I don’t often use this space for anything approaching political heavy-lifting; there are plenty of columnists better qualified than I to write about those weighty topics. But after the recent massacres in Buffalo and Uvalde, I feel compelled to say something about our insane addiction to guns and the divisive issue of gun control. Here I go…
First, I don’t hate guns or gun owners. When I was a kid, I had a .22 that I used for target practice. I’ve shot skeet; sometimes I even shattered a clay. While I’m not a hunter, I recognize that many people like to hunt, whether to put meat on their tables or for trophies. That’s their regulated right and I accept it.
Second, with regard to the argument that the Second Amendment of the Constitution guarantees the right to own a gun, I find it beyond ludicrous that the framers of the Constitution ever envisioned that one day there would be a weapon like an assault rifle with a high-capacity magazine, let alone that it would be used to murder defenseless children or their teachers or people shopping in a supermarket. It was James Madison who proposed the Second Amendment in 1791, and the original text provided for 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.” That this worthy 18th Century ideal has devolved into an argument for a general right to own and/or use a personal arsenal of weapons worthy of 21st Century warfare is a shameful misinterpretation of the Second Amendment’s original intent, one primarily perpetuated by National Rifle Association and its minions in the gun lobby.
Third, thoughts and prayers are a useless defense against the twisted psychology that sends someone into a school or a supermarket to commit mayhem. Making a school safer by arming its teachers or providing police protection at its entrance is a step too late. Universal background checks and more effective screening of individuals who want to purchase a gun are steps in a better direction. So is providing better mental health services to individuals with a record of unstable behavior although there are no guarantees that these services could ever foresee or prevent deadly aberrational intent. Closing loopholes in the few gun laws that do currently exist sounds about as effective as the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dike.
We need strict laws that effectively regulate gun sales. We need universal background checks. We need a ban on the sale of assault weapons and tactical armor to individuals. Our police and military might require such offensive firepower or bodily protection, but you and I don’t. No other country in the world suffers so much senseless gun-related tragedy as we do and if we do nothing to stop it, it will only get worse. How long do you think it will be until the next mass shooting?
Our elected officials have failed us. Gun control needs to be a bi-partisan issue, not a red/blue, across-the-aisle shouting match. Commonsense legislation would not abrogate anyone’s right to own a gun. Rather, background checks and a ban on the sale of assault weapons would help heal a nation that is fighting for its soul and crying out for an end to this terrible national nightmare.
Let’s begin again. President Biden said it best: “Turn this pain into action!”
I’ll be right back.
Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives in Chestertown. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine. Two collections of his essays (“Musing Right Along” and “I’ll Be Right Back”) are available on Amazon.
Sally Prince says
My son , a former Landon student, was killed by a 16 year old with a handgun when he was a sophomore at YALE. I mourn his loss everyday.
My husband worked hard with the Brady’s and sen Schumer to
Pass sensible gun
Control. I will go politicsl and say many of these were removed by republicans who are subsidized by the evil NR A including Trump who took $30 million from that organization. He just spoke at their convention… this is ludicrous. These very same people who want to protect a fetus will NOT protect our schoolchildren.
Rick Balaban says
Jamie, an absolutely terrific and concise statement of a completely sensible and necessary approach. Thank you
Richard Harrison LaMotte says
Jamie,
Thanks for speaking up. Since you pointed out you did not hunt, I’ll admit several decades ago I did use a shotgun to bring ducks and geese to the table. ALL hunters, using automatic shotguns, knew full well you must have a “Plug” in your automatic shotguns to avoid a very hefty fine. That plug was to limit hunters to only 3 rounds of shotgun shells in the gun, rather than the 5 rounds each was capable of holding. This gave a group of ducks and geese a better chance for escape. Common sense and laws govern hunting. Teenagers with assualt weapons are not part of a “Well-regulated militia.”
Stephen Schaare says
Richard, There are no such things as “automatic shotguns”. Certainly not in this country.
Deirdre LaMotte says
A quote from a veteran:
“ I laugh at the argument that AR-15/AK clones are not assault weapons because they are semi automatic. I served 28 years on infantry duty
1979 to 2007. I have carried M16AL, A3, A4, M21, M4’s and various other weapons. In combat we never used a full auto as it is too wasteful and inaccurate
unless in close range ambushes. Full auto in M16A1 will empty a 30 rd margin about 2 seconds. Semi in about 11 seconds. More than enough to assault a school or a public gathering”
You have made numerous comments suggesting that
a semi automatic is a neutered version and should not be regulated. Wrong.
Stephen Schaare says
Deirdre, I have never said such a thing about semi auto.
I have repeatedly told you and others that automatic weapons are not available in this country.
Apparently you looked it up and now understand.
Thank you for that-Steve
Jim Steele says
I’m so glad you wrote this Jamie. You have captured perfectly how so many logical, concerned Americans feel about guns.The idea that regulating assault weapons or implementing strict background checks would in any way deter hunters and others who own guns as a hobby is as you said, ludicrous. This is another example of the evil of money in politics. Unless we get that system under control, enough lawmakers will be beholden to the big bucks of the NRA and other unsavory interests with deep pockets. Virtually every public opinion poll shows that most Americans want some form of gun control. But I digress. Through this column, you have given voice to all of us who grieve over this horrible event and lack an outlet other than family and friends for expressing that grief. Thank you.
Patricia Cammerzell says
If you agree with Jamie, please write to ALL of your elected officials.
Vic Pfeiffer says
Well done, Jamie. I’d add requiring one to be 21 years old to buy a gun to your list.
Bill Minus says
Thanks for speaking up. I was a hunter in my teens. If I remember correctly — when hunting waterfowl, a shotgun can hold a maximum of three shells. DOES THAT MEAN WE THINK MORE OF DUCKS THAN CHILDREN????
Ned NEWLAND says
Great
Evan Thalenberg says
This is an excellent essay. There have now been twenty (20) mass shootings since Uvalde. Every day I worry about my grandchildren going to school. Even some republicans are reconsidering their position and voicing support for age limits and red flag laws as 50% of mass shooters communicate their intent beforehand. This will only happen though if we ALL refuse to allow this to become the norm. We need to write our representatives and contribute and vote every day. Our grandchildren’s lives are worth it.
Jamie Kirkpatrick says
And now another deadly shooting with an assault rifle, this time in Tulsa. Purchased at 2pm, used for murder at 5pm. Tick-tock, Senate GOP…
Briggs Cunningham says
Courtesy of Rex Chapman on Twitter:
“How about we treat every young man who wants to buy a gun like every woman who wants to get an abortion — mandatory 48-hour waiting period, parental permission, a note from his doctor proving he understands what he’s about to do, a video he has to watch about the effects of gun violence… Let’s close down all but one gun shop in every state and make him travel hundreds of miles, take time off work, and stay overnight in a strange town to get a gun. Make him walk through a gauntlet of people holding photos of loved ones who were shot to death, people who call him a murderer and beg him not to buy a gun.
It makes more sense to do this with young men and guns than with women and health care, right? I mean, no woman getting an abortion has killed a room full of people in seconds, right?”