While the 2nd Amendment right of American citizens to bear arms is uninfringable, how and to whom arms can be hawked to the public is currently the subject of much-needed and long overdue scrutiny. The 2nd Amendment presumed the nation's interests would be well served by citizens equipped, motivated, and trained to protect America from rogue standing armies and threats from abroad. Indeed, the Second Amendment was requisite to the adoption of our Constitution and should be respected as such.
Hal, I disagree with your statement about the lack of training. Maryland has very strict training regulations. I just finished a full two-day course. But there is another side to this. My dad taught me how to shoot when I was about 5 years old. Actually in the shooting range located in the NRA headquarters at 16th and Mass Avenue (if you can believe it). It also taught me discipline and respect for a firearm at a very young age. I developed a passion for guns and hunting and passed it on to my kids and many other children that I have taught, which goes hand in hand with the love and respect for the outdoors. So, on another topic, maybe video game companies should eliminate the violent games that kids sit at home and are addicted to. The parents don't monitor this crap, but at least good dad's like me teach their kids how to shoot and respect firearms and the outdoors. Maybe video manufacturers should be held responsible for what they create.
This is an excellent succinct open minded approach to this topic that lends itself to Uber emotional defensive irrational rants. It should be widely read. If only you were a commentator on CNN or MSNBC. We need a sensible voice like yours to moderate the self righteous indignation on all sides.
Our laws need changing, but so does our mindset. If you look at commentary on the NRA fb page, you will not see thoughtful, responsible discourse in favor of guns as we just read in Mr. Slavin’s thoughtful remarks. Television, movies and video games all use a shorthand that allows our “good guys with guns win” childishness while the “responsible gun owner” myth and indignation demand that our slaughtered children are just the cost of “freedom,” which puts the lie to responsible gun ownership in the first place. Gun owners need to lead this movement to actual “responsible gun ownership” or face the coming total ban that the children traumatized by gun violence will eventually win.
Hal, I disagree with your statement about the lack of training. Maryland has very strict training regulations. I just finished a full two-day course. But there is another side to this. My dad taught me how to shoot when I was about 5 years old. Actually in the shooting range located in the NRA headquarters at 16th and Mass Avenue (if you can believe it). It also taught me discipline and respect for a firearm at a very young age. I developed a passion for guns and hunting and passed it on to my kids and many other children that I have taught, which goes hand in hand with the love and respect for the outdoors. So, on another topic, maybe video game companies should eliminate the violent games that kids sit at home and are addicted to. The parents don't monitor this crap, but at least good dad's like me teach their kids how to shoot and respect firearms and the outdoors. Maybe video manufacturers should be held responsible for what they create.
This is an excellent succinct open minded approach to this topic that lends itself to Uber emotional defensive irrational rants. It should be widely read. If only you were a commentator on CNN or MSNBC. We need a sensible voice like yours to moderate the self righteous indignation on all sides.
Our laws need changing, but so does our mindset. If you look at commentary on the NRA fb page, you will not see thoughtful, responsible discourse in favor of guns as we just read in Mr. Slavin’s thoughtful remarks. Television, movies and video games all use a shorthand that allows our “good guys with guns win” childishness while the “responsible gun owner” myth and indignation demand that our slaughtered children are just the cost of “freedom,” which puts the lie to responsible gun ownership in the first place. Gun owners need to lead this movement to actual “responsible gun ownership” or face the coming total ban that the children traumatized by gun violence will eventually win.