Gun Control

As a Canadian, my motivation for seeing stricter gun control in the USA includes a large amount of selfishness. And that's because the vast majority of illegal firearms in Canada likely come from legal purchases made in the USA and then brought across a very long border.

Having said that, I have little patience with those who claim that gun controls, including a registration/licensing procedure, is an infringement on their 'rights'. Governments, even in the 'land of the free' restrict the legal operation of cars based on age and a proven competency in its operation (demonstrated through obtaining a driver's license). Governments demand that owners register their cars (and, heck, even our pets). Does the NRA oppose vehicle registration? Is that a restriction to one's right to own property?

Rights come balanced with responsibilities. So, yes, I agree with a strong control system that says if you want the right to bear a gun, you have to demonstrate a responsibility by going through a licensing and registration process. And I'd go further to have stronger mandatory sentences (both fines and jail time) for those carrying illegal/unregistered firearms or failing to report to the authorities if their gun has been lost or stolen or if they are found to be keeping firearms in an unsafe manner. And while I can agree that such restrictions can be burdensome on lawful, responsible gun owners, they should be prepared to show the rest of us that responsible gun use isn't just a convenient phrase, but is a title one has to work to earn.

Having said all that, I think there are enough justifiable uses for firearms (especially in rural areas) that I'd certainly oppose a total ban. Such a ban would, no doubt, cut down on gun-related deaths. But thousands, too, die every year in/struck by automobiles. Should we then ban cars? Not to mention I could also make the argument that in the hands of a crazy person, an SUV can do a lot of damage on a busy street). So then, the whole argument on gun ownership is part of a larger argument about freedom and order. In a world where you have total freedom, you'd have anarchy. In a world of total order, you have totalitarianism. All rational people recognize that there has to be compromise on the 2 extremes, but the staggering number of lives lost to gun violence in the USA shows that the current compromise has to be re-worked in favour of greater public safety.

My own view is if there's going to be real change on this in the USA, it's going to have to come from the ground up, not the top down. There's going to have to be a change in attitude towards guns and responsible gun ownership akin to the changes underway in attitudes of discrimination towards gays, women, people of varying ethnicities, etc. It's sad but the magnitude of the problem means progress will take time. According to the Brady Campaign there were 65 million privately owned handguns in the US in 1996 and another 127+ million privately owned long arms. That's a very steep hill to climb, but the cost of not climbing it was shown all to clearly yesterday morning in Virginia.