Taking care of one another…YES!
i propose that in light of all of this heated (and necessary!) gun control conversation that we, the 311 million people who can VOTE, vote for things that take care of one another.
creating adversaries before they start, “living defensively,” is going to crumble our ability to stay UNITED.
this is one of the most logical statements i have seen, from my friend Jonathan:
The core argument as I understand it – that the presence of armed security, armed teachers, citizens or police may have prevented the Sandy Hook massacre and perhaps other mass killings – is not only a perfect example of a hypothetical logical fallacy, it relies on two assumptions. The first is that the mere presence of “good guys” with guns would be enough of a deterrent to prevent “the bad guy” from even considering committing the act; and second, that if the “the bad guy” still attempted to commit the act they would be stopped by the armed “good guy” while doing so. The first doesn’t stand up to any scrutiny since deterrence by definition only works with rational actors. The second is no less flawed since it relies on the Hollywood fantasy that the “good guys” always win. The Fort Hood shooter was neither deterred by, nor prevented by a massive presence of weapons and “good guys” who most definitely knew how to use them. And let’s not forget that Adam Lanza’s first victim had her own cache of weapons which she knew how to use. Sorry, but I just don’t buy the “hair of the dog dog that bit you” solution that the NRA and its supporters keep offering up. It sounds to me like they just want to sell more guns.
Can we please look past financial and political motive on this? You have a gun, you are sane, fine.
I think most people can see the myriad of issues that are tied to this (mental health, desensitization, lack of laws, lack of parental guidance and care, etc.).
In our passion, let’s please be logical. I beg that we can unite on one thing: We have the highest murder numbers, and CHILDREN (along with every innocent person) do not need to die. We need to feel safe in public. Does it make you feel safe to see armed people everywhere? It makes me very uneasy.
Who would pay for these millions of armed police officers? Should we arm places of worship, all malls, our Starbucks, our front doors?
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I buy Sudafed, My I.D. is swiped and registered. 6000 rounds of ammo bought online goes unnoticed. Taking some sort of action is better than an apathetic answer that “well violence would still happen anyway.”
I know more about guns and gun crazy people in my life than i would ever wish on anyone. i also am pretty knowledgeable and have had life experience with mental health, mental health professionals, the laws, and what is available to someone like Adam Lanza’s mother. So i’m not coming from this foo-foo hippie dippie lets all hold hands and shit rainbows attitude.
My heart goes out to anyone who is a victim of violence, and right now I am reminded of the recent events. Innocent children and people die everywhere, and in my perfect world, none of it - drones - war - violence - greed - and just plain ole hatred wouldn’t even be words we would invent because it never existed. But here we are in the real world.
Gun control is not the be-all-end-all answer. But let’s face it. We could do better.
Watch out and take care of each other. Watch out for signs of people who maybe need Mental Help. Fight for better programs and awareness. Vote. Speak up. This is a start.
p+l
fd
