Gun Control
The debate was fun, but pretty lame, so I got nothing
The debate was fun, but pretty lame, so I got nothing
OK, so I'm lazy and submitting a re-run for
CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY
The following is the opinion of a cranky old man with limited knowledge on the topic opined. Opposing opinions are welcome but may be ignored. Mean spirited comments may be deleted, As always, no name calling and that means you, you big stupid head!
Cranky Old Man does not own a gun, has never owned a gun, and has never even fired a gun. Guns scare me. I don’t want to hunt; I have no interest in target shooting, and don’t believe I need a gun for protection. If I had a gun, the only time it would be fired it would likely be an unfortunate accident. I don’t like guns.
I do not object to hunting. Many people have a genetic urge to kill animals and fill their freezer with game. I have eaten venison…it is delicious when prepared correctly. I have no objection to people culling the deer herd by gun rather than culling it myself with the front bumper of my car.
Many people enjoy target shooting and or skeet shooting. I do not wish to deprive these people of their sport. I like to bowl. I would be upset if laws were passed that take away my bowling ball just because some nut killed people by dropping bowling balls off a highway overpass.
If I lived in a remote area where visitors were rare, I would own a gun. I would greet every car that came down my dusty country road with a smile, a wave, and a loaded shotgun.
Still, I believe we need stronger gun regulation in this country. Purchasing guns should not be easy. People should have a license to buy a gun. The gun buying license should require some psychological testing. At a minimum, people with crazy eyes should be disqualified (come on, you know what I mean!)
Do NOT sell guns to these people!
There should be a written test and a demonstration to prove the candidate is knowledgeable in gun use and gun safety.
The gun purchase license should be expensive, and should need to be renewed periodically.
Now the arguments against gun restriction:
Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.
Yes, but guns do make it easier and do increase productivity.
Only the criminals will have guns.
Well the criminals and the people that clear all the reasonable gun law restrictions. Oh yeah, and the police.
Listen; do we really need assault weapons to kill a deer? Do we need rapid fire heavy ammo to shoot at targets? Does anyone need an Uzi for protection?
It is true that most of the mass murders in our recent history were perpetrated with guns that were either legally obtained or stolen and gun regulations would probably not have stopped these crimes. However, all the stories have not been reported.
In April 2002, Cecil Plotnick went into a gun shop in Seattle with the intent of purchasing several handguns and then driving to the nearest mall and killing as many people as he could. When told he had to wait for a background check he changed his mind and bought a PlayStation 3 instead.
In June 2007, John "Bubba” Beady tried to buy a high-power rifle and several boxes of ammo at “Ralph’s Burgers and Guns” café in Lacy Arkansas. Ralph questioned him as to why he wanted so much ammo and Bubba responded, “To kill a whole bunch of people.” When Ralph told Bubba he did not sell ammo that was to be used to kill people, Bubba went bowling.
The stories of Cecil, Bubba and hundreds of other similar stories never made the evening news. Gun legislation that saves lives is not news. Bad shit that never happens is hard to demonstrate statistically.
If drunk driving was legal, wouldn't the roads be less safe? If pilots required no training would you be nervous about flying? If anyone could just hang up a shingle and call himself Doc, who would you go to when you were sick?
People do drive drunk. Idiots do fly and crash planes. Charlatans do imitate doctors. Does that mean we should not have laws and regulations? Laws and regulations limit bad shit. They do not eliminate bad shit but they do reduce and restrict it.
Stricter gun regulations will not eliminate random mass murders, but it will stop some…we just won’t know about them ...ah...cause they didn't happen.
The preceding was the opinion of a cranky old man and not necessarily that of management...Mrs. Cranky.
Once again you make sense with your rational assessment of this painful situation. Assault rifles and guns with clips designed to kill as many people as possible in the shortest time possible are not necessary for hunting or defense. America has always been a violent society but we can certainly make it safer by seeing to it that we have decent mental health care in this country and guns remain in the hands of only those qualified to have them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with stricter regulations to get guns.
ReplyDeletebetty
C'mon Cranky, you know the only thing keeping THEM from taking over is us and our assault rifles.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need to do is take care of our mentally ill. They were let out of the institutions and are roaming the streets. The jails and prisons now seem to be responsible for them and they aren't able to handle that. It's the mental health issue that needs to be addressed and then this senseless killing wouldn't be such an issue.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ☺
You're making sense again, Joe--watch it!!
ReplyDeleteAgree with everything you said!
ReplyDeletei hate that semi-auto rifles are legal for anyone to own. many of my neighbors (i call them collectively 'the militia') own them and pop them off repeatedly (pun intended.)
ReplyDeleteAs someone who does like to target shoot on occasion (although rarely any more, i just don't have time), i agree. Only those who can show they know what they are doing and know that you don't point a weapon at anyone should be able to buy them. And the old Western antique guns my husband collects are properly locked up in a safe.
ReplyDeleteI'll hunt for food, but I do not understand the people who go shooting "for sport." Like you're shooting something in the face for no reason other than you want it's head on your wall?? I feel like there's maybe there's some wrong with those people.
ReplyDeleteI like antique rifles, but alas, while I'm still under mumsy's roof, I am forbidden from owning firearms. Probably a good thing, as I am the sort of white trash who would accumulate an enormous amount of guns in a very short time...
I could have written your entire post! Totally agree with you.
ReplyDeleteJoe, you make as much sense as anyone I've ever heard or read. Good work!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I live far away from America, wouldn't want to get accidentally hit by a stray bullet.
ReplyDeleteGotta agree with you on this one Joe. Your logic is sound.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I keep hoping that something will change the minds of one or two NRA people, one or two members of Congress. I thought the Sandy Hook horror would do the job, but even that didn't move the dial.
ReplyDelete