Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Gun Control in America

In Canada we do not have a constitutional right to bear arms. You can purchase a hunting rifle, but the average Joe is not allowed to walk around with a pistol, let alone a semi-automatic weapon. There is no appetite in Canada to weaken gun laws. There is no NRA or its equivalent.

Canadians have a front row seat to watch all that goes on in America, with endless fascination I might add.  America is the greatest country on earth. We watch it all unfold in real time from Presidential elections, to healthcare debates, but nothing can compare to the apocalyptic reaction of Americans, if they believe someone is going to take their guns away. Not pistols to protect the home from robbers, but semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles that would make the military blush.

The drafters of the US constitution in 1787 and the Second Amendment, enacted in 1791, had  nothing more than bulky muskets in mind, along with the need for a healthy Militia, to guard against invaders of a fledgling nation, when they were putting pen to paper. Two decades later the British were causing trouble at the border and they were thankful that the citizenry were armed and ready.

Nowadays the  Militia are ultra right-wing fat guys in camouflage gear. They are firing off assault weapons deep in the woods, chasing imaginary enemies, which includes the US government. They are either waiting for the Red Dawn of Russian paratroopers, armed Mullahs, or government soldiers, ordered in by a Kenyan born President that wants to confiscate their guns. I don't think the drafters would recognise the militia, or their powerful weapons.

The danger is from within the US. The government can't even pass legislation to require  background checks on gun purchasers in all circumstances. They can't ban assault weapons. The NRA has the Congress trembling in fear. They would cross Grover Norquist before they challenged the NRA.

I have fired assault weapons, qualified on semi-automatic and automatic weapons. Hell, I have even thrown grenades and fired M-72 anti-tank rockets. All under the watchful supervision of the military. I just don't see the need to take any of the weapons home.

There are just too many crazy people out there to allow proliferation of dangerous weapons. The answer is not to have more weapons in the hands of the "good guys", to protect against the weapons of the "bad guys".  Everyone is armed to the teeth. A huge percentage of people have no idea how to safely operate the weapons. There are too many accidents.

Is the average person not concerned about some of these Militias training in the woods, with an irrational hatred of the President and the government in general? I'm concerned that some of the Militias are close to the Canadian border.

I believe the answer is to take away some of the weapons. Ban assault weapons and conduct background checks on all gun purchasers. It is not my country, but I think the gun culture has gone too far.

No comments:

Post a Comment