August 21st, 2001

The new rant is more of an old rant, but a rant that never seems to die. That perennial favorite, bane of the right and left, gun control!

You might think, after reviewing my site here and preusing the Gun Vault page, that my position on this would be easy to predict. Gotta be a die-hard 2nd amendment junkie, right?

Well, not quite. I do think that people should be able to own firearms with a minimum of hassle. But I don’t think that they should get them with no regulation whatsoever.

Let’s look at the gun, first off. What is it? Is it an evil, malignant force that exists solely to kill people? Does it eminate some sort of dark vapor that wafts into the nostrils of otherwise peaceful people and forces them to commit violence? Of course not. But listening to some people talk, it is. Guns have a powerful effect on some; it seems to inspire fear and hatred. “I don’t like guns,” they say. “They’re bad.” Whoa, wait a minute. Hannibal Lector is bad. Halitosis is bad. The Back Street Boys are bad. But guns? Guns just are. They’ve no morals, no good or bad. They’re tools, perhaps dangerous tools when misused, but so is a bandsaw. Calling them bad is the worst form of anthropomorphism.

“But guns kill people!” That gun didn’t leap off the counter and fire itself. Someone pointed it and pulled the trigger. And that’s where the regulation is needed; with the people that pull the trigger.

My proposal is simple, though only spottily implemented around the country. You want to purchase a firearm? Fine… Fill out this form. The state will check your background and mental history to weed out those with a propensity towards violence and lawlessness and those who lack the mental stability to own a firearm. Passed those checks? OK… Now, sign up for this class. We’re going to teach you the safe, legal way to handle this firearm. When you can and can’t use it in defense of your or someone else’s life. How to safely store and maintain it. And we’re going to teach you how to hit what you’re aiming at. Pass the written test and the range qualification? Good job. Here’s your Firearms Identification Card. You will need to show this to any licensed dealer before you can purchase a firearm. And it allows you to carry that weapon concealed in accordance with the laws of your state. Screw up with it- carry it where you shouldn’t, brandish it when it’s not needed, threaten with it- and it’s gone. Period.

“Oh my God, you’re crazy. You’re going to let them carry it concealed?” Check the statistics. There are very few crimes committed by lawfully registered concealed carry permit holders. While you’re at it, check how many crimes have been committed by legally owned fully-automatic weapons. You might be surprised.

“But what about the children? What about little Johnny who picks the gun up and shoots his sister?” Remember that mandatory safety class? I’m not so naive as to believe that this will eliminate accidents with firearms, but it will reduce them significantly. Currently, in Georgia, anyone over 21 without a felony record can buy whatever semi-automatic weapon he or she wants with no training. They can carry it concealed just by signing a form. I applaud the state’s emphasis on unrestricted ownership, but I think a little more needs to be done.

Guns aren’t going away, even if we banned them all overnight. Ask Great Britain, where very rigerous laws are enforced; yet the rate of crimes committed with firearms continues to rise. There are millions of people in the US who carry and own firearms responsibly. We can’t eliminate the firearm, but perhaps we can enforce the responsibility of the owner.

Comments by Coyote Osborne on Tuesday, September 04, 2001 at 13:12

Well… Kat… you know I agree with you!
I don’t particularly like guns… in that they are easily used for unecessary violence and have made it simple for people to oppress, kill, mutilate etc.
But if there were no guns, they would do it with knives, sticks and stones. In a world where violence indeed exists, I think it’s silly to pretend it does not… and to blame the tool for what people do.
When I worked in Atlanta, and my housemate was alone, I felt a LOT safer with her in possession of a firearm.
When I was a child… all the kids in my family were taught about guns. As soon as we were old enough, we were even taught to fire them, and how to hold them, etc. Before that, we were taught to leave them alone… and why. Nearly every adult in my family owned one or more guns. My mother, my grandmother, my uncles and aunts and cousins. And not one child ever hurt themlselves… because we were taught.
Guns are tools. As such, they can be used to defend your home from aggressors, or even put food on your table. It’s what you choose to do with them.
You can run someone over with a car if you are malevolent or careless or stupid… same with a gun.
Yes… guns are intended as a tool to kill people or animals with. That’s true. It’s up to YOU how to use it.
Lots of people say “if there’s gun control, only criminals will have guns”. Well… even if that is NOT true… if some big oaf breaks into YOUR house with a club or knife (because they cannot get a gun) and attacks YOUR granny… would you rather her have a gun or should she use tae-kwon do?
I’ll be all for gun control as soon as there is no longer crime, violence, oppression or hatred in the world. Oops! We won’t need it then!
Meantime… I like Kat’s ideas.

USA
http://www.coyoteoldone.com