To The Editor,
I need to again restate what I wrote. I did not use the term “gun lovers” rather people who love guns which is a true statement. I did not suggest that you turn in your guns, I did not say we need more laws. Why is it that it is all or nothing with gun rights advocates?
My late husband was a hunter, heck I even purchased a gun for him as a gift. What is disturbing is that gun rights people will not have a discussion or show compassion for the many thousands of people who are murdered, accidently or purposefully or accidently injured by guns.
What I was hoping for is for someone who is supportive of guns and gun owners would admit that the senseless killing of people by guns is unacceptable and we as a country need to examine why and try to find solutions to stop the violence.
Instead what was printed was the same old rhetoric---hammers!!, it is the person not the gun, gun shows are safe. (On that one I did a quick Google search of people being injured at gun shows or ranges and found the websites below detailing people actually getting shot at gun shows or other ways and it was not an exhaustive search.) Criminals won’t obey the laws; everyone should be packing all time because the boogie man might gonna getcha.
I stated 25 years ago that I would be supportive of the NRA if they would say, “Too many people are getting killed senselessly because of guns. We want to change that, while ensuring that law-abiding people knows how to use guns for hunting, sport, or protection.” But what the NRA and others gun rights people do is spread fear of the big bad government and a fear of our neighbors. How many guns would be sold if that fear disappeared? And that is what this is all about, keeping the public fearful so you will continue to buy guns and keep the profits up for gun manufacturers who support the NRA.
But avid gun rights advocates will not have the discussion I mentioned. For them it is all guns all the time and never mind about the next innocent person getting killed or injured by a gun just as long as we have opportunity to buy more guns. The ability to purchase more guns trumps all and that is a sad commentary on our society.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/gun-show-shooting_n_5542670.html
http://kxan.com/2014/06/28/man-shot-killed-outside-cedar-park-gun-show/
http://archive.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=278913
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/25/us-accidental-gun-deaths-100-children-yearly
http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2014/07/01/11882565/
http://tbo.com/news/crime/deputies-woman-accidently-shoots-7-year-old-grandson-20140819/
http://www.news9.com/story/26333051/community-remembers-mwc-teen-killed-in-accidental-shooting
This one appeared today.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/utah-teacher-shoots-herself-the-leg-while-school
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What I was hoping for is for someone who is supportive of guns and gun owners would admit that the senseless killing of people by guns is unacceptable and we as a country need to examine why and try to find solutions to stop the violence.
The guns are not the violent ones. In order to come up with a solution you need to focus more on the violent person using the gun. I understand guns make it easier for a nut job to kill people, but the problem is with the mental health of said person, not the weapon he choose to use to carry out his violent acts.
I think we can all agree that there is a problem in this world with violence, but when u say \"senseless killing of people by guns\" we obviously do not agree on the root of the problem.
What\'s the big deal, we all agree on that! That\'s why there are gun training classes, safety classes, gun safes, locks etc.
What we don\'t agree on is that the RIGHT to own a gun is simply that, a right.
Saying that, seems to irritate those that think guns themselves are some horrible piece of equipment.
I\'m not sure what the point of yet another letter to the editor is.
What\'s left? We ALL agree, guns are dangerous, ARE misused, and that gives them their own \"bad name\".
But really, come on, next topic!
I looked at the linked articles and none of them in anyway resemble the events in Jackson County, Newtown or Gabby Giffords. In all but one, the person holding the weapon was unaware the weapon was loaded or apparently did not handle the weapon safely.
I will stand next to you willingly and say there are too many people hurt or killed by guns accidentally, like the ones referenced.
Let’s look at the situations.
1- Unattended, loaded weapon found by youth. This is completely unacceptable. This goes to gun safety and proper storage and locking of the weapon. Trigger locks are cheap and in most cases sold with weapons and should be used. Cable locks that prevent a round from being placed into the chamber are also good options. Safes and cabinets with locks are another option so long as they are locked. If you live in a neighborhood that heaving the weapons locked this tight inhibits your protection I would suggest a storage decide like those sold via Tactical Walls.
2- Storage of a loaded weapon in a transport case. Not only is this illegal in most states it is extremely dangerous, as shown by the articles. Ammunition and weapons should always be transported separately.
3- Shooting a sound. Unless the sound is a weapon being fired at you or your family or a credible verbal threat to your life, shooting at a sound is again dangerous.
What do all of the events cited have in common? They are accidents. We all want to prevent as many as we can. Anyone who disagrees with that is either completely insane or an idiot. The NRA does in a way say they want to prevent senseless deaths like these in their bylaws. #3; To train members of law enforcement agencies, the armed forces, the militia, and people of good repute in marksmanship and in the safe handling and efficient use of small arms. And #5; To promote hunter safety. NRA sponsored safety classes teach proper storage, transport and shooting techniques. Safety is important and in both. They also promote and train gun safety.
http://training.nra.org/nra-gun-safety-rules.aspx
http://eddieeagle.nra.org/information-for-parents.aspx
So, the big question really is how do we prevent all accidents?
Accident: a sudden event (such as a crash) that is not planned or intended and that causes damage or injury.
I have two children. I do my best to prevent them from having accidents. Can I stop them all? No, we still had bumps, cuts scratches, etc. and we will never stop all accidents. We must do our best to prevent as many as we can. When it comes to gun accidents in the country I think we are trying. You don’t hear the stories about the child who found his father’s handgun with a trigger lock and didn’t shoot anyone. You don’t hear about the guy pulling his rifle out of its transport case unloaded and not accidentally shooting someone. And you don’t hear the stories of the scare grandmother hearing a noise grabbing a gun and waiting to see the door open by her grandchild so she puts the gun away. No one keeps these statistics.
Gun advocates are a little, forgive the term, ‘gun shy’ when it comes to control and laws, mostly because too often people make grand generalizations when they start describing or limiting guns. Give an inch and they take a mile mentality, partly because it has happened or has attempted to happen. I’m old enough to remember seeing gun racks in the back windows of pickup trucks. But I’ve seen the remove of these racks slowly roll into the attempt to ban rifles because of their appearance.
So in recap, Accidental gun injuries and death do happen too often and should be stopped. We can prevent the types of accidents referenced by properly storing guns with some type of safety lock or in a secure cabinet, transporting weapons separately from ammunition and only shooting at visible targets or when a credible threat of bodily harm is present. Now someone will say that every gun owner should be required to go through training and purchase items described. I will tell you no. In order for that to occur, every weapon would have to be registered. In history, only once was the mandatory registration of weapons required. I would recommend reading Gun Control in the Third Reich by Stephen P. Halbrook.