Guns

I know, this blog is girly in appearance: flowers, the title is a reference to a hair problem, picture is me in pink flowery shoes. But those of us who love the color pink and girly things are also interested in guns and whether or not Americans have the right to own them.

So in 2013 thus far there have been at least four shootings.

What else is dangerous? Planes can be: if one goes down, the odds are bad. Cars are weapons that weigh a few tons and yet they are everywhere. People can easily be run down; motorcycles get hit when cars change lanes without looking. Alcohol is dangerous too. Too many people are alcoholics, they just don't drink in moderation. People drink enough to impair their judgement and increase their reaction time and then try to drive somewhere. Fast food is dangerous. I can go down the street and buy double cheeseburgers for about a buck apiece but organic vegetables always cost more. Lean beef is much more expensive.

Oh, wait a minute! These things can all be okay too! I can't eat fast food several times a week without paying the price. I can't drive like a nut without paying the price; I also cannot be oblivious while driving. No texting, talking on my phone, iPod using, or ignoring my mirrors and anything else on or near the road. I drink maybe 3 drinks a year, and not in the same evening. And I've been invited to go shooting. I plan on going. Yes, a gun. No, I can't guarantee my shooting earmuffs will be pink.

But let's look at the media--you don't hear about the thousands of flights that arrive safely every single day. Shooters are named, their picture is flashed repeatedly, and they are analyzed in the media. We don't ban airplanes. A woman is raped every four minutes; we're not going around castrating men (frankly, some shouldn't feel safe just yet). Pilots undergo training. Cars are to be driven by licensed drivers. Alcohol can be purchased if you're over 21, and a bartender can cut you off and call you a cab to get you home, or somewhere else at least, safely.

So there's a waiting period to purchase a gun. The Sandy Hook shooter couldn't buy a gun because of the waiting period. Victory! But he did kill his mom and steal her guns. Hmm...maybe gun owners should be required to present proof of ownership of a gun safe. I like the idea of a combination + key safe. Preferably, the safe should be crazy heavy and/or attached to the house. People get carjacked, yet we're not banning cars. So we shouldn't be banning guns because they too can be stolen. But seriously people, precautions. You drive around with your doors locked and you get a safe for your gun(s).

The idea of banning guns, except for law enforcement, is frequently met with dripping sarcasm and references to Nazi Germany. During Prohibition in this country alcohol could easily be found. Heroin and many other substances are illegal. Yet they are easily found here. If I were the gambling type I'd say banning guns would keep them away from the likes of you and me, while criminals access them and fire at will.

So new regulations. Such as my brilliant idea of proof-of-ownership of a gun safe to purchase a gun. People with any sort of psychological past should be flagged, with a longer waiting period. There's a an argument about this too, saying it's a violation of privacy to have a note next to your name reading something along the lines of "might be psycho and go on a shooting spree". So what if no reason is given? If you have crummy eyesight you don't get to buy a gun. If you are on certain medications you don't get to buy a gun. If you have a violent past, even if you are not currently under the care of a psychiatrist, you don't get to buy a gun. I don't want people to avoid therapy so they can buy a gun, so a history of violence matters. Otherwise a woman trying to get out of an abusive relationship goes into therapy for support and then cannot purchase a gun just because she is in therapy. That would be stupid.

We have the right to bear arms in this country. We also have the responsibility to know how to use guns and when to use guns. Some people blame violent video games for gun violence. Correlation does not imply causation, such that violent people are attracted to violent video games. Otherwise parents would push 'nerdy' games and movies on their children to 'make' them into nerds. No, nerds are attracted to Lord of the Rings and sci-fi on our own. But we become desensitized to violence.

What about soldiers who have killed? How do they feel after killing another person? Most of the time they feel some sort of remorse. Do killers feel remorse? It's hard to tell, a gunman tends to turn the gun on himself or die in a shootout with police. The soldiers (and cops too) know that a person has died because of them. Killers see stereotypes or labels dying, not people. We have the right of free speech, but not hate speech. Why do we perpetuate rumors and myths and stereotypes??? Look at the suicides because of bullying: these people die rather than face hatred.

We have the right of disagreeing with others. If my candidate wins and my friend's candidate loses an election, then we're free to disagree. Are we free to discuss issues, even arguing? Yup. Are we free to hate each other? Oh heck no. I hate asparagus. But I will eat it to be polite if it's given to me. I disagree with drug users. I will talk to them just like they're people, because they too are people.

We have loads of ways to talk to people instantly these days. Yet we're saying less than ever. "LOL" has very little substance. "OMG wat's wrong???" has only a little more. We've learned how to open the channels but not to maintain them. We have so many emotions but we don't identify them or their source. We fear confrontation and avoid it until we blow up. We must teach "I feel angry when you ______." We let issues fester and simmer and cook until they come to a full boil. Instead of banning guns, let's promote real communication.