Debate Magazine

It Was the Gun's Fault

Posted on the 10 September 2011 by Mikeb302000
It Was the Gun's Fault
L.A. Now reports on an incredible crime committed by Joseph Hyungmin Son, seven years before the 1997 movie "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery."
The fact is I don't blame the gun and I find it extremely tedious to be continually accused of that by the pro-gun folks.  In this brutal crime, for example, I actually feel the gun was superfluous.
What the story made me wonder was, would the victim have been able to save herself had she been armed too? I think not.
When sudden, random violence strikes, like in this case, a concealed weapon will rarely help. In spite of all the claims to the contrary, true DGUs are extremely rare.
The problem is the pro-gun folks use stories like this to push their agenda.  Convincing people that they need to protect themselves is a disservice to those they want to help and to society at large.
The proliferation of guns for personal protection is a bad deal because the chances of your gun being used to save your life are extremely low while the possibility of it being MISused in some way is greater. It's a bad decision, a fear-driven mistake, that's all.
The solution to the problem of violence is to take sensible precautions and not give into the fear.
What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.

Back to Featured Articles on Logo Paperblog