Do we love our guns more than our children?

[billh58]

- Snip -

I am tired of living in a cycle where we choose our own trauma and violence over solutions. I am furious at politicians who accept money and then cower before the gun lobby. I am furious that a few loudmouthed interest groups force the rest of us to raise generations of children in fear. I am furious that we do not have adequate mental health services for people in need. I am furious that we are not demanding more of our politicians and more of ourselves. I am tired of treating white male domestic-abusers who massacre people as some kind of unsolvable problem. I can only believe that for now at least, we are a country who keeps loving our guns more than we love our children.

Personally, I've begun to feel that my Second Amendment rights are being violated. I was promised the right to a well-regulated militia, and instead I see a nation that falls victim, week after week, body after body, to a series of unstable people with elaborately hoarded arsenals. I am absolutely sure our founders would be appalled. I am absolutely sure that our founders would not wish that we run out and buy even more guns because of it.

This is a country of hunters and sportsmen, my family included. I cannot foresee an America without guns. I can imagine an America, though, where we act as if our children's lives are worth more than our guns, where we decide that we can no longer tolerate living within a raging epidemic of violence. I can imagine an America where we worry more that a domestic abuser will get a gun and kill someone than we worry about the brief annoyance of a background check. I can imagine an America where we don't imagine we need guns in churches, schools, or Starbucks, national parks.

Thirty years ago, I walked off a field alive. Far too many American children have not been so lucky. It should not be luck. We should be confident in our daily peace. There should be no unsafe person drills here.

https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/18/opinions/guns-children-taylor-opinion/index.html

CNN opinion piece from last year, but captures the fallacy of the "Second Amendment solution" and our national gun problem very well.

[guillaumeb]

1. This idea that millions of gun owners "need" their guns is fear motivated nonsense.

The chances of being killed by a firearm are quite small, but millions have a perceived need for protection.

As to the hunters and sport shooters, they could still hunt even if their weapons were kept at a police station. No one decides to go hunting with an immediate need for access to their weapon.

And people living in houses with guns are far more likely to be injured and/or killed with a gun.

[billh58]

2. Absolutely correct!

Fear is the motive, and instant access to an easily operated deadly weapon which can be used from a distance provides an overabundance of opportunity to kill.

[guillaumeb]

3. And that fear leads to many millions being spent on weapons and ammunition.

And home alarm systems.

And the mainstream corporate media constantly makes crime stories the lead in what they call the news.

So what of the connection between the media and the weapons industry?

[billh58]

4. Modern day media

has transformed the Fourth Estate into something that the Founders would not recognize. There is no longer a public voice which advocates for the People, or holds the ruling powers accountable.

The weapons industry and its representatives (NRA, GOA) have been getting a pass from the press for decades, but hopefully grass roots gun control organizations are forcing a change in the relationship between mass media and the right-wing gun lobby.

[Sinistrous]

5. Sadly/Tragically,

there is a critical mass of spineless, powerless, delusional vermin who feel that their only path to a legitimate existence runs through the barrel of a gun. Hence, this minority views all attempts to control unfettered access to firearms as terrifying impediments to their futile groping for some semblance of personhood.

[dlk]

6. The "Need" for Guns is Largely Based on Selfishness and Getting One's Way