Posted on 05/03/2012 1:16:31 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The Trayvon Martin tragedy has given gun control activist new ammo. Another American is dead because we dont exercise enough control over who carries guns, and few Americans want to admit this is a problem.
Guns seem to be everywhere, including many places where they should not be. Inevitably they end up getting people killed.
The Trayvon Martin death would not have happened if the man accused in his killing, George Zimmerman, had not been carrying a firearm. There was no need for Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watchman of a gated community, to be armed.
There is no need for the average American to be armed.
Aside from their use in hunting and for police protection, guns serve no purpose. You can argue about personal protection, but isnt that argument what has Zimmerman facing second-degree murder charges?
Why do some people feel the need to carry around a gun an object that could end someones life in a second? Do gun packers derive some feeling of power? Do they not understand the risk of turning a bad situation into a tragedy?
Its hard to make sense of some Americans attitudes about guns. Dont they understand that too many guns in too many hands can have such a negative impact on our country?
Never mind whether theyre unregistered or legally owned, guns are killing people every day. Accidental shootings, criminal acts and crimes of passion they all are made worse when you insert guns in the equation.
Not all guns are evil. If someone wants to own a rifle and use it for hunting, they have that right. Gun owners who invest the time to train on how to safely use and store their guns are to be commended.
Accepting the responsibilities of ownership is essential. But inevitably, for every law officer who trains extensively, or for every gun owner who does the right thing, there are people who have no business owning guns.
Theyre carrying high-risk weapons, and unfortunately, our nations lax attitudes about guns invite them to do so.
You could argue that the freedom to own without responsibility is what killed Trayvon Martin.
If there had not been a gun, Martin and Zimmerman would have scuffled. They would have punched and rolled around, and then each would have gone his separate way.
Nobody would have been killed, the story wouldnt have made the news, and we wouldnt be discussing it today.
Despite a 911 operators warning, Zimmerman felt compelled to track Martin. Would Zimmerman have continued if he hadnt been carrying a gun?
Could stricter enforcement of our gun control laws make a difference?
The United States is seventh in the world in gun crime according to population. Canada, a gun-control nation, isnt even on the list.
If we dont exercise stricter control, perhaps more education would make a difference. If people understood the risks and responsibilities, how many would still feel as if they need to walk around town with a gun in their jeans?
If all gun owners acted responsibly became educated and secured their guns when not in use guns wouldnt cause nearly as many problems.
But when guns wind up in places where theres no good reason to be as in the hands of an overzealous neighborhood watchman were going to have problems.
*******
Jay Omar is a junior journalism major from Omaha at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
email to:
omarjm@lopers.unk.edu
When the nation fractures, this moron will not be welcome in the portion that still believes in the Constitution.
Let him find his fate in the land of hug a thug.
University of Nebraska
Hey, don’t you know that the big RED N on their football helmet stands for “NOWLEDGE”.
Semper Fi. (1970-1981)
Looks like I thought he would.
Whiny, leftist WUSS.
From 1976 through 2005 blacks where 12% of the population yet were responsible for 52.1% of the homicides.
Color is the problem. Not guns. Lets have a discussion about that.
I have to agree with this. Posting this only adds legitimacy to a complete buffoon disconnected from reality.
Someone needs to send this clown this SCOTUS ruling......still in effect today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html?_r=1
It's okay, it's not personal, we all make mistakes.
Same old leftist aka progressive gun hater BS!
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