Inevitably you've heard about it or read about it. It's impossible to not know about the deplorable violence that happened in Colorado over the weekend. Like many, when I first heard about the Aurora theater shooting, I was heartbroken.
Anyone would and should be. A random, senseless act took the lives of 12 people and injured 58 more. I was saddened that, as I took in a country music festival in Wisconsin with some of my closest friends and family members, just across the country, there were people who would never get to see people they love and care about again.
Unfortunately, as most things do, the story changed. People took sides: the pro-gun people to one side. The anti-gun people to another.
I will state right now that I am anti-gun, and I was terrified and offended, then enraged, by the pro-gun people who don't understand that a semi-automatic rifle was used with a specially purchased magazine to hold 100 rounds to ruin countless lives.
Pro-gun people on my Facebook wall were going so far as to post stories claiming that the entire incident was a hoax, that people were killed to boost the visability of the movie.
Allow me to editorialize for a moment: If you really believe this, then you truly don't deserve to be my friend or even someone whom I want to ever associate myself with. It's a sick and evil thing to say and believe in. This movie was set to be one of the biggest box office hits of the summer. People have been hyping the movie for nearly a year.
I also know that the people writing these stories probably don't believe them, but that they are pro-gun advocates trying to change the narrative. Trying to change the story.
But none of that matters. Nor should it. And it's hard to write about this, I can tell you that. I might be new to writing for Patch, but I have seen the vitriol in the comments sections. People acting with swagger in anonymity, able to say horrible, hurtful things because someone else doesn't agree with their stance.
I try not to be heavy handed in my writing. I really don't. It's not fair to the victims and the people that knew and cared about them. My feelings have gone back to sadness.
Mostly, I realize that my words, themselves, might not change anything. As President Obama said yesterday, "Words are inadequate." It's true. We can't say anything to magically make people come back to life.
In the same way, i'm not going to magically say something today to make every gun owner reading this lay down their weapon and walk away. There will be a million excuses. I've already heard them all. I've heard them from other family members.
I understand why gun owners want their weapons. I understand the collectors who have taken it as a hobby to hold pieces of history in their hands and say, proudly, that they own them. I've spent two decades collecting sports memoralbilia and feel the same way about some of my prized possessions.
I understand the home owners who keep a handgun in their house as a form or protection. If you do, please, please, keep it away from children.
I understand the hunters. Hunting is a tradition that dates back to before guns were ever invented. It's also a hobby. Plus, hunters are some of the most knowledgable gun owners I've met. They know every working piece of their gun and they treat the gun with respect, only using it in the hunt.
I don't, on the other hand, understand conceal-and-carry advocates, nor do I understand people who need to own semi-automatic rifles.
The popular thing to say has been "If someone in the audience had a gun, this would have never happened." There are two ways to look at this statement. A) the person wouldn't have shot up a movie theater if he thought someone was going to shoot back. Or, B) someone would have shot him once he started shooting.
On the former, perhaps in some situations, this is true, but the telltale signs have been emerging that this person was going to do something. The shooter was going to do something despicable and irrational regardless of who was holding a gun in that theater.
On the latter, you must all stop saying this, if that is your meaning. Guns give people irrational confidence. I'm not sure when everyone who holds a gun decided they were a combination of Clint Eastwood and John Wayne, but you CANNOT say that you would have been able to stand up in the chaos, lay aim, and take out a person firing at you.
Nobody knows how they will react to a situation like that. Gun owners, though, seem to have a collective feeling that just because they can hit a target in a gun range, that this would have been no problem. It's not true.
Again, I'm trying not to go too over the top on this, but the things pro-gun people have been saying in the days since the incident make me believe that most people shouldn't have guns.
Again, if you are offended by this, I apologize to you for my beliefs. Tear me to shreds in the comments section if you want.
But first, I want you to do what I did when I got back in the state today. I gave my 6-month-old niece a kiss. It's all I've thought about for two days. How lucky I am that she is in my life, and how quickly that can go away.
Find a loved one today. Let them know how much they mean to you, and how much you care about them. Nobody is promised tomorrow. For some, all we have is today. Think about all the people in Colorado who never got a chance to do that.
It's people, not things, that matter. It's courage to stand up against something you know to be wrong. It's about words saving lives. Not bullets. Most importantly: It's about taking the time to enjoy the people you have in your life as much as you can, while you can.
It's about being so lucky to wake up every day knowing that there is someone else waking up that cares about you, that depends on you, that means the world to you. It's about trying to change the world, even in your own little way.
And for me, if my words resonate with at least one person, then I've done more than a million bullets ever could.
THanks for posting your original blog piece and broaching this matter. Such conversations need to be aired, engaged and discussed, not evaded on a societal and individual level, IMO. All the best to each and all, along with your responses and rebuttals. I will end my contributions as it seems to have run it's course for the time being.
Re: some of the things u stated above: big number of suicides by firearms. They would have killed themselves anyway! IF I had the time and was not living in my parents basement I could in fact dispute and provide statistics to counter each and evey one of your claims! Point being, u r an anti-gunner, we get it. Then don't get one. Let me ask u this though, it's 2am & ur sleeping in ur moms basement. 2 guys break in and intend on killing u and doing things to ur mom. What would u rather have, a phone to call 911, a baseball bat, a knife, or a firearm???
49 out of the 50 states allow law abiding citizens to carry firearms for Legal Defensive purposes!!! Criminals, by their very nature do NOT obey Gun Laws!!!
In passing, just because a book, of whatever topic or subject matter has enjoyed multiple releases or editions denotes it has been successful in the market place. It is not, as a rule, positive irrefutable proof of the validity of it's facts, premises, etc. Certain books do enjoy being the 'gold standard', the one you cited may well be one of those within its subject matter. I bid you a good night, sir and again thank you for your responses. I will keep the book you commended in mind, look into it for my reading lists.
I'll be happy to welcome you aboard!
Also, I am not anti-gun nor wish or advocate they be banned nor other available means of self protection. However I do believe in and advocate for well reasoned and sane gun regulations and controls within our society. As I'm sure you know, they had gun control measures in place and practice in the old west and pioneer days. For sound reasons and common agreement by the members of the cities and locations where folks went to settle and build a viable, civil and reasonably peaceful society. You may or may not concur or agree with those of us who hold such beliefs but we are not all cut from the same cloth as you propose, nor do I hold everyone sharing your views is a 'shoot first and don't be bothered with questions', no limits extremist. I would hope (and believe) we can at the least accept and agree there is room for debate and refinements to our 2nd amendment rights, along with the responsibilities and consequences that come with them.
However, I will NEVER EVER condone the purchase or ownership of any semi-automatic assault weapon by any private citizen. I was actually speechless (yes, me!) when the media reported that out nation's latest murdering lunatic purchased his assault rifle LEGALLY at a national retailer, whose name I will not post as I do not know for sure this weapon was purchased there. How on earth can assault rifles be sold legally....one does not hunt ducks, or deer or even squirrels with assault rifles. This is where I draw my line....assault rifles should be illegal, period. No retailer should be selling them. I am astonished these sales occur.
Steve, put your gun hatred aside. Think. 2-3 males break into your home at around 2:00am. Your teenage granddaughters are staying with you at that particular time. Do you want a cell Phone to call 911, a knife, a bat, or a firearm to protect and save your grand daughters???? I KNOW everyone.
No concealed carrying movie-goers in Aurora, CO. No armed students, teachers or even campus security at VA Tech, also no concealed carrying students or teachers at NIU, nor in any of the crime scenes Laurie Dann created in Winnetka years ago. And no armed citizens in the crowd in AZ; clearly security was slow to respond or lacking in AZ when Gabrielle Giffords was making her appearance and so many innocents were shot to death. Same goes for similar mass murder tragedies overseas. My point is NOT that every civilian (or even ANY civilian) should be carrying a loaded weapon. But we cannot know what might have been, or what would possibly be different, given our current laws against concealed carry and the penchant for the evil and/or insane to precisely target unarmed and unsuspecting groups.
My point IS that in the scenarios you cite, and similar mass murders, we simply do not know what MAY have been different, if even ONE life would have been saved, by even ONE civilian carrying a weapon they had been trained to use...because there were no such civilians present. I don't think I am foolish or deluded to wonder or question if outcomes would have been different were the concealed carry laws different...again, in situations ON PAR with your examples. As they are the worst of the worse, there are not other comparable situations.
I know the average response time in my area when calling 911 from personal experience and knowing the area I live in. (averages 2-5 mins, in cases and scenarios as you propose, wiht multiple units and others at the ready should it be required and access to fire power and trained individuals to back it up. They also have the direct tactical, strategic and experience to know when and how to employ it and when to use their intelligence, alternative means and methods to avoid having to go with the last resort of discharging their weapons. Should a break-in happen here, given your scenario Yes I would call 911, use every available means and method at my disposal until the police arrived and keep from turing my home into a free fire shooting zone. My daughters, granddaughters (or grandsons) might equally be injured or killed by stray or misplaced rounds from either myself or your bad guys. I have always advised my own daughters, their friends and others to always use every means and method at their disposal to defend and protect themselves. Including using their intelligence and wits and employing situational awareness and safety.
Your service also does not grant nor give you special rights or liberties beyond those of others. Nor to the police or others serving and answering the call to duty and defense of them. I am fine knowing you do not, will not and won't agree or share some or even many of my views, beliefs and values. Nor will endless others and I in turn have those persons whom I do not agree with on principals or points of view. That is a given in life, it does not mean or require retreating into opposing camps and not engaging in dialog, offering mutual respect and being good neighbors and members of our society. I'd even go as far as wagering we could enjoy a bbq, break bread together and share a favorite beverage of choice together should an opportunity arise or happen. Even discover areas or experiences where we agree or share common grounds.
I will, most likely, search for an e-book version or visit the local library to acquire and read it in the near future. I would note, in passing, much of what he shares in the opening chapter offers anecdotal evidence and cites survey results (shich may or may not have been conducted under statistically controlled methods that are the 'gold standard' for being considered scientifically or statistically valid and controlled for numerous variables that can/do taint or alter the results. For example, an online news poll of readers from Fox, CNN, NY Times, et. al. are just that, a poll of readers opinions to the question posed at that particular period of time. They are very clear to note it is not to be taken or used as 'scientific or statistically valid' Professional polling orgs and others use control methods and standards for very valid and proven reasons. As do scientists, university studies, etc. It helps to factor out and identify/qualify the collected data and sample sets for objective, empirical analysis and vetting or refutation by professional peer groups. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary, proofs. Again, thank you for commending the book you cited and sharing your views, we may disagree but I still respect you and your sincerely held beliefs.
Raised in rural Michigan hunting was a way of life for my family and most of my friends. An early lesson was that, when hunting, a gun is a tool. You don't have a toolbox with only a hammer. You're right. An AR-15 is not used for hunting squirrel. I always used a .22 caliber rifle. The ammo used in an AR-15 is too big given the size of a squirrel. Ducks? Right again. Ducks (and all fowl actually) are hunted with a shotgun. I didn't usually hunt ducks (it required buying a federal stamp for your license. I was a poor kid). I used a 20ga shotgun for pheasants. Hunting dear is that's a different matter. While the .223 ammo is a little light for dear hunting a LOT of dear hunters use an AR-15 with hollow points with a lot of success. There are AR-15 variants that are chambered for larger ammo that work better. While I haven't gone out west hunting I understand that the AR-15 is the weapon of choice in the plains for hunting coyotes and other mid-sized animals. The 100 shot magazine is not standard on the AR platformed rifles. Most hunters I know buy it with a 5 or 10 shot clip. That's small enough that the magazine doesn't get in the way while you're hunting. There are a lot of AR-15s made and sold by a number of manufacturers to hunters. AR-15-like rifles are, in the end, reasonable, popular semi-automatic rifles for hunters ... when you use them to hunt appropriate game.
I'll wager you they didn't start handing out weapons and ammunition, or have open access to them nor allow private possession, the first or even second week of boot camp. And on bases where active duty service members are stationed or deployed. The police and other law enforcement organizations also restrict, control and have significant safeguards in place re: access and use of weapons and ammunition, The general public and civilians are also entitled and granted rights and protections to safeguard themselves, along with the rights to own and use them under specific circumstances or for certain specific activities. For hunters, there are rules and laws in place governing what can be used and when, Again, we're back to the Heller rulings...even for those weapons 'in common usage', regulations and laws are still in place, enforceable and constitutional.
Yes, the bad guys will always get their hands on guns. And so will good guys. And you know who else will: bad guys who think they are good guys. The fact is, nobody can see into the future. Pro-Gun people can't even see into the present. Gun owners live in the past, thus their hiding behind the second amendment. Gun owners, and when I say that, I obviously don't mean hunters/collectors, seem to believe with all their hearts that someday, everyone is going to be robbed, shot at, something. I choose to have faith in humanity and believe I won't. Call me naive. But i'd rather die unarmed than accidently kill someone I love because I think i'm defending them in a bad situation. It takes more courage to stand behind words than the barrel of a gun.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." It seems that you would have good men do (or be capable of doing) nothing in the face of evil.
Not to long ago two armed teenagers tried to rob an Internet Cafe. A 70 year-old carrying a pistol (which he had all the permits for) shot at them and ran them off. Police caught them not to longer after that. The old man didn't even hit either of them, just shot at them. And that's how easy it is to stop a criminal: carry your own gun to counter their weapon. Risk of death is a great stopping factor against criminals. And if your afraid of somebody slipping through the background checks and still getting a gun? Why don't you go get your permits and carry your own gun so that if anything does happen, you can defend yourself? I think what happened in Colorado was horrible. I do not think that it calls for stricter gun laws.