There have been so many shootings all over the country lately. It feels like it has reached a point where we hope they do not happen to us or someone we love, rather than hope they never happen again. They happen too regularly, as incredulous as that seems. Every time deaths occur at the hands of a gunman, Facebookers and politicians alike spout their thoughts about guns, violence, and society only to start arguments rather than move us forward in some sort of direction. Well, I figured I might as well join the conversation. I have been holding in many of these thoughts for a while now. I believe that guns were bred for violence, and we need to remember that. I want to acknowledge pacifism, the Constitution, responsible gun owners, and society's advancements all in relation to our usage of guns.
I am a pacifist; I do not see a need or reason for violent acts or war. I could go on and on about how I feel about religious wars, violent insubordination, or domestic violence but perhaps I will save it for another time. Needless to say, I am not a fan of guns simply because they are a form of violence. Use guns how you like; they were bred for violence.
Those who are pro-gun ownership will immediately want to chime in and remind me of gun-sport, gun-protection, or the numerous other ways responsible members of society might use them. Be that as it may, but I still do not see why our society needs to allow such an easy system for obtaining guns.
One of the biggest arguments I disagree with is the interjection that owning guns is a right protected by the US Constitution. I do not think that we need to hold onto the second amendment so fervently. We are a society that is always changing, always moving forward, and always growing. To say that we cannot change or amend rules and laws is absurd.
When the Constitution was written, women did not have nearly as many rights as men. In fact, it took 19 amendments to give them voting rights.
When the Constitution was written, African-Americans were not considered people; they were property. They were slaves under white men. It took about 80 years and 13 amendments to let them be people and another 80 years or so before they could even use the same bathroom as whites.
Rules and laws change. The fundamental rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We were born with a mind and a voice and thus freedom of speech. We were not born with guns and an urge to murder. We do not need guns.
I have heard many times that responsible gun owners want guns to protect others from irresponsible gun owners. Sure, I'll bite. But who saved the Orlando victims or the victims of any other mass shooting? Okay, you want to protect your family, but how about we just get rid of them altogether then? Plenty of conservatives like guns to protect their family. But a gun is a device that so easily causes death. War in itself is a slippery slope of violence. Someone gets violent, so someone else retaliates with violence to stop them. That's what gun protection has become. We fear for our lives and safety, so we need weapons to feel more secure.
I believe that, when things go wrong, something must be changed for society to move forward. When the Sandy Hook shooting happened, what did we do to change or fix our society? Nothing, really. That day showed that we as a whole society are okay with children being shot to death. You may not be, but as a whole, our society seem to be.
Our society is so comfortable with guns and even our "serve and protect" policemen and women are killing more than ever. Guns are not what they were in 1789. They are not single-fire machines that were, if anything, a hassle to use. Guns are fast and dangerous weapons that would have made our forefathers wet their long underwear. We need to stop looking back and start looking forward. Look forward to when our children will be in control, and hopefully not be shot for making someone angry with their beliefs. Look to a more peaceful future, not a paranoid one.
