People have accepted that having freedom is attainable, but it puts a risk on safety. Many men and women fight everyday for freedom, risking their lives for the sake of our freedom and rights. American essayist and social critic H.L. Mencken states, “The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe.” In America today, we focus on freedom over safety.
The Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre on December 14, 2012, left over 20 students and adults dead. To this day, people debate over gun controls for the safety of people. While many believe that there should be stricter gun control laws, many believe that taking away the freedom to have firearms is unconstitutional. But is it worth having the freedom and putting lives in danger? Of course, it is a gamble. (Not many people that are fighting for gun laws are fighting to be able to have their gun to shoot people because they feel like it.)
Since the Sandy Hook Massacre, there have been 186 shootings on school campuses in the United States. That means roughly there are 62 shootings on school campuses in the United States per year. That's absolutely absurd.
Ask yourself: if visiting the zoo, would you visit the lion den and go inside unprotected? It is natural to fear anything that will put one’s life in danger. Sure, you may love lions, and feel you should have the freedom to be allowed to spend some one on one time with the them, but how well could a visit with wild lions end up?
Parents raise their kids to avoid anything that can hurt them, for example, wearing a helmet while riding a bike. Though a child may want the freedom of their hair blowing in the wind, their safety is in great danger without it. Although situations can put people in great danger, many people don’t mind the possible risk.
In the 1990s, Alex McCanddless embarked on a mission for complete freedom from everything and everyone. He placed himself in the elements of Alaska with nothing but the clothes on his back and little food. He had no concern as to his own safety but lived off the satisfaction of having complete freedom.
Instinctively, people desire safety. As time has progressed, people tend to crave freedom more. The average person wants to adventure and have the freedom to invest their time into whatever they want, but at the cost of being able to do that, he will put his safety in danger.When it comes to freedom, what's more important? Being able to do what you want? But is having total freedom worth risking lives?
Personally, I prefer my safety over freedom. Maybe that puts limits on the concept of freedom, but the benefits outweigh the principality.
