Like 90% of Americans, I was disappointed when Senate failed to pass the bill that would require stricter background checks before someone could purchase a gun. It is no secret that I am for stricter gun control. I've shared my thoughts before and won't hash that out again. I do realize how unrealistic it is to think that we can be a nation where only properly trained military and law enforcement have access to assault weapons. I am willing to compromise. How about if we make it next to impossible for untrained, mentally ill individuals to legally purchase these weapons? Case in point--6 years ago, the Virginia Tech gunman was able to legally purchase not one, but two semiautomatic weapons--less than 3 months after being discharged from a psychiatric unit, where he'd been treated for bipolar disorder (possibly borderline personality disorder). A week later, 32 people died.
Or, how about this? In 2010, my son's 2nd grade friend and her family were murdered by her father (before he shot himself) with a gun he got a gun show without any background check at all.
Not enough? Well, in April 1998 (15 years now....I can't even believe it), a good friend of mine--a 21-year-old recovering drug addict with bipolar disorder, was in a manic state when he legally bought a gun in Rhode Island. At the time, he lived in Boston and was attending Boston College. He was 2 months away from graduating with a degree in music. But, his girlfriend broke up with him, which made him spiral quickly from a manic state to a depressed state. He went back to self-medicating with elicit drugs. On the night before Easter 1998, he shot himself.
And that is when the gun debate started for me. 9/11 hadn't happened yet. Columbine hadn't happened yet. But, it got me wondering how it came to pass that my friend could just walk into a store, flash his ID, and buy a gun. I knew about the 2nd amendment but had no idea how many Americans actually owned guns. And it was several years before I understood how little restriction there was to buying a gun in our country. And, when I did, I was shocked. And angry. Columbine had happened by this time. And a few other mass shootings, as well as 9/11. It seemed maddening to me that a country would allow this to keep happening. And then, it all just kept happening. Not a year would pass after 2001 where we didn't hear of some sort of tragic mass shooting---many of them in schools, where innocent children were murdered.
So, yes, I am a supporter of much stricter gun control. And nothing anyone says about the 2nd amendment will change my mind. (Although, I fully support you owning a musket. Own all the muskets you want. After all, those were the only guns back when the amendment was written). Just like I know nothing I say will change the gun toters' minds. Columbine didn't. The Tucson shooting didn't. The Amish school shooting didn't. The Aurora shooting didn't. The Sandy Hook shooting didn't. THIS certainly won't. I honestly don't know what will. I just pray that it doesn't take the violent gun death of someone they love to change their minds....
And, now, a little comic relief, with a very vaild point.
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