On Monday, 33 people were killed by firearms in a tragic day at Virginia Tech. There are no words that can describe what the family and friends of those people must be feeling at this time. To believe that their loved ones are safe at school on an isolated campus, protected from harm, and then to wake up to CNN and see the headlines. How is this possible?
Some will tell you that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives citizens the right to bear arms. That, however, is only the half of it. The Second Amendment in its entirety states, "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." It is not my contention that the founding fathers believed that only members of a militia should have the right to guns, but I have no doubt that the state of gun control in this country today is certainly not what they had in mind.
Everyone looks back fondly on the Westerns that immortalized heroes like John Wayne and Gary Cooper. In those films, the bad guys wear black and cowboys in white hats ride into town and win the gunfight or duel; that is, after the sheriff rounds up a posse and enforces mob rule. Is this really the type of American ideal we should be looking on with nostalgia? Why do we need the guns?
People will argue that they buy guns for protection. Criminals have guns so they need guns too. Tell me this, though; if you were being mugged by a person with a gun, are you honestly telling me that you would pull out your pistol, yell "draw" and start shooting? Personally, I would give them my money and let them go. Call me a coward, but the risk of losing the duel is not worth it.
The real problem is gun control. Why is it so easy for bad people, sick people, to get guns? It must be easy if there is so much gun violence in this country. There are reports in the news everyday in this country of people being murdered with guns. In 2004, there were 8,299 homicides committed with handguns in the United States, according to the Bureau of Justice. Furthermore, in September of 2004, Congress allowed an assault weapons ban to expire, allowing individual citizens to own AK-47's and revolving cylinder shotguns (street sweepers), among other weapons. What is going on in this country that people feel the need to own these types of weapons?
There are reasonable reasons to own a gun, like hunting. But can someone please tell me what kind of animal you would hunt that would require an AK-47? People need to be careful with conventional hunting firearms as well. Let us not forget a quail hunting trip gone awry involving Dick Cheney.
I once went to a gun range and shot a rifle. It was a lot of fun and I'd do it again. But what can be said about the state of gun control in America when there are metal detectors at schools, assault rifles in private homes and mass shootings at universities?
There needs to be more gun legislation, better background checks and more accountability for automatic weapons. Hopefully this tragic event will lead to a safer America with fewer guns.
