When it comes to the Second Amendment, gun rights, and gun control everyone seems to have a fervent opinion. Usually the argument heard on the left is by those who want a peaceful America and that conservatives who wield guns are in favor of shooting people. And again, the bias on the right is that the government is slowly taking away citizens' American right to own and use a gun and that liberals are living in a fantasy world of no crime. This is a touchy issue because of the multiple campus shootings and muggings and I used to be in favor of gun control. But, by learning all of the disturbing, yet accurate, facts, I have since educated myself with the whole story.
First of all, in a non-violence based argument, guns aid Americans in our most basic need of food. Let's face it, Americans eat meat. And a lot of it. We will not suddenly change and become vegetarians. We need guns to hunt animals for venison. Hunters do not revel in killing animals, it is their livelihood. The hunters aren't soulless people that kill them for sport. They must eat, and to eat, they must hunt.
I doubt any native Americans were ever on trial for their killing of helpless and defenseless bison or buffalo. No, they had to hunt or they would starve. And in today's market of highly processed unidentifiable food, killing animals seems hurtful and mean. The most logical alternative to killing animals is to eat the processed junk that we churn out from factories. But, most of the food we eat from a fast food place is more harmful than if we ate it out of a garbage can.
Most of the information about gun control does not show that the people fighting for this right are those who are properly trained. All we ever see in defense of gun rights are gun toting, cowboy hat-wearing, country bumpkins. But those in favor this right, are often informed, intelligent citizens. If people are worried about those who have conceal and carry weapons, don't worry, these people aren't there to play cop. They are trained for a reason. They won't take the law into their own hands and suddenly go on a shooting spree of anyone they deem a criminal. They take this responsibility seriously and make themselves knowledgeable in terms of gun usage. Gun control would make those who are knowledgeable on the subject of guns yield to the ban, while the maniacs who actually do want to commit murder and violent attacks, would find a way to obtain a weapon illegally.
Because of the select few who choose to mistreat handguns and automatic weapons, people are forced to take action so that no further damage or killing is committed. Think of the campus shootings at Virginia Tech or Columbine. If there had been one person there with a conceal and carry license willing to stop the gunmen, much less devastation would have occurred. Often the ruling is that if there had been more gun control, these maniacs wouldn't have had the option of a school shooting, but this is false. If they truly are hell bent on inflicting so much pain and destruction, they will obtain the weapons necessary to their plan. But there can be a solution: conceal and carry. If those who can use a gun and stop these nut jobs that illegally acquire these semi-automatic weapons or handguns, they should. And words can only go so far, and are sometimes even futile.
If guns make murder easy, why does it take so much training to learn how to shoot and use it properly? Often society is not taught to fight violence with more violence. But when the first onslaught of violence is irrational, words will not cut it. If someone can physically take action, they should. A self-defense killing is not considered murder because they are protecting their life, not going off on a killing spree.
In two hypothetical situations, one where you and another are unarmed and are confronted by a criminal and another when one of you is armed and are confronted, which one would you be more willing to place yourself in? Obviously if you can defend yourself against murder, you can and should. But if that right of yours is taken away, you could be placed in such a situation where there is no hope or help.
People opposed to gun rights claim they do so because they don't support killing machines and we must strive for a more peaceful country. However with this logic in place, we should make cars illegal too. Think of all the damage accidents cause. A gun is a controlled piece of weaponry, but we allow any 16 year-old with adolescent judgement to be behind the wheel. If this is the kind of reason and judgement we find in our society today, it is extremely flawed.
Most of us wish that the world where school and campus shootings, murders, and violence do not exist, but it is not that simple. Living in a bubble of a utopian society where there is no violence is only being ignorant to the problem. If we are presented with the facts and they continue to point to this obvious solution, how much longer can the world ignore the truth?
Having the alarming, yet true facts will lead people to realize that the correct conclusion is one where those who are trained to carry guns, should. The only way to rid the world of these evil, sadistic killers is to be sure those who are properly equipped to use such a weapon have the means to do so. I admire those who truly believe in peace and an attainable utopia, but if we don't concern ourselves with the truth and adjust accordingly, others will be subject to the dangers of lunatics in their own community. Do not believe that we have to live in fear because of the jarring reality of today, believe that we have the right to arm ourselves in case that reality rears its ugly head tomorrow.
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