Don’t Take Our Guns! – Uncle Vs. Nephew Part 1 of 2 (Nephew’s Take)

Since the unfortunate events in places like Aurora and Sandy Hook, the issue of gun control has become an unavoidable topic. These incidents, however, have not changed my overall feelings on the subject, and I’m sure they haven’t changed the minds of others who felt strongly one way or the other prior to the shootings.

My father (pictured right) was a Jersey City police officer for 30 years before retiring and much of my opinion on the subject was formed long ago from what he taught me. Although Jersey City has come a long way from where it once was, it has never been an easy patrol city for cops. When I was a kid, my mother and us kids had to live with the fear that my Dad might not come home because some idiot with a gun wanted to prove something to his friends. I say gun, specifically, because this city, as is the case in many American inner cities, was and is known for gun violence. Working undercover on the streets for so long, my father became a strong supporter of stricter gun control and his views are further to the left than my own. I only recall him ever owning two hand guns at one time and neither of them were used for recreation, and I was never permitted to use them. I do understand his views and I believe anyone who’s taking the whole issue into account would feel the same.  I was fortunate enough to grow up in an area where guns are used for sport, and unlike children living in gun-violence prone neighborhoods, I didn’t have to look over my shoulder when I left school.

That said, I do believe gun rights supporters have solid points for argument, but the radicalized views on both sides of this issue are not looking at the big picture. Uncle Craig, not surprisingly, gave me a first hand look at the other side and I have to admit, it was awesome. Craig, like many gun owners in the US, is a responsible enthusiast and his collection would make any NRA member drool. Before he showed me the collection, however, he made sure I did not have a drink that day and then sat me down and explained the rules of handling a weapon. After that, he took me to his impressive collection that was stored and locked up in a gun safe. He then showed me carefully how to hold the weapon, and only permitted one of us in the group tohandle a gun at one time. I felt very safe, even though there was a mini arsenal surrounding me. Let’s face it, if all gun owners were this responsible, we wouldn’t be having this debate, but as Dick Cheney proved to all of us, when guns are put in the hands of irresponsible people, someone might get shot in the face for no good reason. (This is a pun so please don’t take it to heart Dick).

This variable, human incompetence, has warranted law and regulation on many things in our culture. Would we need alcohol regulations if people controlled their intake and didn’t drive drunk? Would major gatherings be forced to get permits and hire police officers if the crowds always stayed inline? Would we have to take tests and attend training to get a drivers license if everyone prepared fully on their own before applying? Would rocket launchers (aka “a really big gun”) be legal to own? The point I’m trying to make is that we trade certain rights away everyday in exchange for safety. After going out with a conscientious gun owner like Craig, I would think he and others like him would understand why regulations must be in place when it comes to gun ownership. Unfortunately, many gun rights activist see any regulation as a threat to their personal freedom and completely ignore the fact that their unquestioned freedoms cost thousands of American lives every year. A lot of their arguments against the liberal push against guns are correct, but they are not putting up any solutions of their own. This response is no better than saying “Kids can keep dying, just don’t take my guns!”.

As for my personal opinion, I don’t think gun owners like Craig should have to part with their hobby. Being a collector myself of comic books and vinyl, I can appreciate what it means to collect  (especially Craig’s Indiana Jones gun collection!). That said, do I and a majority of Americans believe that stricter regulations should be in place? Of course! Unlike Craig, an acquaintance of mine, who will remain nameless, was recently given a gun as a gift from one of these gun shows. He is a responsible adult, but the fact is he’s also an unlicensed amateur that should have been trained and put on record for owning such a weapon. Countless adults, who are not as trustworthy, get guns through loopholes like this everyday and this makes all gun owners look bad.

Making a gun harder to get by enforcing background checks and closing loop holes that put hand guns on city streets is not taking away anyone’s freedom. It’s ensuring the freedom of all of us to live in a safe country where only those who went through proper and transparent channels and received proper training are permitted to own a device capable of killing another person. That is not too much to ask and if anyone should be championing this cause, it shouldn’t be the “bleeding heart” liberals. It should be the gun owners themselves, at least those who have respect for what it is to be a gun owner.

So Craig, it’s clear in this post that I believe you to be a responsible gun owner, and in my opinion, people like you should be leading the charge for a safer, more educated gun culture in this country. But now I’m just putting words in your mouth, so lets hear your take on the subject next week in Part 2 of “Don’t Take Our Guns!”.

To be continued …