The first thing I must express is my heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the senseless tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Nobody can imagine what the family and friends of the victims’ Christmas was like. Gun laws, whether the definition is gun control or safety, needs to be at the forefront for everlasting change. The Second Amendment was not adopted for the National Rifle Association (NRA) to use and abuse. This giant lobbying group began as a gun safety organization and eventually turned erratic as the gun owners have.
Why must anybody own these deadly assault weapons or multiple extended magazines other than the military? The Second Amendment defines “the right to bear arms” for a well-organized militia, not crazed gun owners with mental issues today. The amendment has been abused and discarded as much as the forefathers who adopted this law of the land centuries ago. Now we are the forefathers responsible to carry out this once-reasonable amendment. There is no reason why there are more than 350 million guns owned by American civilians. We are the most armed nation in the world, ahead of second-place Syria. This does not make America the greatest nation. It has become an embarrassing, paranoid nation. And paranoia runs deep in the hands of America. Where do we begin to sanitize gun laws in America?
The answer is not to arm every school in America as the NRA suggests. It begins with strict legislation and common-sense gun laws, not continuing to arm every person living in this country. It begins with mental health legislation. It begins with banning Hollywood’s appetite for producing violent video games and movies, especially to be allowed viewing by children.
These productions only encourage violence and nothing less. Building more prisons and mental hospitals and increasing mental health insurance coverage makes more sense than arming every school in America to protect children.
Evolving and changing attitudes can be a good thing and a smart start toward many social services to increase safety. Look how far we have come by social change; women’s rights, the civil rights movement in the 1960s, educating and banning tobacco use in public places, stricter drunk driving laws, the gay and lesbian movement toward legal rights, reducing gang violence and many other issues that have improved our society and safety. My question is: Where have we been regarding gun regulation and legislation?
The answer is: just about nowhere. We have ignored the problem long enough. We do not need only more discussion; we need stricter regulation with some real sharp teeth to address this increasing epidemic. Some old cultures must die. Come on America – we are better than this. Rethink, take action and evolve now. Make it the law of the land.
People love to say, “God bless America.” The truth is God does not bless the violence we have in America today. Where does that leave us?
Earl D. Erikson is a Tacoma resident.