Reduce the Want, not the Right
Gun Control….I think we’re going about it the wrong way. The minute you try to take something away from someone the more they want it, even if they didn’t really want it in the first place. In the wake of the “Sandy Hook” tragedy, the issue of gun control comes front and center once again.
The fact is, as a country we will always be divided on this issue. I’m personally not a gun enthusiast BUT I do get the fascination many have over guns. Taking away a person’s right to purchase guns of any sort does not keep them out of the hands of criminals and the chance that a criminal’s prey may be carrying will however deter some criminal acts (note the words may and some).
But gun ownership is not the problem. The problem lies in the idealism attached to owning one. As long as we make gun ownership exciting, cool, and sexy, we will continue to feed the desire to own one, or two, or many more. So many people say they want peace, yet they are compelled to watch acts of violence on TV, Video Games and at the Movies. The truth is people love violence and the proof lies in the fact that promoting violence is a billion dollar industry.
Its crazy how many everyday citizens, most well educated professionals, have been stocking up on enough firepower to withstand a massive attack on their homes and communities. It’s scary that people actually believe they need these weapons in order to insure their own personal safety and the safety of their families. Of course I believe if you are convinced of something strong enough, you will bring it upon yourself. If you build it, they will come. So for that reason, I’m sad to see this trend continue. Just today on the internet I read a story about people buying their children armored backpacks. I have two issues with this. One…it’s the best way to increase fear in your child and two…their backpacks are heavy enough, ten years from now they’ll all have back problems. Come on, let’s find a better way.
I don’t have an opinion on gun ownership being right or wrong. I also don’t think our fascination with them will go away any time soon. But I do think Anti-Gun Laws and propaganda is a waste of time and resources. Better to focus our resources on taking the glamour out of gun ownership and war games. Show the real truth about the mental anguish people who have been trained to actually be in violent situations go through. Then put energy and resources into showing ransom acts of kindness and its ripple effects. A person shouldn’t have to search far and wide to find people doing and acting their best.
Local and World News can play a big part in this transition by dedicating more time to positive acts and brief snippets of negative, giving the public options to get more information if desired. We shouldn’t be automatically and repeatedly bombarded with negative news, and then hear complaints that the public is desensitized to violence. News is news. Negative news fills the audience with despair; positive news fills the audience with hope. Which do you want to be responsible for?
Removing the glamour surrounding gun violence and fostering hope over fear will act to reduce the want and perceived need for guns, thereby keeping the right to bear arms in tack. This may not solve the problems that lead to tragic acts, but it is a start in the right direction.
