an easy answer. Prohabition on something people want does not have a successful record in this country. War on drugs is a failure. Something a little less extreme; who hasn’t downloaded music for free though it’s wrong? You will never get rid of all the guns.
Flip side, arguing that law abiding citizens should be allowed SARs because they need to protect themselves is a reach. If we can trust them with SARs, why not let them buy bazookas? Hell, why not let them buy suitcase nukes. They wont use them unless provoked. Wont you sleep a lot better knowing your neighbor has a suitcase nuke sitting in his closet?
I have a SAR sitting in my closet as I write this. I take it out and shoot it, I’ll teach my daughter to shoot it. I’d be scared if my government tried to take it away. I’d be just as scared if my neighbor had a bazooka or rocket launcher.
No easy answers here. I don’t believe it’s going to be a black and white answer…
Nothing ever is black and white. But I wouldn’t say that it isn’t necessarily an easy answer.
I’m getting a grenade launcher.
Just came across this article while researching stupid people. My question is, why have you made no changes or retractions since its been proven that the semi automatic rifle was not only not used, but wasn’t even in play. Not to mention he was denied a permit for one, and had to steal to acquire.
Hey David – you are wrong. No retraction needed.