Gun control problems
Katy Bruck, Collegian Columnist
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Editorial / Opinion
As a UMass student, it's hard to ignore the news stories that are circulating on not only this campus, but also on the national news recently. Thursday's Northern Illinois University shooting is the most recent in a number of college shootings that have garnered national attention.
A few weeks ago, there was a shooting in Baton Rouge, La. And there were, of course, the Virginia Tech shootings last spring. A subject that perhaps hasn't made as much news as it should is the subject of gun control.
Even after the Virginia Tech shooting, which was the most shocking and deadly mass shooting in American history, there wasn't as much talk about gun control as one would expect.
This was particularly puzzling considering that, even then, political pundits were slobbering over the upcoming presidential elections. I have vague memories of the Clinton administration, and I remember gun control being more of an issue than it was last spring.
Senator Barack Obama has been the only presidential candidate as of Friday afternoon to even respond to the shooting in Illinois, his home state.
Upon reading up on this subject, it becomes very clear that perhaps the reason for this lack of any noticeable or credible debate on gun control is that there simply aren't two coherent, rational sides to the issue.
The NRA's Web site makes it sound like even the idea of registering and tracking gun licenses and guns themselves is a flagrant violation of the Second Amendment.
Apparently anyone who supports anything resembling such tactics is a "Lefty-Loon," as one blogger on the Chicago Tribune's Web site put it. How any self-respecting politician, Democrat or Republican, is supposed to respond or corroborate that in a mature fashion is beyond me.
To an individual like myself, who has had both positive and negative experiences with guns, the idea of having to obtain a license before buying a gun, and the idea of that gun being coded and capable of being traced by the federal government, does not seem to violate any of my rights.
A few weeks ago, there was a shooting in Baton Rouge, La. And there were, of course, the Virginia Tech shootings last spring. A subject that perhaps hasn't made as much news as it should is the subject of gun control.
Even after the Virginia Tech shooting, which was the most shocking and deadly mass shooting in American history, there wasn't as much talk about gun control as one would expect.
This was particularly puzzling considering that, even then, political pundits were slobbering over the upcoming presidential elections. I have vague memories of the Clinton administration, and I remember gun control being more of an issue than it was last spring.
Senator Barack Obama has been the only presidential candidate as of Friday afternoon to even respond to the shooting in Illinois, his home state.
Upon reading up on this subject, it becomes very clear that perhaps the reason for this lack of any noticeable or credible debate on gun control is that there simply aren't two coherent, rational sides to the issue.
The NRA's Web site makes it sound like even the idea of registering and tracking gun licenses and guns themselves is a flagrant violation of the Second Amendment.
Apparently anyone who supports anything resembling such tactics is a "Lefty-Loon," as one blogger on the Chicago Tribune's Web site put it. How any self-respecting politician, Democrat or Republican, is supposed to respond or corroborate that in a mature fashion is beyond me.
To an individual like myself, who has had both positive and negative experiences with guns, the idea of having to obtain a license before buying a gun, and the idea of that gun being coded and capable of being traced by the federal government, does not seem to violate any of my rights.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 17
Jack
posted 2/20/08 @ 6:13 AM EST
Katy writes, To an individual like myself, who has had both positive and negative experiences with guns, the idea of having to obtain a license before buying a gun, and the idea of that gun being coded and capable of being traced by the federal government, does not seem to violate any of my rights. (Continued…)
fsilber
posted 2/20/08 @ 7:29 AM EST
No, these events happen, promoted by a mass media that insists on making celebrities of these berserkers, we don't advocate disarming innocent people and making them yet more helpless to resist. (Continued…)
Ben Miner
posted 2/20/08 @ 8:07 AM EST
Gun registration is a violation of your rights and heres why. It was the clear intention of the framers that the people should have guns as a check against the power of the state. (Continued…)
John Thayer
posted 2/20/08 @ 8:16 AM EST
Virtually all of the mass killings in the last 10 years have taken place in VDZs (Victim Disarmament Zones) where LEGAL firearms for self defense were banned, leaving the victims helpless. (Continued…)
none
posted 2/20/08 @ 8:31 AM EST
There seems to be a presumption in the article that something called "gun control" will magically protect everyone. I would like to point out that guns were indeed prohibited in most locations where there were mass shootings in the last few years, except a church in Colorado where an armed private citizen lawfully excersized their right to self defense and defense of others to prevent a greater tragedy. (Continued…)
Goaltender66
posted 2/20/08 @ 9:01 AM EST
Well, I'll give her this...it's a pretty piece.
But she fails when she tries to give her central thesis:
"Quote:
To an individual like myself, who has had both positive and negative experiences with guns, the idea of having to obtain a license before buying a gun, and the idea of that gun being coded and capable of being traced by the federal government, does not seem to violate any of my rights. (Continued…)
Wendy weinbaum
posted 2/20/08 @ 1:43 PM EST
This pathetic excuse for an "editorial" could have been written by Saddam Obama! As a Jewess in the US, I just want to remind everyone that criminals are stopped not by talk, but by FIREARMS. (Continued…)
Uncle Lar
posted 2/20/08 @ 2:07 PM EST
Sorry Katy, but wishing the impossible is never going to make it so. Gun control simply does not work. The bad guys blow right past any and all laws you make. (Continued…)
the other mike
posted 2/20/08 @ 5:24 PM EST
May I assume that to you even the idea of registering and tracking newspapers and speech itselves is a flagrant violation of the First Amendment? It would to me, as does your suggestion. (Continued…)
Paul Kersey
posted 2/20/08 @ 6:37 PM EST
Katy, the difference between being licensed to operate a motor vehicle and being licensed to have a firearm is simple – operating a vehicle is a privilege granted to us by the state, and having a firearm is an unalienable right that needs no licensing or registration. (Continued…)
Post a Comment