Every now and then, much like our political parties, an issue comes along that divides our country beyond reason.  If you believe in the others point of view, you’re instantly an idiot.  If you try to compromise, you don’t have commitment to your ideals.

Such is the topic of guns these days.  Now, more than ever, we need to define the rules and enforce them, because having a depressed walking into a school and just shooting kids is simply not allowable.

I tend to find myself in the middle of a lot of these debates. I want to understand both sides and then decide how I think.  It may be on one side or the other, or completely in-between.  For example, on the matter of guns, I just don’t think I need to have one in the house to feel safe.  Sure, there may come that one time in a million where I may regret that theory, but to me, the drawbacks far out-weigh the benefits.

So, we have two definite sides–the Second Amendment people, who don’t want their right to bear arms infringed–and the “Get rid of all the guns” people who don’t want them, but also don’t you to own one.

The problem, as I see it, is that there are some rules in place, but not enforced.  Additional rules would be nice, but if we’re not enforcing the ones we have now, the new ones better have teeth.  The popular trend these days is to say, “Let’s ban the automatic rifles!  That’s the problem!”    Well, that’s A problem but far from the only one.  The kid shot in Atlanta the other day–handgun.  Most of the gun-related murders–handguns.

Let me say the obvious and put it out there.  There are several groups of people out there.  Let me identify them for you:

The 2nd Amendment Crowd—These are the ones blinded by the words written over 200 years ago.  OK, our forefathers gave you the right to own a gun. Done.  In their time, that would be a musket or a pistol.  Buy one.  Or a couple.  Now, automatic weapons that our military created to kill lots of people during war?  Look, you don’t really need one of those and you better dare not ever use that to go hunting and then call it a sport.  But, if you insist, to own one, you need to go through some serious training and pay for a specialized license to have one.  You can’t just get behind the wheel of a semi-truck and start driving.  Yes, you already have a regular driver’s license, but you need a special license to operate one of those.  That kind of thinking.

The Anti-Gun Crowd–These are the idealists, who think that banning every weapon will solve the problem.  It worked great for alcohol and marijuana, so it’ll probably work on guns.  To these folks, I’ll point out that 27 people were killed in Egypt last weekend in a soccer riot.  To me the solution is obvious:  a ban on soccer balls!   No soccer balls, no games, no riots.  Perfect.  If normal, responsible people are not allowed to own guns, they’ll still be around.  You just won’t like the people who will have them.

Everyone’s Rights Have to Be Protected (Except For the Gun Owners)–To me, this is the biggest stumbling block in the process.  The whack job who killed all those kids in Connecticut had mental issues.  It sounds like he had a mother in denial who was doing her best for the son she loved, but it just wasn’t enough.  So, she paid the initial price, but because this emotional wreck had access to guns his mother bought “for protection” (really….3 of them?) he just took ’em to the school that ticked him off and starting shooting kids.  Mental illness is real and comes in an incredibly wide range of intensities.  If you have issues, I’m sorry, but for the safety of everyone including yourself, it’s just not sensible to put a weapon within your reach.  Take it to the Supreme Court, please, but our mega-PC, don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings attitude has resulted in increasing numbers of mentally unstable people having access to weapons.  How dumb is that?

And, the golden rule that will apply to every weapon you buy—-YOU are responsible for whatever happens with that weapon.  If you don’t know where your gun is and someone commits a crime with it, congratulations—you’re now an accomplice.  Owning something as powerful as a firearm is a huge responsibility.  You wouldn’t just lay it down on the street and say, “I wonder what will happen now.”  If you have a weapon, you need to know its wear-abouts.  YOU are completely and totally responsible for locking it up and being absolutely sure it’s secure.  Period.

Several of the murders committed in the Seattle area lately were by people who never should have had access to a gun, but did.  A guy just last weekend got mad at his girlfriend, went to the bar where she was at and shot her.  The gun never should have been in his hands.  He was a felon.  So, where did he get it?  Get that person’s name and have them arrested.  Don’t want to tell us?  No problem, that’ll be an extra 15 years on top of your sentence if convicted.  Yes, it’s bonus time.

The point being, we just can’t continue like this.  We’re going deeper and deeper into uncharted territory and we can do our best to control it, or just let it happen and be victims.  There are lots of examples in history of why that isn’t a very good idea.

If you’re anti-guns, push for real reform for those who abuse the right.  If you’re pro-guns, lay down enough rules so that those who obey them can have the guns they so desperately need to feel safe.  I don’t have nor claim to know how to solve this problem.  In my mind, I try to tear things down to basics.  A child should never have the last thing he remembers being a crazed gunman shooting at him.  A little girl should not sing at a presidential inauguration, only to be gunned down a week later because she was in the wrong place in the wrong time.

• Got a gun?  It needs to be registered, you need to keep it locked up and you are the one responsible for what happens to it.  It’s that simple.
• Want a gun?  All of the previous requirements, plus a required first-time owner’s class.  I promise, it won’t hurt.
• Missing a gun?  Report it, now.  I mean now!  If you wait until tomorrow, and it’s used to commit a crime tonight, get some change of address cards at the Post Office.

I know gun-owners; I’ve been a gun-owner;  I’ve lost family and friends to shootings, both random and deliberate.  I’ve had way too many people in my life decide to end it all with the convenience of a gun. Maybe it takes 57 years of living on this rock to realize how you feel on some topics, but I’m there.  We need less political grand-standing and more doing.  If writing this has caused you to even give the issue a little bit deeper thought, it served its purpose.

Please, everyone—take responsibility and get this situation under control, for our kids’ sake.

Tim Hunter