Gun Control
Amid a potential “fiscal cliff” and the settling dust of a presidential election, gun control was not in the forefront of this country’s mind. However, the growing number of shootings in the U.S. this past year alone began to shake the resolve of even those who support the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms.
The most recent case, still unfathomable and disheartening, occurred in Newtown, Conn. Twenty-six students and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary School were shot and killed by Adam Lanza on Dec, 14, 2012.
Lanza did not have to go to great lengths to conceal the gun, nor did he have to bypass elaborate security. Simply carrying a gun through school doors was enough to begin a catastrophic event that would soon rock a nation.
No one had the answers as shocking reports began to fill every radio station, newspaper and TV broadcast. The country was numb. The only absolute was that something had to change in order to stop similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
As the government scrambled for some concrete plan to present to the people, peace of mind and reassurance were greatly needed. The Obama Administration discussed developing policies for gun control – something that requires a bipartisan effort to pass in Congress. Among the proposals is a mandatory universal background check on anyone purchasing a gun.
In addition, the president instated 23 executive orders. For example, school officials will now be provided with “proper training for active shooter situations.”
While gun advocates have not wavered on their stance, the National Rifle Association (NRA) acknowledged that, if nothing else, it is willing to “make meaningful contributions” to prevent these kinds of tragedies from occurring again.
The National School Shield – part of the NRA Education and Training Emergency Response Program and headed by former Congressman Asa Hutchinson – proposes the use of armed guards to improve school security as one of many options.
The country’s attention has been captured; all heads are turned to the issue posed by guns in this country. It is certainly a promising beginning; and one that will not be in vain. However, the greatest feat is yet to be accomplished: a solution.
About The Author
The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees every American the right to bear arms. Has any law ever been so ambiguous? What are arms? What does it mean to bear them? At least with the first amendment we know exactly where we stand: Freedom of speech. It couldn’t be any clearer. But, the right to bear arms leaves the second amendment open to different interpretations. We need gun permits to carry a concealed weapon. Do we need knife permits? No. Yet both can, and often do, cause death. We can own a gun, or a rifle, or a sub-machine gun, or a machete, and dozens of other tools to kill, even our own bare hands. So, gun control is a debate in our country that makes no sense unless you broaden the ban or acceptance to include all instruments of death.;*