To write that guns are a part of our everyday experience is probably the most obvious understatement one could make. I grew up watching Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers as a boy and continued with 77 Sunset Strip, and Gunsmoke as an adolescent. Today gun story lines continue with television programs like Law and Order and CSI. Guns and stories with guns and gun violence have become a standard and ever increasing part of American life. Add to this the popularity of televised out of control behavior as seen on various reality programs and the glamorization of gun play and violence in popular alternative music and film and we have a rather gun happy environment.
Tragic events like the massacre in Tucson have happened before and will no doubt happen again. The second amendment to our Constitution states: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. " will continue to be interpreted and debated ad nauseum. Interestingly, one of the only other countries with a higher gun owner per capita rate than the United States is Switzerland and the Swiss have virtually no gun crime. Of course those who believe in a well armed populace like to cite Switzerland as a shining example of an well armed population.
Unfortunately, countries like Switzerland with a homogenous, well educated population and an unemployment rate under 4% are hardly similar to the demographics of the United States. While our cultural, racial and ethnic diversity are viewed as a source of strength and vitality by many, for others this diversity is a source of fear, loathing and hostility. What some do not understand, tolerate or even accept, the second amendment guarantees a tangible margin of safety ... a gun. Add to this scenario the perception that our justice system and various police agencies no longer have the ability to protect and serve; but have deteriorated to function merely as administrators and after the fact clean up specialists. Is it any wonder that more and more Americans find it desirable and in some environments necessary to possess a gun in some shape or form?
In 1791, 220 years ago, when the second amendment was passed, the Founding Fathers had in mind a "well regulated militia". Today after years of interpretation we may not have a "well regulated militia" but we do have a well armed population. Both law abiding citizens as well as this country's criminal element are armed and ready for action. In my opinion the incidences of gun violence we have seen in this country so far have been skirmishes. There is no doubt it will get more violent. If we can't keep guns out of the hands of the criminal element then maybe it is time to more visibly arm the police and others. The playing field is not level. The criminal element needs to become as concerned and fearful of being shot as the rest of us. The current philosophy of gun control has failed and it is time for a change. Any ideas ???
