We Are All Mostly Wrong

This is a follow up of last week’s post titled “This Argument”.  After a healthy debate with my friends and some additional reading I’ve come to the conclusion the folks on both sides of this gun debate are mostly wrong.  Let me explain:

Last week I said “I don’t waste my money on things I don’t need”, and I was mostly wrong.  In truth, I really don’t need most of the things I have.  I choose them.  The original meme was also mostly wrong, “Give me one reason you need an AR-15”.  Need is not a prerequisite to ownership of anything and my friends made that clear.

Anyone who thinks guns can or should be banned in this country is mostly wrong.  Please look up the disaster called “Prohibition”.  The 18^th Amendment was passed in 1920 to prohibit the use of alcohol.  For the next 13 years the illegal production and consumption of alcohol spawned an industry so large the U.S. government had to give up the fight.  In 1933 the 21^st amendment reversed   Alcohol won.  There are 350 million guns circulating in the U.S. – more than one gun for each person.  We cannot change the hearts of people simply by changing the rules.  There will be bloodshed.  Let’s consider what it would take to change the 2^nd Amendment.  An Amendment to the Constitution requires the vote of 67% of Congress, followed by ratification by 75% of the States.  If you think we can get 75% state approval of a gun ban you are mostly wrong.

The 2^nd Amendment gives all Americans the right to bear arms on the principal that a well armed public is capable of policing a tyrannical government, but if you really think we can police the U.S. government you are mostly wrong.  After World War II the U.S. military complex became so powerful that a well armed public stands no chance in strategic battle.  Our government has tools far greater than anything we could own.  A well armed public will not be much more than a nuisance against our military.  In a strategic sense we would lose the war in short order. 

Then again, if you think the prior paragraph destroys the 2^nd Amendment you’re mostly wrong.  American forces have a long history of defeating countries in war but not gaining control of the people.  The North Koreans, Vietnamese, Iraqis, and Afghans all lost wars against the U.S. but the people never surrendered.  They resisted for years.  They made their own bombs, they formed human shields, they dug tunnels, and they hid in caves.  They did not back down, so America backed out.  You cannot change the hearts of people.  Without surrender, 350 million guns will be impossible to beat.  In the end we would not police our government.  We would lay the country to ruins - a Pyrrhic victory which might be enough to deter a tyrannical government.

Gun owners who talk about the “slippery slope” of gun control are mostly wrong.  Assault rifles were actually banned from 1994 to 2004.  Ironically, this is when the attack on Columbine High School occurred.  If there was a “slippery slope” gun bans should have gotten worse at that time.  The opposite happened.  Assault rifles are no longer banned.  No slippery slope. 

If you think assault rifles are the problem you are mostly wrong.  Assault rifles have been featured in recent mass shootings but there are many, many weapons that are capable of carrying out similar degrees of destruction and death.  In fact, the worst case of U.S. school terrorism was carried out in 1927 with no gun at all.  One man killed 44 people - mostly children - with a home made bomb.  

The problem with America these days is our desire to exaggerate things we are mostly wrong about instead of trying to find sensible solutions to our issues.  Why are we not discussing the fact that the background check system is mismanaged?  Why are we not discussing the fact that the Parkland shooter was reported to the police and FBI before he attacked - he even posted a public threat against the school - yet he was still free to carry out the attack?  Why are we not discussing the fact that current “controls” are woefully inadequate due to under funding, lack of enforcement, and complete incompetence?  Why are we not talking about age restrictions?  Why are we not talking about ways to report and investigate suspicious behavior?  Why are we not talking about universal background checks and banning of bump stocks?  Why are we not talking about sensible limits on ammunition?  Instead we are only talking about banning all guns or not banning all guns.  We are wasting each other’s time and we are mostly wrong.

If you think the kids from Parkland, Florida are marching for a gun ban you are mostly wrong.  The originators of the march only made 3 clear and simple requests:

1.        Pass a law to ban the assault weapons frequently used to carry out mass shootings

2.        Stop the sale of high-capacity magazines, restricting the amount of ammunition

3.        Close loopholes in America's background checks andimplement laws that require background checks on every gun purchase, includingthose that occur online or at gun shows

You might think these requests are mostly wrong, but I am certain that doing nothing about mass shootings is completely wrong.  Write your congressperson about your idea to protect our kids while still protecting the 2^nd Amendment.  This is how we police our government.  Anything else would be mostly wrong.

Tony F.

2018