I really want a Corvette. I have really wanted one ever since I can remember. I know there are people out there who would think "Why does anyone need a car like that?" Or "Nobody needs a car that goes that fast." Or even "Someone could steal and lose control of a car like that and hit a bus and kill 20 kids." True. But still. I am a law abiding citizen, and I really want one.
After the horrible atrocity that occurred in Newtown Connecticut in our recent past, I was sure "gun control" would come front and center, and in very short fashion. And it has.
Why is it, I ask, that the guys who were smart enough to write the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, - the Articles, suddenly became brain-dead when it came to the Amendment that they all found so important (only after Freedom of Speech, Religion etc.) to make it the SECOND Amendment? Why were they so totally off the mark on this?
It always amazes me that most of the public would have an absolute fit if we tried to alter or abridge the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 13th, or 20th Amendment, but don't have any problem at all with destroying or at least dismantling the 2nd Amendment. Here's a question; If we don't have any weapons, how are we supposed to organize and arm a militia? And who pray tell do we think we will be organizing this militia against? Squirrels? Deer? No, dear readers, the cops. The military. That's who our Founding Fathers wanted us to be ready to take on. Please, let me refer you to The Battle of Athens (Tennessee 1946). I don't think the Founding Fathers cared how advanced the technology became, I believe they expected us, as good citizens, to keep up. When the cops and the military give up 30 round clips, we will too.
I teach a class on cognitive restructuring to prisoners called "Thinking For A Change". In it, the main thrust of the class is to make them understand that whenever they make a decision based on emotion, it is always, always, always the wrong one. And now that's what Congress and the Country is doing. They are making decisions based on emotion. And guess what? These decisions are the wrong ones.
The big problem with gun control legislation is that it only affects law-abiding citizens. See, not to be condescending, but criminals don't obey the law. That's why they are criminals. So only criminals will have assault rifles. Except not. Because there are already hundreds of thousands of them out there, and the mere talk of this kind of legislation has fueled the sale of hundreds of thousands more. I work with people that didn't have any a month ago, but now own two.
The school in Newtown CT was "gun free zone." Essentially there was already a gun law in affect there. But the criminal didn't obey the law. The law-abiding citizens in there did and were helpless. And ever notice that well over half the time these whack-jobs pick spots where they are relatively certain they won't meet any armed resistance? Shopping Malls, theaters, schools, and Churches, all seem to be favorite spots for the wing-nuts. Because they like the fact that they can shoot and they don't have to worry about return fire. In Michigan there are many places where licensed concealed weapons carriers cannot carry.
What about more background checks? Why? And what will that prove? With the possible exception of the Gabby Gifford shooter and the Colorado Theater shooter, most of these wing-nuts would easily pass a background check. The military base shooter was a Psychologist for crying out loud.
Limiting clip size is another case of legislators who don't understand basic weaponry passing laws about it. Like with any clip, one just takes two of them and duct tapes them together. With practice and adeptness one can smoothly reverse the clip in under a second. For that matter, most experienced shooters can change to a new clip in a little over a second. Furthermore, what legislators might want to consider is that by eliminating assault rifles they may be making things a bit more dangerous. If these kooks can't get an assault rifle and opt for a shotgun, God help up all. Many people are under the impression that assault rifles are the most deadly thing out there. Not even close. If the shooter in Newtown would have taken the right shotgun with double-aught buckshot, there would have been no survivors at all in that school. He might've taken out every living soul on the entire block.
So maybe having people in the school armed is not such a bad idea. I don't mean teachers should be in front of the class with a side arm on. But how about a built in reinforced lock box in a drawer of their desk? This could be on a volunteer basis, and the key could be kept on their person at all times. In the event they hear shooting, and pandemonium outside of their class room, they may be able to save some children. They would be properly trained and would have to take the weapon home each night.
People often say "Is that the kind of America you want to live in? Where teachers, administrators and others have weapons?" My answer is no. I want it to be Mayberry everywhere. But sadly, it isn't. Life isn't what we wish it was. There are always going to be crazy people. But because there are, the rest of the entire population shouldn't be punished or denied rights.
And just as aggravating are the right-wingers that hear the President say he may issue an executive order that calls for more vigorous enforcement of existing laws and then they start screaming "He wants to take our guns!" Where does that come from? Ironically, the President is a proponent of the Second Amendment according to one of his Harvard professors. By Executive Order he can call for the more vigorous enforcement, and he can call for more sophisticated background checks. Big deal. But as far as banning assault weapons or clip size, that will have to go through the House of Representatives aka the Republican Party. Let's see how that goes...how they vote for it and then spin it back on the President.
I think it's time to buy a gun. And by the way the new corvette can attain speeds to 190 miles per hour. Nobody needs to go that fast. But I want one. I may want to hurry down to Tennessee to learn more about The Battle of Athens. Maybe you should too.
