Let’s End This Madness

Over the years, gun violence in the United States has been a major subject of discussions within our country. It seems those discussions are always associated with a call for stricter legislation regarding gun ownership, more regulations for purchasing guns, and the abolition of certain types of guns and associated equipment.

The rhetoric becomes red hot for a while. It most always becomes a hot topic during election cycles, and the emotions surrounding this issue usually dominate the discussions. However, very little of substance results in what is done.

Last week we saw another senseless act of violence in the Buffalo, New York area which resulted in a loss of 10 innocent victims. It appears to be the work of a single young man who chose race as his motive and a gun as his tool. Not much else is known about this shooting, but the airwaves were packed with talking heads on the Sunday news shows.

I don’t profess to have any great insight as to what causes these types of tragedies. All I know is that they are unacceptable in any civilized society, and they have gone on for all too long in our nation. The world looks up to the United States for everything our country has done for the good of mankind and the generosity of our citizens. These types of tragedies stain that good reputation.

How have we come to minimize the value of life? Growing up we respected it, as well as our elders and our parents. Schools and teachers were something to be looked up to. The word “respect” was something that we aspired to and sought to acquire from those around us after we earned it.

Children aren’t born with a “hate gene,” it is something that is created within them by those that they associate with or are exposed to through media and other everyday outlets and avenues. Did you ever see a preschool child not enjoy playing with another because of the color of their skin or because of a difference in cultural values? They would simply enjoy the company of each other because a “smile” knows no ethnicities, language barriers or color differences.

As I’ve said before, like most of you, I am not comfortable trying to speak in a definitive manner as to the root causes of the current terrible acts of violence. However, I am certain there is a correlation between what our children are being exposed to now, versus those who were brought up in the ‘50s and early ‘60s. Children today have been desensitized as to the value of life in movies, computer games and the media, that generally portrays how we value all aspects of behavior.

It is not until young children are exposed to the divisionary rhetoric in today’s society do they start to mimic those very opinions. Most of them don’t even understand the effect it has on those around them.

We will never be able to hold a reasonable discussion on the firearm issue until we remove emotions from the debate. If the wrong element in society wants to acquire firearms to do harm or commit crimes, they will always find them. The City of Chicago is a great example of this, as they presently have some of the strongest gun control legislation on the books but continue to shoot and kill more of their citizens every day on those streets.

I am not in favor of large capacity magazines or drum magazines, some of which are now available for 12- gauge shotguns. These styles of magazines are for one purpose and one purpose only and have nothing to do with legitimate hunters or sporting enthusiasts or the person seeking protection within their homes. 

I remember in the mid-60s growing up in our small community as a high school student. That school had a senior class that graduated 58 young men and women in 1967, who prepared to move on and out into the world.

During those four years in high school, we would have an afterschool course in “Hunter’s Safety.” That class was taught by Mr. Phillip Delahanty who was an English and Latin teacher in the school, and if my memory is correct, he also taught Driver’s Education. He would joke that teaching Driver’s Education placed him in more danger than Hunter’s Safety.

Male and female students desiring to take the course would bring either a shotgun or rifle to school on the day of class to receive instructions on how to safely handle that equipment. (Ammunition would not be brought with the weapon.) Instructions on how to properly clean and store the firearm, given by both Mr. Delahanty and officers of the Fish and Game Department, made us better citizens. 

There was never a problem or incident and after the end of the six- or eight-week course we were given a certificate to demonstrate our successful completion of the course. Then and only then could we apply for a state hunting license. 

Today there seems to be a strong correlation between issues of mental illness and many of the recent mass shootings. The after-action report on many of these terrible incidents have shown red flags that should have been recognized and followed up on but were not. Why aren’t we connecting more of the dots and preventing these incidents from occurring? If it takes another day or two on a wait list to complete a thorough background check which might prevent another shooting event, isn’t it worth it?

These same mistakes were made in Columbine, Sandy Hook, the Parkland School Shooting, the recent Buffalo incident, and many others. 

We should never have to bury another child, grandmother, or father due to this insanity. We are better than this and we owe it to our citizens to do a better job.