Re-framing the gun debate

(Why People Wearing Guns in Public Does Not Make Me Feel Safe)

Part 3 

This is the part of the rant where I mention some basic truths.

Fact:  I am among the portion of Americans who believes in the 2nd Amendment.  However, it occurs to me that the 2nd Amendment, when used the way it’s currently used, is an affront to all Americans who wish to live their lives free of gun violence.

Fact:  My family hunts, and they eat what they kill.  My family owns weapons for protection, of their family, and their property.  I have no problem with gun ownership.  My family also works the land, logs the forest, and feels strongly about their rights.

I believe that my family is as horrified as I am when some man enters a school and proceeds to massacre children.  Or when some man goes to the mall and proceeds to wipe out as many people in the food court as he can.

I believe that you are, too.

So, I am NOT INTERESTED in arguing with people about the 2nd Amendment.  I support it.  What I AM interested in is the question of how we get from here to where we want to be.  And by “we” I mean the people who both approve of responsible gun ownership and deplore the way guns have become weapons of random death and misery, and monumental social discord.

Continuing this “debate” the way we have demeans us all.  It doesn’t matter which side of the divide you fall on; what matters now is that you care enough to bridge the gap in some way.

I propose that we begin a national discussion, and I propose we begin by stating the things we can agree on.

Possibilities include:

• Public massacres are a uniquely American phenomenon;
• As a uniquely American phenomenon, WE must address the underlying issues;
• We don’t know what the underlying issues are, yet;
• It is unacceptable for this type of event to increase in frequency, as it has over past years.

I welcome any suggestions for more things we can agree on.  If We the People are willing to work toward a common ground, I believe that we will begin to see that there is no reason to fight each other the way we have been doing for so long.  I have faith that ALL parents would prefer to live in a country that didn’t expose our youth to being killed at random.

The enemy, typically, is the rage-fueled man with a gun and a grudge, and lots of ammo.

If we exclude that demographic, we will likely find ourselves on similar ground.

America has a problem, folks.  It’s time to figure out what it is.

This left-leaning woman has grown tired of fighting to establish that all of our Amendments serve a good purpose.  I believe it.  So if your response is to scream that I want to take away your rights, you are just plain stupid.  Move on.  If your response is to scream that I’m influenced by the so-called mainstream media, get over yourself.  I don’t watch it.  If your response is to scream that I’m a pawn of some nefarious movement that means to take away your guns, you need to get a grip.

What I want is for YOU to stop perceiving my views as being against you.  You need to recognize I (and people like me) want only to LIVE MY LIFE without YOU forcing your narrow views on me.

After all, you have your guns…all I have is reason.  If you feel threatened by my reason, imagine how I feel about your guns.

image credit Real American Liberal