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08/21/2002 Entry: "Guns"
blogs4God today links to what is described as "a good primer on the second amendment". (It's here if you must)Like many people this side of the Atlantic, I really don't understand the obsession there seems to be 'stateside' with guns and gun control. Entering into arguments about it is a waste of time because the "right to bear arms" is an article of faith, an axiom, not subject to rational analysis. There's a fundamentalism about the way the second amendment is treated which studies only the individual words of the amendment but refuses to give them a social and historical context. "The individual has the right to protect themselves" is an oft-repeated mantra.In 1995, Michigan (population 10 million) had 929 homicides, 662 of them committed with firearms.During the same year in Scotland (population 5 million) there were 132 homicides, most of them stabbings. (The Scottish Office figures I looked at only break down the method of homicide for the decade, but firearm misuse for the decade 1991-2000 accounted for 8% of homicides. The sums here are not difficult. The more guns there are, the safer you are.Not.
Replies:
(Caveat--this missive is from an American, one raised in the countryside of Pennsylvania, who purchased his first "squirrel gun" at age 12.)You are right that there is little point in debating the obsession for gun ownership in the US, as the debate is not given to rational analysis. Firearms are so firmly entrenched in (particularly) the rural population here that growing up with them is as natural as growing up around horses, or boats, or skateboards for that matter. Learning how to safely handle deer rifles, shotguns, etc. are part of the rites of passage for lots of boys---and a considerable number of girls as well. Occasionally someone gets hurt in this hunting and target-shooting environment, but it is uncommon.This scene is contrasted with that in more urban areas, where the handgun tends to make it's nasty mark. Easy to conceal, to pick up in a heated moment, to shove into a shop owner's face.Children get their hands on them, sometimes with tragic results.
Firearms are inherently dangerous, the moment human hands touch them.I have taught both of my sons gun safety and gone through safety couses with them. As a former NRA safety instructor I understand that, in this culture, my best route is to teach safety, remove the mystery (read: temptation), and to realize that guns are not going away anytime soon.And to pray for sanity and restraint.
Posted by Rick @ 08/22/2002 07:32 PM CST
Well, I have been living in the US for 9 years now and I still don't understand that obsession one bit.
I wonder sometimes how many people I know have guns in their homes...
Posted by Swan @ 08/22/2002 01:01 AM CST
