I want to discus something that the people of the south don’t really appreciate my opinion on: gun control. Now, here’s where I hear that I’m young and I don’t know what I’m talking about. Another argument I get often is that I’ll regret not having a gun when the wars start or when someone comes knocking on my door in the middle of the night. News flash: war will not be fought with guns or men, we will all be dead in a moment by the mass nuclear weapons that other countries have in their possession. They will not need men and women to do the dirty work of killing each other. They will merely press the big red button and poof, we’re carrion.
I debated writing on this subject because of the different opinions that people have on it. But, as one of my former posts stated, artists’ freedom and all that. So here goes nothing.
My mind has always been adrift when thinking about gun control. I live in a very conservative household and my opinions are very often outnumbered, but seeing as my family will not be reading this, I’ll give my opinion.
There is no excuse for the Las Vegas massacre. None at all. Being 16 and on multiple occasions seeing the headline “Biggest U.S Shooting in History” is outrageous. Why are more people not angry about the lives being lost to senseless murder that can, and should, be controlled. I often here the excuse of the 2nd Amendment, but that was created when guns only held 1 bullet, not 300. More people are endangered now. It’s not a single person having to stop and reload every time they find a target, its 1,800 bullets a minute. 1,800 for a single portable machine gun.
Why do people think they need guns so badly? If they have no reason to own them than to hunt game, then they are unnecessary. People are scared of boogeymen that are not actually there, or wouldn’t be if men and women were not allowed to needlessly own killing machines.
There’s the other argument in the case that it isn’t the gun doing the killing, but the person behind the trigger….
I truly wonder how we have managed to survive so long as a nation with such a closed mindset. If the gun is not doing the killing then what is? If the killer did not have the gun then would they have still found a way to murder so many people? Possibly. But how can we know this without proof? We can’t.
The people that do the killing are sent to jail, if they’re caught, but what about their weapons of destruction? Is it kept in police jurisdiction until it’s deemed useless to the case and then sold back out into the world? In some cases, yes.
My point is: I’m angry. And I’m sad. So terrifically sad that something like this could keep happening and nothing is done. Things need, no, have to change for this country to grow.
I appreciate that you began your post with a very true statement, then went on to boldly state your contrasting opinion. I relate in that it seems as though many of the opinions I have are obscure due to the region we live in. I like that you wrote about real life issues that are discussed in the news in your blog, it’s really cool! The fourth paragraph is amazing. It is truly horrible being this young and seeing such terrible things displayed on the news, so many massacres and shootings and terror attacks plaguing this generation. Imagine how much worse it could get in the future. I agree with the ending of this paragraph as well, and the argument on scientific experimentation and weapon development, only getting stronger. Guns will never be any weaker, weapons will only get stronger. I think that the ending of this post is amazing as well – it feels to me like a speech. You’re a very powerful writer. 🙂
I completely agree with you – 100 percent. And I am also glad that someone realizes that this country has to do something about its guns. Personally, I also come from a very conservative family, so I never get to voice my opinion, as well, therefore, I am glad someone said what needed to be said.
I relate with your emotions about this topic, but do not necessarily agree with the solution. Seeing as how I personally feel not educated enough on this subject to argue blatantly, I will only say that no matter what kinds of means we have to end this madness, insanity will still exist outside the law written on paper. Death is death, and taking away means to kill might slow down destruction, it cannot prevent it. Too much control in the hands of the government is never good, and trying to stop death is like attempting to jump in front of a train and slow it to a halt. it doesn’t work like that. Things take time, and I know there is an immediate action that needs to be taken to prevent this, but, no matter how many restrictions we put on trying to control the population, there will always be a loophole, a crack in the wall, someone who doesn’t need guns to kill.
I agree that this was a terrible occurrence, but I feel like outlawing guns will only take them away from those that choose to follow the laws. People willing to kill other people despite laws against murder will have no problem breaking laws against gun ownership, and even if they couldn’t get their hands on guns, they’d find other ways to kill.
i’ve heard the “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” spiel more times than i’d like to remember, and all it does is leave me feeling frustrated. i mean, don’t you think less people would kill people if they didn’t have the means of choice to do it? now this isn’t to say that all murders would be completely eradicated, but murder rates would certainly take a blow. i completely agree with you that something has to be done, and i think it’s up to US to do something about it.