Sallow
The Big Bad Wolf.
Our Founding Fathers thought it was important that Americans have the right to bear arms. Since our inception, guns have played an important role of who we are as a country. Guns are part of being an American. Every child grew up playing Cowboys and Indians. With millions of guns out there, there is no turning back. Guns are a part of America.
With our Second Amendment rights come the accessibility of Second Amendment Remedies. Those aspects of our society that some are not happy with can be dealt with by a gun. If you don't like the way someone is using their First Amendment rights to free speech...you have Second Amendment Remedies available to you. If you don't like someones politics....there are always Second Amendment Remedies
This has become part of who we are. Throughout our history, individuals have relied on Second Amendment Remedies to resolve their grievances. Somebody cuts you off in traffic...you have Second Amendment Remedies available to you. Somebody disses your girlfriend? Second Amendment Remedies.
You want to know what we can do about it? Nothing
We have to live with it. It is part of being an American. We have set our path and now must live with the consequences. Some of those consequences of universal gun ownership are good....some are bad. But thats the way it is
That's if you hold the current narrow Supreme Court view..that it's an indivdual right. It's not.
Be that as it may..we have many indivduals that own guns and there ought to be compromise between those that want open carry everywhere and anywhere..and those that don't want indivduals to have guns.
As it stands..the NRA does not feel that way. Hence the consequences. Arizona has open carry. That did nothing to stave off this incident. However, the lax regulatory structure which governs the sale of guns and ammunition..all but assured something like this was going to happen.
And it did.
Specifically, what did Jared Loughner do to merit being denied the purchase of a gun? Marijuana possession? Running a red light?
The insanity defense is being mocked even after he shot the place up. Are we supposed to declare him too insane to get a gun BEFORE he shoots anyone?
Perhaps a competency and licensing protocol should be in order. Especially when purchasing a weapon like a high powered automatic. It's the same sort of thing states use to determine who can own and operate a car or truck.