GUN CONTROL CAN’T BE AN ARMS RACE

I applaud the Advocate for not taking the heavy-handed approach in regards to recent events that some publications have.

That said, I feel the article about the firearms law debate and the Florida tragedy that sparked it missed two very important points: We are all in this together, and it isn’t a simple fix.

Everyone likes an easy answer to a problem and even more so, a villain to blame. The trouble with easy answers is they are rarely right. As for clear villains, they are often mere phantoms, or in truth, innocent of their supposed crimes. A social crisis such as what we now face can, and will be, made only worse by such oversimplifications.

The first thing we need to do to even start solving the problem at hand is going to be the hardest for many people. As I said, we are all in this together. Liberal; Conservative; Pro-Gun; Anti-Gun; and so on – these are just labels, and labels divide us. We are one people and we must acknowledge this fact. Once we do, we will be able to act as one and work towards a viable solution.

The second step is also going to be hard, as swallowing one’s pride and admitting ignorance is never easy. Too often, people settle for incomplete information and opinion masquerading as fact – somewhat understandable these days, with so much information being presented to us so rapidly. Still, we have to try. Knowledge is power and we will need such power if we are to make the changes needed.

As for the matter at hand, we are in both old and unexplored territory. The firearms law debate is one that flares up from time-to-time, more often than not, after a tragedy. It is an old and very loaded one, but we have an opportunity here to do something new. Instead of making it “us vs. them” and “all or nothing,” we can meet each other halfway. We can come together to find a solution that doesn’t alienate our friends and neighbors but benefits the nation as a whole. It’ll require restrictions, but also allowances.

Some propositions are good places to start; others are obvious false leads which will do us no good. Take, for example, the proposed raising of the legal age to buy firearms. It’s hypocritical, as we already have men and women bearing arms for their country at the age of 18.

Another more promising option is more-through background checks and measures to encourage inter-agency and interstate cooperation that would help keep arms from dangerous individuals by making a deeper pool of information for background checks to draw from.

These are just the tip of the iceberg. There are may other options being offered and more that no one has yet thought of. Regardless of their source or how they might sound, each should be given the same consideration. We have to preserve our rights, but we also must ensure the safety of our fellow Americans as best we can.

In closing, I’ll say it again: Only together and with the fullest understanding possible can we prevent further tragedy. I want everyone to remember that no problem worth solving is ever easy but the reward is always made so much sweeter by the effort.

Stay strong, everyone, and stand together.

Advocate Staff