a sad state of affairs.....

For the past week I have been looking up the statistics on gun control and anything related to the issues of guns. Needless to say, I would have to live three lifetimes to get all the information out there, nevermind all the changing stats that come up everyday. It is an issue that many talk about, whether they are pro or con, and an issue that sparks loads of emotions for either side of the ballot for gun control. The subject also brings out some of the most diversified arguments for owning a gun I've ever seen.

Topping the list: the 2nd amendment. One cannot even bring up the issue of gun control without someone countering with a debate that it is "the right" of every man to bear arms. Without the 2nd amendment securely in place, our country would immediately resort to a Totalitarian state, and the government would then swoop in and take over the masses.... as did the Nazis against the Jews during the 1930's. Yeah, excuse me while I don't quite fall into that realm of thinking. Given the problems they are having in Washington, I hardly find that likely.... but it is a stand that gun-users use most often. Personally I think our government is doing more damage economically, and can't see their way out of a paper bag with both sides open.... but that's an argument for another day.

More statistics showed that even with programs in place to yank the guns off the streets, or programs in place for exchanges, it still did not reduce the numbers of crime all that much. Criminals were not the ones handing in the guns, as they hardly had any use of the $200.00 voucher from Target (as Massachusetts tried) to do so. Folks who participated in the exchange only went to the nearest Walmart and purchased a newer gun. So that program, although nice in it's efforts, goes unrewarded if someone really wants to carry a gun.

This brought up the issue of criminals being the only persons who would have guns, and how would one defend themselves in an attack? And here I found something very interesting. Polled in a prison (don't ask me which one, as I read so many articles on this, I just can't remember now), prisoners who used a gun to rob, kill, or rape said that they would not have had the kahunas to pull off a stunt IF they didn't have the gun in their hand in the first place. Some did admit that if they didn't have a gun, they could or would have used a knife.... they were just that hell-bent on the crime, but the majority of criminals preferred having a gun in their hand, as it empowered like nothing other.

And that is the whole thing in a nutshell: empowerment. For some reason you stand a better chance of warding off an attack if you had a gun of your own. After all, the playing field has evened up a bit, right? Ah, well, perhaps so.... but I still find that a sad state of affairs.
I am, and will always be anti-gun. I find no practical use for weapons, and find them destructive and counter-productive for a peaceful society. I find it hard for the United States to profess to the world that we are a "peace-loving society", when we have such a fascination with weapons.

Oh sure, I read all the arguments for reasons why we need to be toting guns.... go to wikipedia and they have them listed nicely. It still didn't change my mind.... it only made me sadder to think that the enemy was us.

In writing this post, I am not out to offend anyone who does have a legitimate license as well as education on how to handle and store a weapon. It is your private right to do as you please, after all, you are protected by the 2nd amendment on this issue. I only hope to never meet up with you when you are pissed off at the world in a moment of passion or despair, or in a moment when you are being robbed and I'm caught in the middle of the gunfire.

Too bad we don't live in a time when we could actually give peace a chance.