Take back your safety
Nathan Forest
nforest@uwyo.edu
The attacks in San Bernardino had barely been over for an hour and already the Democratic presidential candidates were calling for stricter gun control. Time and time again they all parrot: “how can we let this happen?”
The problem is that since California’s gun laws couldn’t stop this kind of violence, then gun control cannot possibly be the answer. California has enacted every form of gun control that they possibly could, without inciting a second revolution.
There are constantly conflicting reports as to whether the guns used in the San Bernardino attack were obtained legally or not. The truth of the matter is that it doesn’t matter. This attack just proves that you cannot legislate away evil.
Gun control advocates are also fond of saying that the U.S. is the only country where this kind of violence happens. How they can say that only a matter of days after the attacks in Paris is beyond me. France as a whole, for all intents and purposes, is a gun-free zone.
The problem with gun control the way it is today is that it is clearly not preventing violence in any way as evidenced by the rash of attacks that have been occurring lately. The only thing that gun control is doing is essentially putting up neon signs saying “no one here can defend themselves” for people who wish to do harm as to where they will be able to hurt the most people.
There are hundreds of millions of guns in the United States, meaning that even an end to production in the firearms industry would only increase firearm prices many times over. On the more extreme end, any attempt to take them back would undoubtedly result in the commencement of the second revolutionary war.
Yes, the government trying to stem the tide of guns in the U.S. is incredibly futile. In the current age of the Internet and 3D printers, anyone with enough resources and a can-do attitude can make their own guns. From unfinished AR15 lower receivers to online parts kits that can be purchased and shipped to your front door, if someone is hell bent on getting a gun, they will.
The thing about liberty is that you have to be willing to give it to others in order to experience the effects for yourself. I know that if someone kicks down a door of wherever I am and starts shooting people, the first thing that I want in my hands isn’t a phone. It’s a gun. Because I want the right to be able to carry a gun (even though I’m only 20), I understand that I must allow others to do the same.
Many gun control advocates at this point are saying that a civilian having a gun isn’t even likely to end the attack and that you’re more likely to die for having a gun. This isn’t true, but even if it is, it should be my choice. Just as in Mad Max, “If I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die historic.” I would much rather die on my feet fighting evil and trying to protect those around me than on my knees pleading for my life.
That is exactly the position that gun control advocates try to put civilians in. If they aren’t armed, all they have to fight against someone trying to do them harm are their hands and words. Neither of which are generally the preferred method of combatting people with guns.
The Second Amendment was not put into the Constitution to protect deer hunting. It was written to ensure that the people had the ability to rise against a tyrannical government as well as be able to protect their own life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We have tried gun control and it is clearly not working, so let’s shift our policy to make attacks less deadly.
Let’s take down the signs that show evil people where there will be no resistance. Allow people to take their safety back into their own hands. Your personal safety is your personal responsibility and as many say, “When seconds count, the police are just minutes away.”
Pro-Gun Control is Pro-Safety
Morganne Harper
Mjuarez3@uwyo.edu
Considering that I grew up surrounded by guns in a fairly conservative family, it may come as a shock that I think better gun control in Wyoming and the United States is in order. Nevertheless, when the evidence is taken into account, it becomes obvious that this state and country are too lax on gun laws.
In what we call a free country, many believe that owning a gun is everyone’s right. Let me remind you though that we also have the right to free speech, yet I’m sure many people will not hesitate to scrutinize my portion of this article without any sound reasoning or logic. This situation is an indicator of something that few have spoken about, but I agree with- our culture is fascinated with violence. As neutralized as we are to this scenario, it is an extremely dangerous path our country is going down.
“[We need to] address a culture that too often glorifies guns and violence” –President Barack Obama
Many people find pleasure in watching actors and actresses portray brutality and we idolize murder in the thousands of first person shooter video games that we play.
I readily admit that I actually play, and very much enjoy, some of these games, but I also acknowledge that they provide the possible desensitization towards murderous weapons.
Altogether, guns themselves are not bad. I do not think that it is immoral or immediately harmful to own or use guns. The problem comes when owners do not truly understand the power of their weapon. Most people advocating for better gun control, including myself, will admit that there are many responsible gun owners who have earned their right to have guns. On the other side of things, we will also declare that there are plenty of reckless gun owners, like the woman who shot her husband while he was sleeping because of a fight they had, the teenager who is in prison because he was playing with a gun and accidently murdered his friend or the hundreds of mass shooters that our country has experienced. This last category of people have come to cause the need for stricter gun laws. Without proper training and respect for the weapon, no one should be allowed to own a gun.
Australia is an example of successfully implemented gun control laws that have helped decrease firearm-related deaths by 47% over ten years. Contrary to popular belief, guns were not completely outlawed; it is still legal to own rifles, shotguns, and handguns. However, after gun related crimes started to increase, the country realized the need for change, not only in the laws, but also in the mindset of its people.
This same change needs to happen in the United States. You may think that it is a right to own a gun, but I know it is my right to feel safe where I live. We should all be concerned about our safety when ignorant individuals have the “right” to purchase something that can so easily destroy life.
