You may think I am straying out of my lane, but today I have decided to talk about guns. Gun talk is one of those “third rail” topics (those not familiar with that term should look up “subway” on Wikipedia). It is a passionate topic on both sides of the political spectrum; many writers don’t want fat guys with beards, in camouflage clothing, showing up outside their door armed to the teeth. The debate tends to get short shrift in the press. I am going to show courage and talk about the subject, right after I have identity-altering plastic surgery, change my name and passport, and find an undisclosed location to live. Really showing true grit. Let me lower my shades and get started.
Last week I received a text from a buddy of mine who won some medals for shooting in a Senior Olympics competition somewhere in Nevada. He is in his 80s and I am impressed with his ability. More power to him. By being involved in this shooting competition he was exercising his 2nd Amendment right to own a fire arm…or should I say the Supreme Court’s interpretation of his 2nd Amendment right.
The 2nd Amendment in our Constitution reads: “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.”
After reading that wording, one might conclude that if you want to bear arms, you first need to be part of a well regulated militia. Not a fringe group of backwood yahoos in Michigan who like playing Rambo, but a militia regulated by the government to provide protection from outside threats. The Supreme Court has seen otherwise and interpreted it as saying citizens may own guns, but at the same time they said the government has the right to regulate the ownership of said weapons.
We have to remember that when this amendment was written, the weapons that were available were one shot, muzzle loaders and pistols, many of them without rifling (a groove inside the barrel that helps the ball or bullet to go in a straight line), that weren’t terribly accurate, and took 15-20 seconds to reload. These weapons were used mostly for hunting so the owner could survive. Our founders couldn’t have imagined a weapon like an AR15 or an AK47 that can fire a clip of 30 rounds in 5 seconds. Of course the more rounds you can fire, the more rounds you will need to buy, and that could start getting expensive. Hopefully, for economy’s sake, whatever your goal is with your weapon, get it done with one shot. That is the opinion of this tight wad.
Target shooting has become a popular sport and is even in the Olympics, as long as you’re attached to a pair of skis and it is snowing. Isn’t that how everyone shoots?
It was never the desired purpose of guns to be relegated to target shooting. No one can dispute that guns were designed to kill. Kill game, kill enemies, kill intruders and kill time at a shooting range. A little gun humor there. I’m pretty sure it hit the target (My wife said enough with the bad dad jokes).
Many people want to know what my position on guns is. Am I for them or against them? My answer is a resounding YES. Whew, that was a stressful choice, but I am firm in my decision. Don’t try to change my mind, I’m too busy trying to decide what pair of shoes I should wear today. This may take hours.
What I am trying to say is that I see the value of the arguments from both sides. I can see people wanting guns to hunt, for sport, and to protect their home and property. I also agree that there are certain people who should never be let near a gun. Unfortunately considering how many mass shootings we have in this country, that isn’t happening soon. I also believe guns should be regulated. For all those folks who scream about their God given right to own a gun protected by the 2nd Amendment, I will scream just as loud about the part that says well regulated. Even our Founding Fathers knew that guns were dangerous and should be handled with care. Of course, proponents on both sides seem to forget about the actual language in the Amendment. One side would like all guns confiscated and destroyed while the others think they’re allowed to own any weapon of war all the way up to a fighter jet. Both opinions are faulty. Plus, hunting a deer with an F-22 is a bit of overkill and wouldn’t leave much venison for dinner.
I myself do not own a gun. I have fired a weapon when I was in the Army and successfully qualified with a rifle and pistol to earn my sharpshooter’s badge, several times. I just don’t care for guns for the simple reason that they’re loud and dangerous. Rather not have that in my house. Some may argue that by not having a gun in my house I am opening myself to dangerous intruders breaking into my house and killing me. Statistics are pretty clear that it is rare, I have a better chance of being eaten by a shark. I saw Jaws, having a gun wouldn’t have helped with the shark, unless he had a tank of air stuck in his mouth. Besides, looking at my neighbors, I’m pretty sure a couple of them have arsenals stashed in their houses and would be happy to come out shooting. That should be deterrent enough.
I was in Branson, Missouri this past summer and decided to pass on going to the Dolly Parton Wild West Show. Missouri is one of those proud, gun toting states and I was afraid that when the performers came riding out, firing their six shooters, the audience might return fire and I could get caught in the crossfire.
As for AR15s, I have fired them and have no interest in them. They are weapons of war. Anyone who says they’re for hunting is lying. I’ve seen the damage the bullet from an AR15 can do. I was a medic in the Army and saw plenty of film on those bullet wounds and met plenty of young men crippled by such weapons. Don’t want to see that happening in my neighborhood. As for debating the subject, I don’t negotiate with camo clad survivalists, with body armor on, and a semi-automatic rifle strapped to their chest. I don’t think I could disarm them with my clever wit.
I might be having a change of heart on this whole gun thing. I was thinking about compiling my own arsenal. Does the 2nd Amendment protect my right to own a salad shooter, caulking gun and a t-shirt cannon?
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