Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw)-Guest Blogger
We have discussed the thousands who have been killed by guns in this country on several occasions on Professor Turley’s blog and we have seen some of the same responses from both sides of the discussions about reasonable restrictions on gun ownership and use. Some say that any restriction on gun ownership, no matter how small, is a violation of their Second Amendment rights.
Some of those who are in favor of reasonable gun control measures, point to the sheer numbers of women and children and men who die each day due to senseless murders and sorrowful accidents. Emotional arguments and reasons have been offered by both sides of the discussion, but yet not a single worthwhile National gun control measure has become law and the killings and deaths continue unabated.
To my dismay and shock, not even the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, where 20 small school children and 6 staff members lost their lives to an arguably mentally ill shooter, produced any resulting legislation that could be argued offers some relief in the ever larger numbers of gun deaths.
While researching this article I had trouble finding articles written on this subject after April of 2013. There were many articles, including articles on this blog from December of 2012 through April of 2013, but very little since. In light of the dearth of media interest since April of this year, I am curious about what it will take for the United States of America to decide it is time to stop killing itself?
In June of this year, I did find one article that discussed how little had been done since Sandy Hook and the article argued that the number of gun deaths since Sandy Hook has continued unabated.
“In the first week after the Newtown, Conn., massacre on Dec. 14, more than 100 people in the U.S. were killed by guns. In the first seven weeks, that number had risen to at least 1,285 gunshot killings and accidental deaths. A little more than three months after Newtown, there have been 2,244. The Huffington Post has recorded every gun-involved murder and accidental shooting death reported in U.S. news media since Newtown, revealing an epidemic that shows no signs of abating. The horrors cannot be contained behind yellow police tape or find resolution in a courtroom. For the victim’s families, the grief deforms all it touches. There’s the fear that the radio will play her favorite ballad. An airplane overhead, like the kind he flew, will strike panic. Home is not safe. One month, two months, two years, nine years since those fatal shots — the grief never leaves.” Huffington Post
The Huffington Post article that I have linked to above, discusses several shootings over the years and the damage it has done to families of the decedent’s and how difficult it has been to cope with their respective losses. It is always hard to lose a loved one, but it seems that losing a loved one to gun violence, misuse or accident is especially hard to recover from.
My intention with this article is not to argue the plusses and minuses of gun control legislation and to instigate partisan arguments as to who has the better argument about why Americans seems obsessed with guns. My intention is to discuss when will Americans do something, anything, to reduce gun violence?
The killing of 20 little children produced a hue and cry around the country and indeed, around the world. However, legislation to possibly ameliorate this epidemic of gun killings never materialized. You may blame Congress and its inability to pass any legislation on any subject. You can blame gun owners and gun manufacturers for their alleged stubbornness to back substantive gun control measures. You can even blame the conditions in the inner cities that seem to breed violence on the streets.
I submit the blame belongs in the lap of every American citizen. This epidemic of gun killings can’t be attributed to just one cause or one political party. It can’t be blamed on just one gun manufacturer or gun lobbyist. Only the collective pressure from an engaged citizenry can produce enough political power to attack the problem on all fronts.
Getting into politician’s faces, gun lobbyists faces, gang members faces and yes, our children’s faces and engaging and educating all concerned that if we do not take a stand after so many deaths, when will we? It may take reasonable gun control legislation. It may take reeducating our young people and it may take increased job opportunities to reduce poverty and the despair that goes with poverty. But without all of us drawing the line and saying that this country will no longer accept needless deaths, the change will never happen.
Stand up in your communities and let your fellow townspeople and city councils know that nothing will stand in your way to reduce the epidemic of gun deaths in almost every community. Educate your children about the dangers of misusing or playing with guns and make locking up your guns a reality. Let your legislators know that mental illness can’t be ignored. What do you think you can do to reduce gun deaths?
Can gun control legislation help reduce the number of deaths? Can Second Amendment advocates cooperate with gun control proponents to find a reasonable, yet effective middle ground? Are there any amendments to the Constitution that could somehow help reduce the number of gun deaths? Can America actually look to other countries for examples of a better way to handle guns in a civilized society?
Let’s hear how you would resolve America’s penchant for shooting its own people! This is a “war” that we cannot afford to lose.
Nick, you’re right, no plastic sporks either for bill mcwilliams.
Bob Kauten, I need to take issue with your claim that people with serious mental illnesses can legally buy guns. People with serous mental illnesses cannot legally buy a gun. However from a practical perspective, this means that the state where they reside at the time they were involuntarily committed for over 30 days sends records to the BATFE for its blacklist. Most states do not at present. Even states with strict gun laws such as Maryland do not add these names to this federal blacklist. On the other hand, most people with serious mental illnesses are less prone to violence against others that the rest of society. The prohibition against gun ownership by people with mental illness is a reasonable “time, place and manner” restriction provided that anyone suffering from this legal disability is reviewed at their request to determine if their condition still merits this restriction and we differentiate between someone who was involuntarily hospitalized for anorexia and someone who what involuntarily hospitalized for Intermittent explosive disorder.
Thanks, Mac,
“I love the argument that you aren’t an adult unless you allow yourself to be treated like a child and led by the hand…..Brilliant!”
I’m glad you love what you say I said.
But then, I didn’t say that, did I? How disappointing, for both of us.
I think you said that. So you’re basically in love with your own rhetoric.
Oh, and “Homicides at historic levels nearly reaching lowest in 100 years…”
Nice try at diverting the subject. The sentence doesn’t make sense, by the way.
What’s the war on drugs got to do with this, again?
Homicide rates, and the war on drugs, are not the subject of this thread. Read the article. It’s about killings by guns.
Please try to stay focused.
As for further reducing violence in America…..Since 75% of all US homicides occur in minority communities adversely impact by the 40 plus year failed experiment called The War on Drugs, that would be a far better place to start than starting another failed ‘War on…..’.
I love the argument that you aren’t an adult unless you allow yourself to be treated like a child and led by the hand…..Brilliant!
Homicides at historic levels nearly reaching lowest in 100 years…..Accidents at historic lows…..Histrionics at historic highs.
rafflaw,
The responses to your article are exactly as I anticipated.
This thread illustrates why we can’t have gun control, and why we’ll just keep killing each other. The excuses never change.
The answer to your question:
“Can America actually look to other countries for examples of a better way to handle guns in a civilized society?”
Is “yes.” Civilized societies don’t have this problem. They include a reasonable percentage of adults.
But the U.S.A. is not a civilized society.
Most industrialized nations look upon us as violently insane adolescents.
They are correct.
Violently insane at home, and abroad.
Violently insane adolescents shouldn’t have access to guns.
In the U.S..A., curtailing access to firearms by the mentally ill, is “like handing out speeding tickets in the Indianapolis 500,” to grab a phrase from “Apocalypse Now.”
As most of the comments on this thread indicate, we’re unable to progress beyond an adolescent male fantasy mindset.
I’ve been there. I grew out of it.
Shortage of adults in the room, and on this thread.
I am not the one who is scared Oro. You are. You should keep that in mind.
The voucher idea has already scared one of them
Wishful thinking. I wonder how one could bring up the subject of gun control without it becoming a debate for or against tougher legislation. I believe the reason why the articles stopped is that, in April, new gun legislation failed. The news media interest in it went down faster than the new Health.gov Website. When the news media drops a topic, one can talk until they are blue in the face (to use a cliche), and no one will listen. Yes, the news media have a way of doing that – encouraging or diminishing specific, dining room conversation.
One issue I have with your opinion is where you said “…every American citizen is to blame.” I understand your intention, which I believe is that awareness and education are an effective preventive measure and that every American should get involved. However, that only works when an issue hits close to home. You certainly would not find me and my adult children discussing any politics at the kitchen table, because, unlike me, they have no interest in it at all. The last time I asked them if they read one of my latest articles, they looked at me with blank stares on their faces.
I do not own a gun. I never have, and maybe I never will, but I am one of those people who think the topic is important and should be addressed. This is plainly evident especially where mental illness is present, and one that seems to be responsible for a number of the latest “death by gun” incidences. I also think it is crucial to examine the proposals – to ensure that present and future gun owners are not having their civil rights violated for something they may have done 30-years ago. Where are the statute of limitations?
If we try to convince ourselves that there is a reasonable, and maybe an effective solution to stop people from killing with guns, then we have tricked ourselves into believing that human instincts, defects, emotions and shortcomings can be easily corrected or prevented by passing new laws. This is foolhardy and delusional thinking. Will the drunk behind the wheel stop driving intoxicated because someone told him it was wrong to do so? Will the drug dealer stop selling drugs because the law sent him to a drug awareness program? Look at the miles long list of repeat offenders to find the answer.
Widespread diminishing of weapons and access to them are short-term fixes that only increases the demand for them. If legislators create targeted and specific amendments to gun control legislation, then maybe you will have a fighting chance. Throwing the entire populace into a one-size fits all category, is unfair and an ineffective strategy.
Sometimes piecemeal politics is the only effective solution.
You are not smarter than everyone else. Just more arrogant.
If you do not like the 2nd, then MOVE.
Move to England or Canada. Otherwise shut up already. Because you are not putting your gd hands on the Bill of Rights. You keep pushing and pushing well guess what. We are about to push back. Then you will have no choice to move.
We have had the Bill of Rights for over 200 years. Its not time to change it. Its time for the people who want to change it to LEAVE.
Btw Oro Lee is a bigot.
Blouise,
Thanks. I hope you are right.
restock for tinfoil on isle 5 please.
dms – he believes every government fairy tale explanation for what informed people know are false flag operations, black ops (e.g. OBL was killed by Bronco Bama in 2011 even though fprrign media and CBS reported he died in 2001. he also believes that astronauts traveled safely thru the Van Allen radiation belts after being propelled by a Saturn 5 rocket which was so weak it couldn’t have even made it to low earth orbit, and the astronauts used computer navigation that had less memory than a cheap digital watch. he also believes that President Kennedy was shot by a lone nut who has recently been proven to have been standing outside watching the motor -cade as the man he admired was assassinated in broad daylight in Dealy Plaza. The list goes on and on, but the sheeple keep drinking the kool aid, and acting like they know better than what the evidence proves.
ignorance exceeded by arrogance and willful smug right-wing explanations
that thiinking people know is total nonsense.
DavidMS, He doesn’t believe DUI should be illegal if there is no accident. He calls it the “No Harm No Foul” clause. And, I think he’s a truther? But I’m not certain of that and if I’m wrong, I apologize up front.
raff,
All the usual suspects … 😉
Keep on keeping on. Perceptions are changing and some very solid education/work is being done at both the state and national level.
Senor spinelli,– here’s a link to SS records. I guess I should have realized that you would not know that such records are publicly available, even for
spenellis such as Yousef.
http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693
Nick, thanks for the correction. I don’t know if I would trust him with a plastic spork.
And hopefully he doesn’t have access to Social security records!!!
Not you DavidS, the person in front of you. Sorry for any confusion.
Hopefully the last commenter is not armed.