The Gun Control Debate

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

I really don't even know where to start.  Do I start with the fact that our Constitution gives us the right to bear arms?  Do I start with the fact that there have been too many instances recently where guns have been used by persons to carry out mass murders?  Do I start by railing on the NRA for their complete lack of competence when it comes to the debate about what needs to be done?  I just do not know where to start.  So let's start with some facts.

Since 1982, there have been at least 62 mass shootings* across the country, with the killings unfolding in 30 states from Massachusetts to Hawaii. Twenty-five of these mass shootings have occurred since 2006, and seven of them took place in 2012. ~ Mother Jones, A Guide to Mass Shootings

•  From 1982-2012 there were 63 mass shootings.
• 49 shooters obtained their weapons illegally
• 12 shooters obtained their weapons legally
• 1 was unknown

• Of the 143 weapons used in those shootings:
• 71 were semi-automatic handguns
• 28 were rifles
• 23 were revolvers
• 21 were shotguns
• of these weapons, 48 would be outlawed by the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013
• 42 held high capacity magazines
• 20 were assault style weapons

These are facts.  They cannot be disputed.

The debate is fierce on this issue.  On one side is the NRA lobbying Washington on behalf of the gun makers to keep any kind of legislation from being passed that limits the purchase of guns on the basis of the second amendment.  On the other side are the gun control advocates who understand that closing the loopholes at gun shows and making universal background checks the norm will do so much to keep these incidents from happening.  Gun rights activists say gun that background checks do not make a difference and point to the legally obtained weapons used in Newtown, Connecticut and just this week at the Washington Navy Yard as examples.

In Newtown, the guns were legally purchased by the mother of the shooter...fact.  Adam Lanza was allowed to live in the same home with an arsenal of weapons legally obtained by his mother when she knew that he was mentally unstable.  Lanza used his mother's guns to first kill her and then the children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary. 

So far, we know that Aaron Alexis, the Navy Yard shooter, was discharged from the Navy without incident and had, we are told, a concealed handgun permit (not sure if it was from Texas).  His guns were purchased legally in Virginia.  Gun rights activists say the gun laws in D.C. did not work. 

Some try to steer the conversation toward mental health issues while at the same time they are trying to tear down what healthcare legislation has been put in place.

And then this.  Miss Right Wing herself Elisabeth Hasselbeck just this morning as the newest talking head on faux news blamed the shooting on video games.  Brilliance was on display as she said "...why aren’t we looking at frequency of purchases per person?"  So we monitor and control the purchases of video games but not guns?  This is what drives me crazy.  This kind of nonsense babble that people listen to and then state as fact because someone on faux news said it.

I will end this post by saying that I have nothing against people owning guns.  I know how to shoot guns...handguns and rifles...and I am not afraid to shoot them.  I will be obtaining my concealed carry permit as soon as I possibly can.  This is not about my wanting to take anyone's guns away.  This isn't about President Obama wanting to take anyone's guns away.  Gun control is about common sense approaches to make sure that people who want to purchase weapons are legally and mentally capable of owning them and using them responsibly.