Gun Control

In my ongoing quest to solve the problems of the world, let's tackle gun control this week. I do not have a long history with guns. I did have a 22 when I was growing up, and I had a bb gun, and I had stick that looked a lot like a Kentucky long rifle, which I named "Betsy" after the gun Davy Crockett had. I killed a few birds, including an owl. It might have been on the endangered list, but we saw it and my Dad told me to shoot it, so I did. I see now, that experience easily could have led me down the career path of hired assassin, but luckily I didn't go there.

In a back room we had what was referred to as "the gun cabinet". Unlocked with lots of guns and ammunition. I don't remember even being told to not go in there. I think the ammo was on the top shelf, beyond our reach without a ladder. That seems to have been the only precaution taken. So I'm not sure how our family grew up with no gun fatalities, but knock on wood.

So - gun control. I always thought the statement "If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns" was a little trite and unhelpful. But now I think I buy into that philosophy. We've said you can't have illegal drugs. Has that stopped anyone? It seems like anyone that wants some drugs can get them - Anytime, anywhere. They've been trying to stop the rampant gun violence in Chicago. How is that going? It seems not.

I wouldn't have said this before, but now I think, lets just give up. That's what happened with marijuana. We think its bad for you, but people seem to like it and it is almost impossible to get it stopped, so go ahead.

I think some precautions are in order. The guy in the McDonald's parking lot talking to the sky probably shouldn't have guns. The guy out on parole that was in jail for attempted murder probably shouldn't have guns. Even though to the enterprising individual, they will be able to get around it, we should try to draw the line for some members of society. Waiting limits are fine, I think. If you need a gun right away, you probably shouldn't have one. As Homer Simpson once said when he tried to buy a gun, but was told it would take three days, "Ah, but I'm mad now".

The NRA takes some ridiculous positions sometime, but I think that is because a strategy is for the opposition to try to get some small victories and gradually wear away the other side. For some, that was the strategy to try to legalize medical marijuana. I think the NRA would be a little more logical if they knew a common-sense compromise wasn't going to come back and bite them later.

So let's have laws that try to keep weirdos away from guns, and the rest - at least have a lock on your gun cabinet or something.