As usual, the gun control is raging, and will continue to rage for the rest of the history of the United States. The issue will never end, so the people in charge are doing everything they can to carry on the tradition.
Sadly, another shooting has taken place in the states, and the debate has come full-force to the front of the American consciousness. Oddly, however, we’re not worried about Muslim terrorists shooting up a mall in Kenya. They, however misguided in their reasoning, are not crazy. But woe betide those who have mental issues.
National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre decided to weigh in and offer his opinion of how to stop the shootings such as those that happened recently at the Navy Yard:
"If we leave these homicidal maniacs on the street ... they're going to kill," he said. "They need to be committed is what they need to be. If they are committed, they're not at the Naval Yard."
And he thinks the shooters have issues? Now, don't get me wrong. I’m an avowed advocate of gun ownership, and firmly believe the 2nd Amendment allows that for Americans. I also believe that those who have mental illnesses should be kept from owning weapons. However, there is a proper way to go about getting this done, and these idiotic comments aren’t helping anything.
We need people with mental illnesses to come forward, or be brought forward by family and friends, so that they get the help they need. Along the way, if they own weapons, they can be asked to be turned in while treatment is on-going, or even confiscated if the need arises. (I’m actually against that, but don’t see any other way). People can be treated for mental illnesses, and they can be monitored to ensure their activities keep everyone safe.
One way to do this is to ensure that all weapons are registered, and properly licensed. More so than that, a waiting period ensure all background checks are done, to ensure only those who are capable of being responsible can posses weapons. A national register who people with mental illness is probably not the best idea either, but the applicant’s doctor can be consulted.
The main issue is really not what can be done, but that nothing can be done. The gun owners, and politicians and organizations that support them, have basically refused any compromise needed to provide some form of gun control. They won’t give on background checks, limits of weapons, ammo, etc. It’s become an dead issue, and its the fault of gun owners for not compromising.
They have not, however, been allowed to compromise in any manner. This is because the anti-gun crowd, and the politicians and organizations who support them, have turned it into an all-or-none proposition, and aren’t willing to allow any compromise at all. They don’t want to control guns, they want to ban them.
I will forever support the rights of Americans to own weapons. I also think we need to deny the ability to have weapons from people who shouldn’t. There is a middle ground. The problem is, it’s become a “no-man’s land”.
