Why the same old gun-control answers aren’t comforting
As the father of two small boys, I’m as haunted by last week’s massacre in Newtown, Conn., as anyone who didn’t know personally the victims or their killer.
I have the same fears as all parents anticipating the long, potentially treacherous path ahead of their children in this broken world of ours. My fears are only multiplied by my doubts there are many real options for thwarting future slayings in other unsuspecting towns.
The two primary questions we ask after mass killings are: Why do some people act so heinously? And how can we keep others from doing so?
The first question invariably draws answers like: madness, isolation, social awkwardness or marginalization, familial dysfunction, a craving for fame (or infamy), the prevalence of violence in our popular culture, and evil pure and simple.
The second question typically brings suggestions for treating these mental illnesses and social failures. That, and gun control.
Guns typically don’t make the list of answers to “why,” only to “how.” They are but one means for mass killings — albeit the most common one — not a motivation. Yet, guns become our central focus in times like these.
I understand the impulse. How do we begin to treat the mad, and especially people, such as the Newtown killer, with only mild disorders? As important as it is for us to attempt to rebuild the American family, can we wait the years or perhaps generations such an endeavor might consume, when another mass killing could happen today? How, within the bounds of constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression, does one dial back the violence found in our movies, TV shows, video games and even music?
Whatever a killer’s motivation, guns seem to be his means of choice. Better to address that, right?
As keenly interested as I am in preventing the next mass public shooting, I see little reason to find comfort in gun control.
Consider the high school rampage in Columbine, Colo. The year was 1999, amid a decade-long ban on “assault weapons,” those firearms defined by nothing more than the minds of legislators who drafted the ban on them. (Indeed, the main characteristic common to the weapons banned then seems to be the likelihood one might have seen a similar weapon in a shoot-em-up, kill-em-up movie — an implicit nod to the overriding impact of our entertainment culture.)
One of the Columbine killers was armed with a pump-action shotgun (not exactly a semiautomatic weapon) he fired 25 times. He also fired 96 rounds from a 9-mm carbine while using 10-round magazines — the limit of choice for those who say 30-round magazines are the problem.
When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced his ban on sugary soft drinks larger than 16 oz., most observers recognized the folly of limiting the size of one drink when a person could simply buy two or more of them. Does no one else find it similarly illogical to think a person bent on mass murder won’t just carry multiple weapons with smaller mags, or that lives will be saved in the few seconds it would take an experienced gun handler to change magazines?
I raise these objections not to defend specific weapons or magazines with any number of bullets. Neither I nor anyone I know owns an “assault weapon” (as far as I know), and I have no particular affinity for bullets that come in sets of 20 or 30 or 40 rather than 10. While I generally support gun-ownership rights, I’m open to practical suggestions that can reasonably square with the Second Amendment.
Nor do I think the situation is hopeless, or as good as it gets. I do think we can make our communities safer. But I think the most effective solutions will be less comfortable — such as asking when it’s OK to invade the privacy of those who are dangerously mentally ill — and more expensive — such as ensuring there are armed guards or designated weapons-carrying citizens even at schools and other “gun-free zones” — than merely banning particular weapons and ammunition.
The lives of innocents deserve the fullness of our thought and attention, not old ideas that have been sitting on the shelf, waiting for a crisis.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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457 comments Add your comment
JamVet
December 21st, 2012
9:21 am
Poor Johnny Boner, can’t even keep his own fiscally irresponsible miscreants in line anymore.
The Mayans were not altogether correct; Dec. 12. 2012 is not the end of the world, just the end of the GOP as a relevant political party in this country.
Between getting stomped at the polls and now more self-inflicted ineptitude, these are gawdawful times for America’s fake conservatives.
Given what is ahead of them, maybe they should pray for the end…
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:22 am
What happened in the Clackamas mall shooting? A bystander with a carry permit showed his pistol and the shooting stopped. Well, except for that last round when the shooter took himself out.
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:23 am
lil Barry, I don’t think so. The average citizen would have just started shooting and there would have been alot more dead people and more confusion. Do we want to live Somalia where we have to wear body armor during our commute to work and to school?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
9:23 am
If everybody in the theater had a revolver, there’d be far less idle chatter from the nitwits.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:24 am
Rob L.: Why does the average American citizen need one?
—————-
Is there anything in your house you don’t need? Why so you have it?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 21st, 2012
9:25 am
“Why does the average American citizen need one?”
Hyperbole much, Rob L.?
The average American citizen doesn’t “need” military style weapons. The average American citizen doesn’t even want them.
I suggest you stop the rhetoric and stick to facts.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:25 am
Rob L.: The average citizen would have just started shooting and there would have been alot more dead people
——————-
Didn’t happen in Clackamas. It shouldn’t be any problem for you to give us an example or two of when it did happen.
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:27 am
Lil Barry,
You still did not answer the question!
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:30 am
It hasn’t happened because we don’t allow weapons in these public places. So you proved my point, thanks!
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
9:30 am
So let’s recap – yesterday John Boehner was a neanderthal because of his budget proposal and today the Republicans who told him to shove his budget proposal are the neanderthals.
Must be some deep thinking going on in the bowels of liberalism, uh huh.
ClydeFr0g
December 21st, 2012
9:34 am
Rob L., you obviously skipped the first 8 or so pages of this thread because that question was already answered many times.
The fact that you even need to ask it shows your lack of knowledge about why the Second Amendment exists and why the Founding Fathers were concerned enough about the issue to even include it at all. Do some reading, Rob…read a bit about history, government, current affairs in other countries…hell, at least read the first 8 pages of the conversation you chose to engage….
Don Abernethy
December 21st, 2012
9:34 am
The Japanese were afraid of attacking our main land with troops because they had heard of how well armed the citizens were. One way to assure that no President can ever become a dictator and overwhelm his opponents in this country is to always be sure the citizens are well armed.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:38 am
Rob L.: Do we want to live Somalia where we have to wear body armor during our commute to work and to school?
———————-
Oops, sorry, I thought it was a rhetorical question.
No.
And I already live in a country with more guns and high-capacity magazines than Somalia and feel no need whatsoever to wear body armor. Well, unless I’m riding MARTA.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:40 am
Rob L.: It hasn’t happened because we don’t allow weapons in these public places. So you proved my point, thanks!
————————
The only thing that’s been proven is that you aren’t familiar with the law.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:41 am
And Rob, you didn’t answer MY question. Is there anything in your house you don’t “need”. And if so, why do you have it.
Not that it’s any of my business, but since you seem so insistent on sticking your nose into mine…
JamVet
December 21st, 2012
9:42 am
Neanderthal economics, yes indeed.
It suits their overall “intellect” out there on the lunatic fringe.
i.e., stuck on suck up, trickle down stupid…
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:44 am
I believe we have the right to have weapons, I have 4 myself but we do not need military style weapons in the hands of untrained individuals. We do not need high capacity magazine so readily available. I have not once said I was against the second amendment, I’m against certain types of weapons and weapons systems being available to the public! I read alot of history and stay current on current events, we are becoming a fear driven society because certain people scream louder than others and that alone will spell the end to our great county
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
9:47 am
So we offer Pelosi’s budget proposal as ours, get castigated for it, and when we reject it, we get castigated for that.
The bowels rumble, like always.
ew
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:48 am
lil barry,
Stop living in fear! I ride the MARTA and never have felt nervous, I engage people who do not look or think like me! Open your mind!
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:48 am
So you’re not going to answer my question?
commoncents
December 21st, 2012
9:49 am
Too many of you are willing to give up too much for some perceived notion of security, that can’t possibly be guaranteed.
Guns are dangerous.
Cars are dangerous.
Pools are dangerous.
The sun is dangerous.
Fulton Industrial is dangerous.
Personally, I feel much safer in my neighborhood knowing that all of my immediate neighbors own firearms.
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:50 am
I got to go have lunch with my beatiful wife and I will be catching the MARTA downtown, I live in Fayette county. I won’t be packing and I will choose not to live in fear because fear alone will ruin us!
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
9:50 am
The latest massacre occurred in a gun free zone in a state that has a ban on “assault” rifles and what ideas do the liberals have for us?
What’s the definition of insanity?
curious
December 21st, 2012
9:52 am
The NRA is going to propose some “meaningful” ideas on how to prevent this from happening again.
I hope they are as good as Donald Trump’s big news before the election.
Next thing we know Lil Barry will change his Name to OBAMAGUN.
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:55 am
I am heading to Texas after Christmas to hunt with my father and I still have no need for that AK47 or M4! Have a very merry Christmas and may God bless all of your families, keep us all safe, and allow us to have a decent conversation as our Nation moves ahead!
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
December 21st, 2012
9:57 am
Rob didn’t want to answer my question because he didn’t want to help illustrate that there isn’t any requirement that someone “need” something in order to have it. We all have things we don’t “need” for any number of reasons, and it isn’t anyone else’s business.
Guess who doesn’t have stuff they don’t “need”? Folks who live in progressive paradises…the old Soviet Union, Cuba, much of Africa.
td
December 21st, 2012
9:58 am
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
9:12 am
What you believe or feel my friend and what was the real intent of the 2nd Amendment is two different things. I suggest you do a little more research and get back to us when you have your facts straight.
Lt Dan
December 21st, 2012
10:01 am
Two Points:
1) I have an AR-15 style rifle because that is what I was trained to use and carried for 20+ years in the service. It is my rifle of choice and when I am not using it, it is locked in a gun-safe.
2) I find it ironic that the government that saw fit to have military grade weapons wind up in the hands of criminals in Mexico but that same government is probably going to be looking into placing restrictions on legal semi-automatics here?
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
10:01 am
TD, I understant the fear of our country being taken over by a dictator or the government and I believe an armed populace can prevent that, but we do not need military style weapons to deter that from happening! I believe you might be a bit to fearful my friend!
td
December 21st, 2012
10:03 am
JamVet
December 21st, 2012
9:42 am
Neanderthal economics, yes indeed.
It suits their overall “intellect” out there on the lunatic fringe.
i.e., stuck on suck up, trickle down stupid…
If we taxed the top 5% of income earners at 50% would we balance our budget?
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
10:04 am
What publications and what books do most of you read? I would like to know because I will read them to better understand your perspective. Thanks, Rob L
td
December 21st, 2012
10:07 am
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
10:01 am
TD, I understant the fear of our country being taken over by a dictator or the government and I believe an armed populace can prevent that, but we do not need military style weapons to deter that from happening! I believe you might be a bit to fearful my friend!
The weapon used by the killer last week was not a military weapon. The military has a weapon called the m-16 that is not allowed to be owned by the average citizen unless you have a special license, The AR-15 is a civilian weapon.
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
10:09 am
Yes, but it is a military style weapon! I just don’t see the need for these weapons to be sold on the open market!
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
10:19 am
Pope says future of mankind at stake over gay marriage
“The question of the family … is the question of what it means to be a man, and what it is necessary to do to be true men,” he said.
Decent and moral people are all Catholics today.
Rafe Hollister preparing for an Obamanist America
December 21st, 2012
10:23 am
Rob
You don’t need a microwave, you got by without it for years, but you have a right to own one.
No, you personally may not need an AR-15, but you have a right to own one.
I had rather have one and not need it, that not have one and need it. I understand the Korean grocers used their AR-15’s to keep their stores from being burned during the LA riots. The other stores burned to the ground.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 21st, 2012
10:27 am
I’m not a Catholic, and I’m incredibly decent and moral, Aesop.
So you’re very, very wrong in your statement.
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
10:29 am
This is who Rob L is: I believe that people who get Government assistance should have to do some kind of volunteering in their communities, I believe that we should legalize Marajuana, I believe that parents should be held more responsible for their children, I don’t believe we need assualt weapons sold to the public, and I believe the Jesus Christ is my Savior!
I say all that to remind everyone that we don’t need to be put in Rebulican or Democrat box. We can have some of the same values and some different ones, but we must all work together to make our country a better place for ourselves and our children!
Rob Lopez
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
10:32 am
Yes, Tibs, morality is in the eyes of the beholder, we got it.
MarkV
December 21st, 2012
10:33 am
The discussion of gun ownership/control on this blog as a microcosm of the society (hopefully not an accurate one) is hardly a reason for hope. The US has a combination of the highest rate of firearm ownership of all countries of the world, homicide rate higher than just about any developed country, and an extremely high rate of homicides perpetrated by firearms, but there are still those who believe that more guns would mean less killing. According to some of them, it is not the guns, it is the mental illness of those doing the shooting – which surely cannot be the case, since about the same people who argue that also claim that the US has the best health care in the world. And after they display their manhood by boasting about the high-performance guns they own, at least some of them claim the need of those guns for hunting, probably of those armored deer with machine guns.
And what is their recipe to prevent school gun killings? Wholesale arming of teachers! Which would certainly work until some kids get hold of those guns and have a little shootout of their own (just like they get hold of guns in homes), or a teacher snaps and uses the gun to get some order in the classroom.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 21st, 2012
10:37 am
Rob L. is a guy who overuses the exclamation point.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 21st, 2012
10:38 am
“And what is their recipe to prevent school gun killings? Wholesale arming of teachers!”
Not intended to be a factual statement.
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
10:39 am
Tib,
Thanks, our we so petty to point out such minor stuff? Just asking.
carlosgvv
December 21st, 2012
10:40 am
Marko – 5:09
Yes. That and other problems.
Unfortunately, most of them are either too dumb or too proud to take Viagra, so they rely on “the big iron” instead.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 21st, 2012
10:41 am
Aesop, if only you had the same level of belief in the entire U.S. Constitution as you do the 2nd Amendment, you’d be on your way to better understanding.
Unfortunately, you like to pick and choose which parts you agree with, just like a typical lib on this blog.
In that regard, you’re not much different from them.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 21st, 2012
10:44 am
No, Rob L., I’ve already pointed out the substantial flaw in your selective reasoning, but use of the exclamation point at the end of every sentence pretty much destroys any attempt to emphasize a point, when all such points are given the same emphasis.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
10:44 am
Freedom to practice religion, Tibs?
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
10:46 am
By the way, since it was brought up for some weird reason, besides me, who’s man enough not to need Viagra?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
December 21st, 2012
10:48 am
Equal protection under the LAW, Aesop.
If your religion doesn’t want to sanction gay marriage, that’s their right.
But the State has no such religious restrictions, and therefore has no right to decide which consenting adults wish to marry.
It’s called equality, Aesop. You may not like it, but that’s not your call in a free society.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
December 21st, 2012
10:56 am
Tibs – #1, I practiced my religion and you interfered with it.
#2, if I consented to you killing me, would that make it legal?
#3, marriage, in the days the Constitution was written, has the sole function of recognizing the bond between a man and a woman as a legal contract.
Who’s the lib here?
Rob L.
December 21st, 2012
10:59 am
Tib,
It’s obvious that you are the most educated person on this blog, but it might help your reasoning to stop reading so many books and get out at see the real world not your higher than thou world. I will pray for you and hope you can forgive me as I have forgive you for thinking I’m not as smart as you.