I have always enjoyed responsibly shooting guns. I have shot many types of guns from pistols, to shotguns and even an AR-15 (the exact type of gun I am asking be outlawed). When the most recent shootings happened in the United States, I fell into the crowd that believed it was just a few bad people getting a hold of these weapons that are the problem. I always said that these criminals shouldn't ruin the fun for the rest of us.
The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut that left 20 children and 7 happened while I was home for winter break. I was driving home alone from I can't remember where one or two days after the shooting. Without thinking, I took the route that is usually a minute or two faster. The fact that it was 3:40 didn't cross my mind. Everyone knows not to take this route between 3:00 and 4:00 in the afternoon because Davidson Elementary lets out at 3:45 and the parents are lined up way before. Since the carpool line is so short, the line goes out into the road in both directions and causes a serious roadblock that I drove right into that day. So there I was, frustrated and teed up for at least a 5 minute wait. A hundred thoughts went through my head. Why was I so stupid? I know not to come this way. Why are these parents already here? Davidson needs to get this under control.
The school finally let out. Kids came running out. The setting was a bunch of children with big smiles, lots of running, laughing, and chasing each other around with over sized book bags. I saw the looks of the parents picking their kids up. Their expressions were much more diverse. Some acted as though they hadn't seen their kids in forever, some had more somber looks. That's when I remembered Newtown. Finally the line was moving and I pulled up only a few feet before a small child and grandpa holding hands crossed the street together in front of me. My thoughts of Newtown continued. These kids were the exact same age. I realized that the parents had differing reactions because some were realizing how much it meant for their child to have a normal school day, and others were somber in remembering that not all families had been so lucky that week. The children obviously weren't thinking about this. They just played on as if the world was no different -- a true testament to the innocence of children. Innocent just like the ones who had their lives taken earlier that week. Many parents consider picking their children up from school a chore. I can almost guarantee that the parents of the 20 students shot at Sandy Hook would give the world to be picking up their child again. That's when it hit that now really is the time for change.
Like I mentioned, most gun owners use their guns very responsibly. The problem, though, is that when these guns are not used responsibly, the results can be devastating. In 2012, America had to twice stop and remember those who died of domestic mass shootings, which were both carried out by mentally unstable American citizens with legally-acquired semiautomatic assault rifles. The key phrase being 'legally-acquired.' These are the types of guns President Obama has called for action on. Many argue that if these guns are outlawed, criminals will still get their hands on them. That is a chance I'm willing to take. Had the shooter in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and the one in Newtown not been able to get their hands on guns so easily, they likely would have moved on from the idea since they were likely driven by mental illness and not exterior motives. If this isn't enough, Mother Jones, a site dedicated to reporting facts of mass shootings has released that of the last 60 shootings in the United States, 80% of them have been with legally acquired weapons. Taking these assault rifles out of circulation is obviously the optimal strategy to prevent more deaths of innocent citizens.
Along with limiting the size of ammunition magazines, banning military-style assault rifles is the only gun control change I am in favor of. These guns and magazines have no use beyond being fun to shoot. There is no reason, away from the battle field, for anyone to need to hit 70 moving targets in 90 seconds, especially when they are other humans, like was the case in the Aurora theater shooting. The actual number of rounds the shooter fired is unknown, so 70 isn't even the total number of shots. Equipped with many large capacity magazines, these numbers were possible. Similarly, in Newton, the shooter was armed with many 30-round magazines. Had these been limited to 10 rounds like in the President's proposal, simple math shows that such high death rates aren't possible when such shootings occur.
America must enact President Obama's newest proposals before it is too late, again. The bill only asks that America do away with one type of killing machine and limit the magazines on the rest, along with improving school safety and funding to mental health. If the shooter's legally-acquired semiautomatic assault rifle hadn't jammed while he was trying to shoot up an Oregon mall, America would likely be thinking about more than the 151 innocent civilians killed in mass shootings during 2012. Now is the time. Mass shooting rates are skyrocketing and people still struggle to take the hints. America must honor the dead and pass President Obama's proposal as soon as possible because, after all, now is the time. We need to take action and leave the idea of ignoring what has happened to the children, like the ones running around in the school yard that day.
On December 14, 2012, 20 kids went to school and probably thought much more about how close Christmas was than their safety. Their parents probably even did the same. They never saw each other again and people won't give up guns that have little purpose away from the battlefield? That's weak, America. A child going to school shouldn't be a risk.
I told you before that I am all for shooting guns responsibly. I only ask that America make these changes. I see nothing wrong with sporting rifles, pistols or shotguns. People worry that this is just a start to America infringing on rights, but let me assure you that once America steps beyond this, I am certainly no longer for more gun control. The only thing Americans actually have to give up is putting large amounts of bullets down range in a short amount of time. An AR-15 is the most fun gun I've ever shot, but if my never shooting one again means it will save the life of one innocent child headed to elementary school, that's fine by me. I hope everyone would make that choice.
I may not be able to change your mind, but this should:
Mother Jones' report on U.S. mass-shootings
Dan, very nice post. Just from a writing point of view, the way you open with an anecdote, move in to the details about your argument--that the only reason to have these weapons is that they are fun--and then close with a reference back to the story is a great example of an effective writing pattern: it uses a hook to lead into its argument, then gives a clear analysis, then moves on to a conclusion that ties the argument back to the intro while also giving a final "take away."
ReplyDeleteNow, just to play devil's advocate for a minute: is the argument that something is just fun really that weak? If we banned everything that is fun in order to save one life, what wouldn't be banned? Pools, fast food, alcohol and tobacco, are some obvious examples of things that should be banned under your principle. Here is where I think Chris's argument about the emotional symbolism is actually pretty compelling (banning guns sends a much different message by society than banning these other things).