Thanks. I don't get the fascination with killing instruments. It is on me, as well. But I won't understand people that are not in the military or law enforcement that want killling weapons.
If they wanted to go out and use a bow and arrow for sport, I'm good with that. Only Rambo could do much damage with that.
Hunting may be a sport. Killing people is not. And tell me what is the number one cause of our youth death.
I appreciate your perspective, JM, and understand where you're coming from. I served in the military too, and I was trained to use weapons responsibly (
before, during and after service). They definitely serve a purpose beyond just being "killing instruments."
Growing up, hunting wasn't just a sport for me either – it was a necessity. My family and I hunted in the Ocala National Forest with a group of individuals who were dirt poor, and hunting season was their chance to stock up on venison and wild boar for their families. It wasn't looked at as a "Yee haw" sport, it was taken very seriously.
This isn't necessarily directed at you, Jimmy, but the idea that
all gun owners have something to compensate for is such a BS, cop out response aimed at a small sect of gun owners who feel they need to tout their gun prowess with ridiculous open carry laws, public displays, family photos with AR-15s, etc. There are many others – farmers, ranchers, hunters, professional marksmen, and people like me who've been in situations where a gun was actually necessary for self-defense.
I believe in reasonable gun control measures and think people like those in opposition in this thread need allies like me. But too often, those who criticize gun owners make sweeping generalizations instead of recognizing the diversity of responsible gun owners who also want sensible regulations. In fact, here are 5 reasonable gun reform measures I'd be fine with:
- Raise the Gun Purchasing Age to 21 (18 with Honorable Military Service)
- Ensure that individuals must be at least 21 years old to purchase firearms, with an exception for those 18 and older who have served or are serving honorably.
- Universal Background Checks
- Implement mandatory background checks for all gun purchases, including private sales and gun shows, to ensure that firearms are not sold to individuals with a criminal record or history of mental illness.
- Mandatory Waiting Period
- Enforce a mandatory waiting period of at least 7 days for all firearm purchases to allow for thorough background checks and a cooling-off period for the purchaser.
- Mandatory Gun Safety Training and Licensing
- Require all prospective gun owners to complete a certified gun safety training course and obtain a license before purchasing a firearm. This would ensure that individuals are knowledgeable about safe handling, storage, and operation of firearms.
