Take aim at guns, once and for alThe Advocate Staff
Posted: 03/28/2009 05:20:01 PM EDT
Updated: 03/28/2009 05:21:45 PM EDT
In all corners of the United States, small towns, big cities, and right here in the neighborhoods of Connecticut, there are daily reports of wanton shootings. Some of the least expected to own guns are carrying them, and guns are prevalent among those prone to ignore the law. Every day there are reports of injuries, or death by gunfire. Protecting one's turf for the sale of drugs is sometimes the cause of a shooting.
Years ago any disagreements were settled by good old-fashioned fisticuffs, or a wrestling match held in a neighborhood lot. When it was over the combatants shook hands and went about their business of getting on with a "pick-up" ball game or some other gainful event.
These days we have learned to take the news of a shooting of a teenager or any person in stride "¦ or, as best we can when we learn of a death or serious injury caused by a firearm.
From the daily news reports one would think we were living in the Wild West of old.
So, where are the illegal guns coming from? The latest news is that most of them are coming from all points in the country. We manufacture so many guns that those used in the border eruptions in Mexico come from this country.
Go ahead say it now, "Here he goes again." The National Rifle Association during the past eight years has received preferential treatment from some members of Congress, and the executive branch. The NRA quotes the Second Amendment to the Constitution that says that we all have the
right to bear arms. What the NRA doesn't say is that the Second Amendment was written in the days when all men were subjected to being called from their homes to defend the country. There was no military draft and the muskets were kept by the front door to be at the ready when any enemy approached.
In reality, some people are bearing arms illegally and it appears that the illegal carriers far out number the good citizens who carry guns and have a permit to do so.
There are reports of gun dealers who drive to Virginia, fill their car trunks with weapons, come to this area and sell them to anyone. "¦ And now Mexico has joined that practice of "gun running." Sad to say, the process is working in both directions. The latest reports tell us that there aren't enough federal agents to control the situation, and they blame the proliferation of guns on the drug trade. That may be so, but when the news reports almost every day about a hold up or a turf war that was settled by a shooting, law-abiding citizens shudder.
Also troubling are the news reports of wanton shootings that usually occur over a fight for turf in the drug trade or an argument over some inconsequential matter. Some of that gunplay has occurred in the middle of downtown Stamford, usually on a busy Saturday night.
The problem is compounded by the fact that law-abiding citizens have no way of knowing who is carrying a gun, whether in a car or under a jacket. The advice that I received from a law officer was, do not engage in, say, a motor vehicle argument over a parking place or being cut off. Be retiring and back away from such situations.
But the bottom line begs the question of when is the Congress going to amend the gun laws? During these days of economic recession and high unemployment it is difficult to communicate with one's representative in Congress about gun laws, it is the economy all the time. But when the rhetoric concerning high bonuses, and what to do about unemployment, hopefully dies down, perhaps Congress will take up the problem of the proliferation of guns in our society.
Trading in guns is a profitable business. And those who conduct their business of selling firearms to hunters and sportspeople according to the law are not to be blamed for the proliferation of firearms in our society.
The lawmakers need to look to themselves when it comes down to crime. Those same lawmakers are guilty of relaxing some gun control laws for the sake of financial support from the National Rifle Association.
------
Don Russell is a columnist for The Advocate. His e-mail address is
HvyWrtr@aol.com.