Over the last 30 years, our country has had a very sad, and frightening issue to be concerned about: Mass shootings, and spree killings. There has been 62 incidents since 1982, and they have become alarmingly more frequent. The mass shooting in Connecticut in December of last year shocked and devastated our Nation... for the 62nd time. Why have we allowed this to go on for so long? As humans, I think it is natural to avoid thinking about this matter, simply because it is so difficult to comprehend how and why this happens. So although these events are not forgotten, no action seems to be taken to resolve it.
Out of these 62 killers, 49 of them obtained their weapons legally. This number really scares me because Texas is a state where anyone can purchase and carry a gun. All a person needs is a state issued identification card and they are legally allowed to possess weapons that could potentially take many innocent lives. How are we supposed to protect our people, and especially our children if we don't come up with a screening process to make sure the people that are buying these guns are psychologically and mentally eligible to do so.
I am not against the 2nd amendment, which declares the right to bear arms, but in 1793 people weren't concerned with mass shootings or spree killings. In today's society this is a major concern, there needs to be better control of who these guns are going to and what their purpose is. If we want to stop these mass murders the first thing we need to do is stop selling weapons to the mentally ill.
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At least I have found someone who agrees with me on this subject. People should be allowed to exercise their second amendment by all means, but a lot of order and restraint and self discipline should should always be in play here.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that she mentioned caught my attention here, of the sixty two atrocities committed by gun violence, forty nine of them were from guns bought legally. I have known this since I started hunting on my father's farm at age sixteen, gun owners are supposed to have strong gone safes or cabinets where guns are locked all the time when they are not being used by legal owners. In most cases here a gone in a home will most likely take the life of a family member before or after mass murders.
Also there is this wild belief that these amassed guns will be used for protection from the government. It makes me so sad to realize that this country has such shallow thinkers among this great American society. So maybe it is me that does not understand. Is it that easy to have fluid logistics to command everyone that comes out of their home carrying a gun? You are not even a militia to begin with, but you have the nerve to tell us that the founding fathers told you to bear arms to overthrow a legally elected government. So who do you replace that government with and where does it ever explain such a scenario in the constitution.
Thank god this thinking is harboured by the minority otherwise we were going to end up like Syria or even worse.
I do agree with you that we need to stop selling guns to the mentally ill and there needs to be more control over who is and is not able to own a firearm. I am, for the most part, for universal background checks because it would stop some of the loopholes that are available for people to buy firearms. However, some of the things you have stated are not true or misleading.
ReplyDeleteTexas is NOT a state where anyone can purchase and carry a gun legally. In fact there is no such state. There are federal laws that prevent this such as The Gun Control Act of 1968, which prohibits individuals from purchasing firearms that fall under the following:
1. Is under indictment for, or has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year;
2. Is a fugitive from justice;
3. Is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act)
4. Has been adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to any mental institution;
5. Who, being an alien, is illegally or unlawfully in the United States
6. Who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
7. Who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship; or
8. Is subject to a court order that restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such inmated partner or person. (someone with a restraining order)
Also, the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993, which established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and raised the age to leally purchase a handgun and ammunition to 21 years of age. This system is used today by anyone that tries to purchase a firearm from any federally licensed dealer.
So not anyone can legally purchase a firearm. However, there are loopholes within these acts. These loopholes include “private transactions” which can take place at gun shows (It is important to note that at many gun shows have many dealers with a federal license that perform the required check) or between friends or family members. Even still it is illegal to sell weapons to the people that fall under any of the categories stated above "private transaction" or not.
The real question is will universal background checks have any real effect. Many names never get entered into the database. For instance the Virginia Tech shooter passed through two background checks because Virginia never submitted his mentally ill status to the database. 23 states and the District of Columbia have submitted fewer than 100 mental health records to the federal database. 17 have submitted fewer than 10 and 4 have not submitted any. 33 states have not submitted any records to the controlled substance file in NICS.
Many Senators and Representatives are pushing for gun control and universal background checks yet don’t even have their own state send in records to try and stop some of these individuals from owning firearms.
Also Texas is NOT a state where anyone can legally carry a weapon. It is not an easy process to get a concealed carry permit. Not only do you need state and federal background checks but also you must have a record of your fingerprints taken as well attend and pass a course (course is usually a total of 10-15 hrs.) that proves you know how to handle and fire such a weapon and pay all required fees.