The FFL thread has gotten me thinking. I'll assert my theory and then I'll elaborate: I think we gun owners better start doing SOMETHING to show we're concerned about gun deaths in this country. If we don't, then in an effort to protect something (our gun rights), we're going to end up losing them.
I think there are basically 4 reasons why most of us here advocate for, own and use guns:
1. Protection of ourselves, our families and our property - both on our own premises as well as when we're out in public.
2. To have a tool to use against the government and to remind the government that "the people have the power" - both physically and in the voting booth.
3. Outdoorsmanship/Sport/Hunting
4. General Marksmanship/Competition/Fun.
About 30,000 people die each year in this country as a result of a gun. The three categories of death are: (These are ranked from largest segment to smallest segment.)
A. Suicide
B. Homicide (An extremely small subset of this category is "mass shootings".)
C. Accidents
By far the large majority of gun deaths in this country do not fall into the intended uses 1-4 above. I would hope that we as gun owners would take the position that we don't want to have guns be a component in 18,000 suicides each year. (I didn't say guns were the cause - but they're involved.) I would hope that us gun owners don't want to have so many homicides taking place.
Reducing gun deaths is the right thing to do. The moral thing to do. If we don't make this clear are we any different than mainstream Muslims who don't speak out against Muslim extremism? Are we any different from mainstream Christians who don't speak out against Christian extremism? I think we need to be a voice to curb gun deaths as well.
I don't know precisely how we do this. I am of the belief that how issues like this get improved is by helping change the culture. We all know new gun laws aren't going to change things. DUI laws were enacted - but it wasn't until there was a culture/societal pressure on the topic and it was socially unacceptable did things improve. Same with smoking. I think that will be the ultimate resolution to texting while driving: It will become more and more socially unacceptable. That's what will move the needle - not a texting-while-driving law.
We, as gun experts, need to be a force to raise awareness as to what responsible gun ownership is. Maybe we can help raise awareness of getting guns away from family members who are depressed, as an example.
I'm reminded of a lyric in the song "Hang On Loosely" (ironically by the band .38 Special): "Hang on loosely but don't let go. If you cling too tightly you're going to lose control." I do NOT say this in the spirit of "Give them some ground so they'll be quiet." I mean it as we need to look for resolutions as well.
It disturbs me greatly when a device that brings me so much pleasure in my life (it gets me outdoors, it is interesting and it provides me personal satisfaction when I shoot well) can be part of events that bring so much tragedy to people. IMHO if we don't start doing something we're going to lose.....big time.
OR
I think there are basically 4 reasons why most of us here advocate for, own and use guns:
1. Protection of ourselves, our families and our property - both on our own premises as well as when we're out in public.
2. To have a tool to use against the government and to remind the government that "the people have the power" - both physically and in the voting booth.
3. Outdoorsmanship/Sport/Hunting
4. General Marksmanship/Competition/Fun.
About 30,000 people die each year in this country as a result of a gun. The three categories of death are: (These are ranked from largest segment to smallest segment.)
A. Suicide
B. Homicide (An extremely small subset of this category is "mass shootings".)
C. Accidents
By far the large majority of gun deaths in this country do not fall into the intended uses 1-4 above. I would hope that we as gun owners would take the position that we don't want to have guns be a component in 18,000 suicides each year. (I didn't say guns were the cause - but they're involved.) I would hope that us gun owners don't want to have so many homicides taking place.
Reducing gun deaths is the right thing to do. The moral thing to do. If we don't make this clear are we any different than mainstream Muslims who don't speak out against Muslim extremism? Are we any different from mainstream Christians who don't speak out against Christian extremism? I think we need to be a voice to curb gun deaths as well.
I don't know precisely how we do this. I am of the belief that how issues like this get improved is by helping change the culture. We all know new gun laws aren't going to change things. DUI laws were enacted - but it wasn't until there was a culture/societal pressure on the topic and it was socially unacceptable did things improve. Same with smoking. I think that will be the ultimate resolution to texting while driving: It will become more and more socially unacceptable. That's what will move the needle - not a texting-while-driving law.
We, as gun experts, need to be a force to raise awareness as to what responsible gun ownership is. Maybe we can help raise awareness of getting guns away from family members who are depressed, as an example.
I'm reminded of a lyric in the song "Hang On Loosely" (ironically by the band .38 Special): "Hang on loosely but don't let go. If you cling too tightly you're going to lose control." I do NOT say this in the spirit of "Give them some ground so they'll be quiet." I mean it as we need to look for resolutions as well.
It disturbs me greatly when a device that brings me so much pleasure in my life (it gets me outdoors, it is interesting and it provides me personal satisfaction when I shoot well) can be part of events that bring so much tragedy to people. IMHO if we don't start doing something we're going to lose.....big time.
OR
