With the tragedy that took place at Umpqua Community College in Oregon on October 1, the discussion of gun control has flared up once again. Anti- and pro-gun activists have taken their usual stances, spouting the same statistics and calling for the same political movements. Presidential candidates will be talking themselves blue in the face about how to avoid disasters like these in the future.
Yet it’s rare for the real solution to even be mentioned.
I’m not talking about more intricate laws and higher hoops to jump through, and I’m certainly not talking about stricter gun-free zones. I’m talking about preparation, being proactive and having confidence that if something like this happened again, you would be able to stop it.
I’m talking about stricter gun training.
UCC’s campus was not a gun-free zone by state law; however, by university policy, it was inadvertently made to be such. In essence, there should have been people on that campus able to fight back. There should have been responsible, licensed students carrying and able to take a stand. But there weren’t. Instead, there was one maniac with a gun, and a number of students and faculty completely at his mercy until help came. Maybe it’s just me, but that makes me sick.
What we need to realize is that “gun-free zone” policies won’t protect us. They won’t keep someone intent on causing harm from doing just that: causing extensive harm. They won’t matter when the next guy/girl walks onto a campus or into a shopping mall not expecting to walk away from it. What will protect us are trained personnel in these same places, educated in firearm handling and capable of fighting back.
When it comes down to it, what would make more of a statement to someone trying to harm our children in school? A sign stating that this is a “gun-free zone” or a sign stating that our teachers are trained firearm carriers?
We’re wasting our breath, talking in circles about how to keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people. We’re kidding ourselves thinking that stricter laws will keep us safe – if that was all it took, the world would be a much different place. It’s an awful thing to have to think that way, to focus on preparation rather than eradication. But the fact of the matter is we have to think that way, or be caught at the wrong end once again.
I, for one, am sick of hearing about a deranged serial killer finding their way into a place they have no business being, hurting innocent people. I’m sick of knowing that if something happened, I would have to call someone else with a gun to stop them, and wait until they arrive. I’m ready to know that myself, along with others, would be allowed to fight back, in line with both state laws and university policies. Like retired Navy SEAL Jonathan Gilliam said on the UCC shooting, "We see that the only thing that's going to stop a gun is another gun."
These things shouldn’t be happening and it shouldn’t be something we’re worried about. But they are happening and we are worried about it. Things obviously aren’t getting better — isn’t it time we try another approach?
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims of the Umpqua Community College shooting. Donations can be made here in efforts to help families with counseling, funeral and medical costs.
