I know some people are saying this is a time for grieving and mourning and not the time to be discussing gun controls. I respectfully disagree. This is most definitely a time for grieving and mourning, but if this moment can be the catalyst for change to increase the safety in our world; especially of our children; then we would be fools for missing this chance. This tragedy is not about guns alone. I'm sure in the days, weeks and months ahead we'll see it for what most things are - very complex issues and situations. But, to say this is not about guns is just naive. This is most definitely about guns and a gun culture that is out of control.
Also understand that this isn't an attack on the Second Amendment. This isn't a call to get rid of all guns or to take away someone's right to self-defense. This is simply a call to be reasonable. Certainly there can be such a thing as too much. Let's make some reasonable change for the good of all.
A few facts to think about:
- In the United States, 31,224 people die from gun violence each year and 66,768 other people are injured by guns yet survive. [Compare that to England (39); Canada (200); Finland (17); Australia (35); Spain (60); Germany (194)]
- A gun in the home increases the chance of being killed by a firearm 72%
- A gun in the home is responsible for a vast majority of children killed by firearms
- A gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be used in a suicide, homicide or accident than to be used in self-defense
- A gun in the home triples the risk of homicide
- A gun in the home increases the likelihood of suicide five fold
- An abused woman is 6 times more likely to be murdered if there is a gun in the home
A final thought for those who think that the solution is more guns:
- Columbine had two armed guards
- Virginia Tech had its own police department
- In 2009, at Fort Hood, the shooter walked into a heavily armed and weaponized military base with armed and trained soldiers everywhere. They did not stop him from killing 13 and wounding another 24. More guns are not the answer.
This is a simple post to say that now is the time and simply let's be reasonable in finding solutions. Let's not let this moment pass without effecting real change for our future.