Moms are buzzing today about an opinion piece on gun control that was posted on the Scary Mommy website.
In it, blogger Kiran writes:
[Our Founding Fathers] never imagined gang wars. They never saw the technology that could create guns that could kill so many people so quickly. They never saw an AK-47 blow someone’s head off. They never imagined the number of civilian deaths that would take place and grow each year on American soil.
I will tell you one thing. They never imagined Columbine. They never imagined Newtown.
We posted a link to the piece it on our Moms Matter Facebook page and got lots of impassioned responses. Check out a few of them after the jump, and leave your own thoughts in the comments.
Kiran makes the point that she believes gun owners should have to be registered just as drivers are registered and licensed in our country. She says that the argument that criminals won't register for guns anyway is no more valid than the argument that no one should have to have a license to drive because criminals won't get driver's licenses.
Our Facebook readers' reactions to Kiran's post were across the board. Here are just a few:
Does she really believe that our founding fathers never saw brutal murder and didn't know history? Mass murder and evil is nothing new. The Founders didn't know we'd need the First Amendment for TV, music, pornography, email, computers, but they sure got that right. --Jessica
I personally don't like guns, but don't mind if other sane people want to have their guns for protection and hunting. BUT I don't think anyone needs a gun that hold so many bullets. --Karen
You cannot punish the innocent for other's reckless behavior. That's like taking my car away because my neighbor drives drunk in hers. Useless & stupid. Mental illness needs to be addressed more & laws re that need to change. --Theresa
No one said take away the guns. I don't understand why all these people that hate liberals think that. All we're saying is let's up the enforcement of our current laws if you want to go to a gun show and buy off the rack get a license for it! --Amy
It's a lot to think about, that's for sure, and now that violent school shootings are part of our reality, moms are as bothered about this issue as anyone out there.
What do you think about Kiran's post? Do you agree or disagree with her opinion?
Image via Brian.ch/Flickr
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Comments 15
I feel like I make this same comment every day. The 2nd amendment was created in order for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. Remember, our founding fathers had just recently fought a war for their independence from one. As far as an AK47, while it's true that you can alter it to be fully automatic, it's a semi automatic gun. It's kind of like a pit bull. They both have a bad rep due to a few bad ones. Shotguns and handguns are actually more deadly. Shotguns have a bigger caliber and handguns can be concealed. Gun advocates are worried and rightfully so that if you start with one before you know it they're all banned. Why is it that those who are usually antigun are also pro-choice and think you should be able to have an abortion, no questions asked? I too am pro choice but let's not sugar coat it, it's killing a baby. A gun doesn't kill anyone unless someone pulls the trigger.
Sorry Zach, really, really doubt that 70% disagree with what @tbruce says. That's bullshit. If the founding fathers were around you can't bet your sweet butt that they would be packing what the military has - they were the military here. They had the same rifles, etc. that the British Army had at that time & those were the state of the art weapons of the time. This isn't just about making more laws. We ALREADY have laws on the books that ARE NOT being enforced, we ALREADY have to have background checks to get a gun. I do have an issue with all gun owners names being in one database - that can be used against you, just look at the newspaper up north that published all of those peoples names. How was that smart journalism?? What that smacks of is a person using their position to try to bully other people to get his way. It's being a BULLY plain & simple.
Also, if you think that gov'ts won't use their power by confiscating guns then you haven't followed up on your history. The whole freaking point of the 2nd Amendment was to protect the people from those who would try to use their authority to overreach the Constitution of the U.S. & become a tyrannical gov't. The people needed & STILL DO NEED A MEANS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THAT. NO ONE wants that to happen, I certainly don't. But IT CAN & HAS happened. You can put your head in the sand all you like, but I won't & I'll be damned if my rights will be infringed upon, because that is what is happening. They need to be focusing on what the root of the issue is, why are people doing these things. They need to be looking at how these people & others like them can get the help they so badly need, they also need to look at the laws on mental illness, they need to add more funding to mental illness help people who can't afford private psychiatrists, etc. That's what they need to focus on & help young people make better choices in life. Not restricting & infringing upon the rights of people.
I completely agree with tbruce. Changing gun laws, or making more regulations isn't going to do anything, except with law abiding citizens. Criminals are still going to get their guns and their still going to do what they want. I am of the mindset that something needs to be done with our mental health laws and departments. That is what is going to make the difference.
I'm really exhausted with the argument that the founding fathers had no idea that weaponry would advance. I'll maybe agree that they were wrong in thinking common sense would but seriously-
The founding fathers were scientists, pioneers, inventors. They were some of the first to investigate electricity. This was the time when the first military sub was being invented. These were men who faught in wars with mass casualties in part because they had to literally stand in front of each other to fight.
You can bet that they thought of advanced weaponry. You can bet that they were educated enough to know that one day... we would be using something other than muskets.
I think the founding fathers would be most surprised that we are still using their words as an excuse, rather than changing with the needs of our present society. I doubt the founding fathers would be impressed by our government being stifled by an interest group's money.