Since I’m a “leftist-peace-loving-liberal-socialist-commie hippie” who is also pro-gun…I often get asked by my more conservative friends my opinion on the gun debate. I’m going to weigh in on my blog. And I welcome any discussion (here or on Facebook) as long as there is no name-calling and bashing of beliefs. I won’t tolerate it here. This is my little living room on the web and I would love to have a discussion, but it better be respectful.

1.  How can you be for “gun control” and be pro-gun? The 2nd amendment gives us the freedom and the right to bear arms.

The 2nd Amendment 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.”  A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA.  Even the founding fathers believed in regulations. If the American government gets “too big” are you going to form your own army  attack the White House? I think that’s such a cop-out argument. We are so much more civilized than in colonial times. We are not a Theocracy or Dictatorship. We stop the government from getting “too big” by civilized methods as a MAJORITY, not as angry villagers chasing the Frankenstein Monster away because they feel threatened.

Look at the number of mass shootings from 1982-2012.  

The assault-weapons ban existed for 10 years…1994-2004. During that time there were 246 people injured or killed by spree shooters.


When the ban was lifted, from 2005-2012 there were 448 people injured or killed by spree shooters.

Those numbers are why I believe we need stricter regulations on all guns, and that military-grade weaponry belong to military and law enforcement only.

2. But my freedoms are being limited if you limit high-capacity mags. 

I believe the right to bear arms does not mean military-grade weapons and I believe if the forefathers could see the future of weaponry, the amendment would read a little differently. If you’re going to be in a well-regulated militia, then fine, register your hicap mags and go. 

I believe all guns should be registered when purchased. I also think there should be gun insurance. And if you’re going to have military-grade weapons, you should be willing to purchase the insurance to cover any incidents caused by your weapon.  We regulate booze. We regulate cars. If someone drinks and drives, they get severely fined. Their insurance rates increase or they lose their driving privileges all together. They go to jail if they kill someone. Stricter regulations may not be THE answer, but I do believe it is a start.

 3.  Bad guys are always going to find a way. Why should I give up my freedom as a law-abiding citizen because of the sins of few?

 Good grief. This isn’t giving up a freedom, it’s regulating something so we can continue to exercise our freedom safely. No individual NEEDS a high-cap mag weapon…unless they’re hunting humans. Sure they’re fun to shoot. I mean, hell yeah! what a rush! However, I don’t want that shit in my house and nobody else should, either. I think weed should be legal and regulated and taxed. The same goes for prostitution. And why not high-mag weapons? Or all guns for that matter? Let’s require registration and insurance. Let’s require mandatory background checks. Let’s make sure that someone who has had mental stability issues can’t get a hold of a gun legally. Did you know that the weapons used in both the Sikh Temple shooting and the Aurora movie theater shootings would have been illegal to purchase during the assault weapons ban? Could the shooters still have obtained those weapons illegally? Probably. However, it would have been much more difficult. And who knows, maybe if the ban were still in place, those shootings wouldn’t have happened. Or maybe there would have been fewer injured or killed. And THAT is something I think we should all want.

I take exception  to the “law abiding citizen being punished for the sins of few” argument. All laws are based on the sins of few. Are child molesters in the majority? Rapists? Laws and regulations are in place to help us punish those who step outside the box of the law. And there are enough incidences with hi-mag weapons (and other weapons) that I think we’re to the point that we need stricter regs. Marrying a 14 year old used to be okay. It used to be if a rapist married his victim, then the rape didn’t happen. Women couldn’t vote once upon a time…  I think gun laws can evolve to our current level of civility. 

4.  You don’t need your wine anymore than I need my hi-cap mags.

I would argue I need my wine..haha. Okay, fine. I don’t NEED my wine. However, my wine isn’t going to put a bullet or 20 into the head of an innocent victim. And my wine is regulated and taxed.
If we had stricter regulations and punishments on guns when kids accidentally shoot the wall or their brother or take grandpa’s gun to school…LIKE we do if a kid drinks a parent’s booze and steals a car, or steals the booze and gives it to their friends, then we would see a significant drop in these issues.

5. You have to be 21 and a non-felon to own a gun.

Yes. Unless you buy it from a gun show or a private citizen. Then it’s don’t ask, don’t tell. If I buy my kid booze, I get in big trouble for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. If you buy a gun from a private citizen and pay cash, no background check is done, no insurance or registration is required and it’s like that sale never happened.

ETA: 
 BTW, Ronald Reagan agreed with me:

May 3, 1994
To Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

We are writing to urge your support for a ban on the domestic manufacture of military-style assault weapons. This is a matter of vital importance to the public safety. Although assualt weapons account for less than 1% of the guns in circulation, they account for nearly 10% of the guns traced to crime.

Every major law enforcement organization in America and dozens of leading labor, medical, religious, civil rights and civic groups support such a ban. Most importantly, poll after poll shows that the American public overwhelmingly support a ban on assault weapons. A 1993 CNN/USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 77% of Americans support a ban on the manufacture, sale, and possession of semi-automatic assault guns, such as the AK-47.

The 1989 import ban resulted in an impressive 40% drop in imported assault weapons traced to crime between 1989 and 1991, but the killing continues. Last year, a killer armed with two TEC9s killed eight people at a San Francisco law firm and wounded several others. During the past five years, more than 40 law enforcement officers have been killed or wounded in the line of duty by an assault weapon.

While we recognize that assault weapon legislation will not stop all assault weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals. We urge you to listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of these weapons.

Sincerely,

Gerald R. Ford

Jimmy Carter

Ronald Reagan

Okay gang. I’m done for now. Heh. Just remember, if you decide to engage in a discussion, please be respectful of others. Nobody is right or wrong. It’s just opinion and this is not a black and white topic…