Yesterday I read this article about how MI lawmakers went behind closed doors to bully through legislature, a law that will allow guns in schools – and they did this literally hours ahead of the Sandy Hook school shooting. I posted the link on my FB page and got this unexpected reply:
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I think I’m over proponents of no gun-control laws throwing the Second Amendment in my face. It might have been a good idea at the time but like all things, times change and we either embrace the changes or drown in our own stubborn ignorance.
The above commenter lives in Michigan and like so many other gun-toting Americans believes that if everyone owned a gun the Adam Lanzas of this world would be stopped dead in their tracks and all the victims would be saved.
Excuse me – but I think someone’s watched too many westerns and confused John Wayne with the average school teacher.
By the time a heroic school admin (or any other private citizen) identified a shooting was taking place, found, dusted off and loaded their Smith & Wesson, the guy with the semi-automatic would have already fired off at least 30 shots and would now be staring at the admin with a Paul Hogan-ish That’s not a gun – THIS is a gun look in his eye. And then the hero would be dead, too.
As a nation we are not trained to react to terrorist danger, use sophisticated firearms or think like an experienced Navy Seal. It would take our brains way too long to process all the information coming at us with lightning speed. We’re lucky to have the time and wherewithal to hide our kids in closets and cabinets.
Private ownership of guns has passed its use-by date and it’s really time to rethink the whole concept.
I have a cousin with epilepsy. He’s not allowed to drive a car. He can, however, go to any gun show and buy a semi-automatic weapon and unlimited ammo. Go America.
December 16, 2012 at 12:54 pm
I saw an interesting comment somewhere today. Since we will never get rid of the millions of weapons in this country, how about we get rid of the bullets?
January 13, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Won’t work. Because the same nuts that have those assault weapons NOW also have TONS of ammunition for those said weapons, and they WILL NOT give up neither their weapons nor their ammo…
December 16, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Just a couple of days ago I had a conversation with an idiot on a comment board who actually said that victims of gun violence are usually involved in something shady. Yeah, like first grade. Others said that if somebody wants to kill, they’ll find a way. So let them. It will take a lot longer to do it if they don’t have military style weapons. Apparently on Friday in China a man was able to injure 22 children and one adult with a knife. But the punch line is this-none of them died. I hope that Obama, with nothing to lose politically any more, will come out on the right side of this. I also think that the people may have finally had it. We took the election back from the big money and the voter suppression efforts, and we can do this too. Dump stock in the companies that make the weapons, boycott the businesses that sell them, vote out the politicians who are owned by the NRA. Also point out what the Second Amendment actually says, and what it was intended to do, when you’re bombarded with nitwits saying “Leave my guns alone! It’s my Constitutional right!”
I just saw the father of one of the dead children make a statement. At the end, he made sure that the family of the shooter knew that he was heartbroken for them, as well as for himself and his family and all the other families of victims. What an amazing thing to witness. What a generous and brave man.
We can do this. Sign every petition that hits your inbox. Write to your reps in congress. Write to the President. This can be our legacy. Peace and safe holidays to you all. Glad you’re back, Oz.
December 17, 2012 at 2:47 am
Michigan’s teabagging legislature is anxious to pass as many insane laws as possible during this lame-duck session. I don’t understand why. They will still control the Legislature in 2013.
ALEC owns the Michigan Republican-controlled legislature just as it owns the legislatures of many other states. ALEC targeted states because the laws passed in states get less publicity and discussion and debate than those passed in Congress. Frightening to think about but true – US Supreme Court justices like Scalia and Thomas routinely appear at ALEC-sponsored events in direct conflict of interest with their obligations as the final arbiters on matters legislative.
I cannot understand why right-wing organizations, like ALEC, cannot tolerate sane gun policy in this country, why they want to destroy public education, why they believe that workers should have neither rights nor benefits, and why they are so opposed to everyone having access to good health care. Why do they want to destroy the country?
PS. I’m from Michigan and this state, just a couple of years ago, was a reasonable and sane place to be. I used to be proud of Michgan. I no longer am.
December 17, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Thank you Beaglemom. I used to be proud of us too. I am proud that we do not sponsor state executions. I was proud of our school system when we treated our educators with respect and paid them properly. I just got back into the system as a parapro with music teachers who are trying to teach 75 6th and 7th graders. There should be two TEACHERS, but I am working as a para. The kicker? I did this 25 years ago when my kids were in elem. school, and earned $2 more per hour than I do now. I am making barely min wage, and I have a degree. Subs are paid less here than anywhere in the county…the exact same pay as 25 years ago. So we get college kdis and elderly people, because no one else will do it. Some days they are short two or three subs in a building, and principals are covering rooms. It is disgusting, and unfair to kids. Meanwhile, the counselor who was in my kids;’ elem. is long extinct, and the two per middle school are down to TWO covering three buildings. At the high schools, we once had an awful ratio of 1 to 300 kids, now it is 1 to 800. A I said, disgusting. The demise of public education equates with the rise in young adult violence, if you ask me. And ALEC is at the forefront.
December 17, 2012 at 10:04 am
Not to stir the pot, but I believe that taking the guns away from the honest people isn’t the answer either. Having been the victim of armed robbery and worse, I know from experience that criminals don’t really care about the law, and nuts never stop what they’re doing because someone says “Please don’t hurt me.”
I legally own and know how to use my weapon, and train with it regularly (like all responsible weapons owners should).
I do believe in psych evaluations, waiting periods, registration of owners, and the need to certify (and regularly recertify) with your weapons. It won’t prevent criminals from getting what they want and attempting to harm others, but maybe a few more responsible gun owners in the world could help reduce the body counts these psychos are so hell-bent on raising.
January 13, 2013 at 1:19 pm
I almost want to bet, though, that the gun YOU own is NOT an assault weapon, but one that has a ten-clip…
February 8, 2013 at 11:28 am
actually, it’s a revolver. no clip. not even a speed loader. lol!
December 21, 2012 at 8:39 am
Well, our Gov. Snyder (R-MI) did not sign the bill that was designed to allow guns in schools but he did sign the bill that waters down the permit/license requirement for handguns. Local police are distressed. Now, instead of having an application scrutinized by three agencies (local police, local sheriff, and state police) so that potential problems can be identified, the applications will be handled by the county clerk’s office. The purpose of the change is to streamline the process so it doesn’t take so much time. No concern for keeping guns out of inappropriate hands or keeping the population safe. Lots of concern for getting those guns sold and keeping those gun customers happy. When I read the other day that the governor refused to sign the guns in schools bill, I suspected that he might still do some mischief. Unfortunately I was right.