It's so obvious that most anti-gun activist, politicians and members of the media know basically nothing about guns. From the "Gun Show Loophole" false narrative, the lie that the "Assault Weapons Ban" in the 1994 Crime Bill worked to "journalists" going on and on about the "kick" of the AR-15. The disconnect between knowledge, reality and rhetoric is deeply troubling.
However, as of late a few suggestions by the left have resonated with me. Specifically, increasing the age limit to own a semiautomatic weapon. Kids typically have to pass a basic safety class to fire a gun let alone own one. I for one still proudly have my Minnesota issued gun safety sew-on badge. I don't know why but it seams firearms safety training coupled with live firing seems to drastically reduce the odds a person will become a criminal, let alone a mass shooter.
In addition the study of gun deaths in the US versus European countries is pretty conclusive... Guns are part of the problem but unfortunately we would have to confiscate all guns to reduce gun deaths commensurate to that of Europe. Only if private gun ownership was illegal will gun involved crimes and suicide deaths drop to what other Western countries experience.
When an an elected official talks about the "AK-15", ghost guns, multiple rounds in a split second, AR-15 round being multiple times faster than other rounds, etc... those with any military background or gun knowledge just roll their eyes. Passion without knowledge is wasted and counter productive but it doesn't stop the Left from spewing nonsense. Without basic gun knowledge the ability to influence gun owners with anti-gun arguments falls upon death ears.
I believe the five rights enshrined by the 1st Amendment are worth fighting for and the 2nd Amendment gives the people the ability to do so. It's seems basic, but it's kinda a big duh the founding fathers understood this and the order of the Amendments in the Bill of Rights isn't happenstance.
It's important to put death and tragedy into context. Tragically this year over 100,000 people will overdose and die. Another 40,000 will die in car crashes. Sadly 6,000 vets will kill themselves for reasons we are just now starting to understand. Finally, on average each day 42 people will be murdered with a gun.
There are over 136,000 schools, colleges and universities in America and every year a few of these "soft" targets are attacked and on average a dozen or so innocent students and teachers will loose their lives. It's all very sad but the public seemingly forgets the 500+ that die tragically EVERYDAY in America.
Things to TRY as a nation:
- We might raise the age to own a semi-automatic weapon to 21 or even 25.
- Maybe make it a felony with a minimum of one year in prison for anyone under 25 to possess a semi-automatic weapon.
- Absolutely change "Gun Free Zone" laws to allow concealed carry by those with state issued concealed carry permits.
- How about increasing training and add actual range time in order to obtain a conceal weapons permit for those without prior police or military experience.
Obviously gun free zones haven't work and I would argue they have actually backfired and created killing zones. Concealed carry requires finger prints, back ground checks, mental health checks and training. Banning these people from schools, movie theaters, etc... has been a resounding failure and yet the sound of gun free zones makes people feel safe? Bad guys don't give a crap about gun free zones. This is beyond obvious but ignored by the Left and liberals who don't know better.
Here is the rub. It's clear to me the left is more concerned with the optics and maintaining this issue into the midterm elections while paying lip service to their base. The Right is paranoid of the slippery slope we all witnessed in 2020. Fifteen days to flatten the curve my ass... Never again!
Lastly, school shootings are beyond heinous but has anyone pondered they may in fact be the price we collectively pay to prevent even a greater loss of life measured in the MILLIONS. Think Mao, Stalin, Hitler and the carnage we are witnessing in Ukraine.
Far fetched? Maybe, but it's been said:
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. The only way they can inherit the freedom we have known, is if we fight for it, protect it, defend it and then hand it to them with the well taught lessons of how they and their lifetime must do the same and if you and I don't do this, then you and I may well spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it once was like in America where men were free." Ronald Reagan, January 5th, 1967
