Freedom From Responsibility
Kills 10 year-olds
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The 2nd amendment is awkwardly worded and subject to interpretation. Some ignore the first two clauses. Others equate people and Militia.
All rights have limitations. Freedom of religion does not protect human sacrifice. The right of the people to peaceably assemble does not sanctify conspiracy. And although it often seems otherwise, the right of free speech does not protect slander and libel.
Hence even a right to bear arms need not be extended to every imaginable weapon. Nor should all people be enabled to purchase firearms.
Columbine, Colorado. April 20, 1999
Sandy Hook, Connecticut. December 14, 2012
Uvalde, Texas. May 24, 2022
These and many more American slaughters have been perpetrated by sick young men with legally purchased weapons. Warped young men were guilty of abominable killing sprees.
America is guilty of at least 23 years of inaction.
Those who obstruct any kind of gun control say they pray for the dead and their families. Should we also pray for those not yet dead? Should we pray for those who will be the innocent victims in the next mass shooting?
Perhaps something in addition to prayer should occur. Real actions where cause and effect are obvious.
Some suggestions are listed below. You’ve heard them, you know them, and most Americans agree with them.
But why do these mass murders continue? We tear our hair out and look for reasons. We point fingers at legislators and lobbyists and assign blame.
There is more than enough blame to go around. The actions and inaction of many are reprehensible. But what is the reason the carnage does not stop?
It’s us, you and me
Yes, America, it is our fault. We are responsible. We don’t care enough about the lives of children and other citizens to vote out those who steadfastly support universal access to weapons designed to kill large numbers of people. The NRA merits scorn, but serves as a convenient scapegoat since we really don’t want to be bothered to vote out those who do their bidding.
Columbine, Sandy Hook, Uvalde, My Town, Your Town.
We can stop this. Do we care to?
Mechanisms we could employ are listed below. While critics will argue none will fix the problem, a larger problem is not giving them a try.
- Assault rifle ban. Let us define assault rifles, magazines, and bullets and prohibit them.
- Marketing bans, like for alcohol and tobacco. Remington lost a judgement to the Sandy Hook families which was based on their marketing. Daniel Defense, maker of the weapon used in Uvalde, has shown advertisements with children holding guns and Santa Claus with a rifle.
- Red flags. Not everyone should own or have access to weapons when behavior indicates potential for the worst.
- Background checks. A small amount of research can prevent those of us who are unstable from acquiring weapons.
- Waiting periods. Does anyone need to acquire a rifle or handgun immediately?
- Culpability for enabling a shooter. Anyone who has a hand in enabling a shooter, through action or inaction, is liable. Perhaps those who aid and abet a shooter can be sued by private citizens in a manner akin to the recent Texas abortion statute.
Here is another essay that is all too plausible.
