I remember back to the days when I was a boy. My family lived in a two story house and my bedroom was in the corner of the basement with no windows. My parents resided on the main floor. I remember sleeping upstairs on the couch until I was about ten years old. Why, because I was afraid to sleep in my own room. I can't really remember what I was afraid of or what finally motivated me to move to my own bed but I know that it was an irrational fear. I think the gun haters have an irrational fear of guns prompting them to attempt to eliminate the perceived threat through gun control legislation.
Guns are a tool, plain and simple. They are really no different than a hammer except instead of driving nails they expel lead at high velocities. This fact makes fearing a gun as silly as fearing a hammer. The fear, or hatred as the case may be, should be aimed at the inanimate object, rather it should be aimed at the person using the tool. This has prompted me to coin the phrase we don't need gun control, we need evil people control.
A tool is no better or worse than the person wielding it. Take the aforementioned examples of a gun and a hammer. The hammer can be used by a Habitat for Humanity volunteer to build a beautiful home. That hammer can drive the nails that keep the roof over a formerly homeless person's head. That hammer can be used to drive a nail that can hold the walls up so that a cold winter wind won't freeze a child. That hammer can also be used to smash your thumb, believe me I know this all too well!
A gun can be used of good as well! Take a couple recent examples. In early December an evil person intent on killing as many people as possible was stopped by a legally licensed, concealed gun carrying private security guard. You won't hear much on the popular media about the heroic act of Jeanne Assam but she used her firearm to prevent a lot of blood shed!
Kenneth K. Hammond, an off duty police officer, was in the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City when an evil person went of a shooting rampage. He was carrying his gun in a gun free zone and was able to limit the bloodshed last February.
Joel Myrick stopped the violence at the Pearl Mississippi schools by using his gun, in a gun free zone mind you, to stop a student from killing more people in 1997.
If you fear guns, confront that fear don't jump to the conclusion that gun control is the antidote for your fear. Visit a local gun shop, talk to the salesperson, learn about guns and gun safety. Once you are comfortable there try a few, many gun ranges will allow you to rent a gun for a short time. Getting more comfortable, take a gun safety class, the NRA sanctions several really good classes to get you into the shooting sports. If you are fortunate enough to live in a state that allows concealed carry, take that class too, even if you never plan on "going heavy" you'll still learn. The most important thing that you can ever do is remember that guns aren't bad, only the the way they are used can be bad. Keep that in mind when you hear about more gun control legislation, especially in the new White House Administration.
