Gun Control – How Emotional is America About It?

I’ve already been “un-friended” about it. My Faux-Pas? I suggested to a “Friend” who wanted to get political right after the most recent school shooting that “perhaps we could wait until the children were buried, before we politicize their deaths”. Seemed fairly inoffensive to me but, apparently, was too liberal or too lefty or too “anti-gun” for my former “Facebook Friend”.

Unfortunately, it’s going to get worse. The powerful lobbies that see benefits in dividing America will use the “Gun Control” issue to drive a wedge between co-workers, neighbors and, yes, Facebook Friends. The only way that a relatively small group like the NRA can succeed in their mission is to demonize the people who they feel are getting in their way. By painting the current administration and those that support some tighter standards on gun sales, assault weapons, etc. as people who are out to infringe on American’s 2nd amendment rights, the NRA creates and capitalizes on fear and paranoia. 

If the NRA can convince people that the Government is “coming to take their guns” then gun sales go through the roof at inflated prices. The irony in this is that the very people who (rightfully) want to resist the government telling them what they can or can’t do, are being easily and transparently manipulated by the very organization that they are counting on to defend their rights. 

I like guns. I admire the precision in a modern firearm and totally understand people who enjoy them. I would defend any gun owner who was trying to keep his guns from being taken by the government. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre said at Senate Hearing on Gun Violence that ‘Law-Abiding Gun Owners Won’t Accept Blame for Acts of Deranged Criminals’. HE IS RIGHT! Law abiding gun owners SHOULDN’T accept blame for criminals. Law abiding gun owners should be as anxious to support new gun control measures as the parent of one of those kids who were recently killed . WE SHOULD BE ON THE SAME SIDE!

As a spokesman for the NRA, Wayne LaPierre is, at best, an inelegant choice. If the NRA really wanted to represent responsible gun owners, they should be on board with fixing the problem instead of demonizing anyone who doesn’t agree with the NRA agenda. If I were a serious gun advocate, I’d be extremely upset with how ineptly Mr. LaPierre has represented his membership. I feel that responsible gun owners could further their goals with a more realistic and less hysterical agenda. Does ANYONE really believe that the Government is coming to take your guns????? Really?

It’s more important now, than ever, to remember that the person on the “other” side of this discussion wants the same thing that you do! A Safer America. When you write something, a post to Facebook, an e-mail, a letter to the editor, try to imagine that you are talking to a person, your next door neighbor for example, and state your case with the same respect that you would expect. We need a DIALOGUE on this important issue, not posting someone else’s “Talking Points” and adding “Yeah”. 

It’s true that it’s harder to actually think and express YOUR thoughts than it is to hit the “SHARE” button and post something from the ideologue of your choice, but it’s WORTH IT because, perhaps, someone will listen and see your point. America, we need to be rational about this and other big issues. We need to talk, not yell. We need to listen, in good faith, to the other side (whichever side that is, for you) if we want to understand and be understood. We can do this. We shouldn’t let other people tell us how we should feel. We have brains, hearts and tongues. LET’S USE THEM!

Please feel free to pass this on if you think that I’ve made any sense. Thank you for reading.