Shootings

We live in dangerous times. Fear. Insecurity from disease, economic failure, failed relationships, faltering careers, aging, the unknown. Fear. The unknown. The abyss of…….?

Add to that frustration. Then anger. What to do with the fear? What to do about the frustration? And, Oh God! What do we do with the anger?

Facebook is a tool for venting. So are blogs. That is if you use them. Honestly use them. Ask for help in understanding the fear, frustration, and anger. Do not rail against these things with wide open mouths spitting venom and attack. Talk about your frustration. Talk about the pain. Let it seep out of your core. Let it lessen its hold on your emotions.

Blogs are good tools that seek understanding and logic. It displays your brain on full view. Making sense of the unknown and often the unknowable. This blog does that often. It is a mechanism that helps me cope. It serves as my circuit breaker box. The fuse.

Leaving fear, frustration and anger simmer is not good. It produces emotional distortions. It breaks down resistance to urges for revenge. To hurt others in payment for whatever they have done to me.

In America, guns are everywhere. At least one third of households do not own a gun. It might be two thirds. Whatever the portion, the remainder own several guns. 330 million guns for a national population of 320 million. That is horrifying if only a tiny fraction of those gun owners is over the top with anger and frustration.

The thin line of reason is not enough to hold back such people. They take the gun to the perceived enemy. A lover gone sour. A spouse as enemy. A bad boss or co-workers. A government agency deaf to personal need. Whatever. The anger. The gun. The mayhem.

Death. Death by gun. Death by a misunderstood constitutional freedom.

The right to bear arms was the means to gather a civilian militia when needed. Meanwhile, the individual could use the gun to protect themselves and family from wild animals, snakes, marauders, Indians and other perceived threats. They were rampant back then.

Today the threat is 330 million unregulated guns.

I doubt the authors of the constitution intended this. I think they intended a well-regulated militia.

It is time to bring commonsense back to our nation. Regulate gun ownership strictly. Meanwhile, control the sale of ammunition in whole or in part (homemade ammo makers). Remove all AR type weapons from private ownership; these should belong to the military or policing agencies and their personnel only.

In the longer term, conduct necessary discussions that lead to this outcome: zero mass shootings in our nation. Gun deaths reduced from 40,000 annually in the USA to a number of 1000 accidental gun deaths. Make those goals happen. Figure it out. No one wants to confiscate guns with the exception of AR’s.

That is it. Now do it. Include all who wish to be included in the discussion. Start with the NRA. And Congress, of course. And State legislatures. Remember the goals: no mass shootings, and 1000 accidental gun deaths annually.

Now, get to it.

April 23, 2021