TAKE A SECOND TO CONSIDER THE SECOND

Remember that during the late 1700’s when the young US Constitution was being drafted, there was a purpose for protecting the rights of an individual to bear arms (have a weapon).  There were maybe fifteen populated states, with the original 13 being more populated in city areas and of course sparsely populated along their unprotected borders.   There was a need to protect the rights of an individual to be able to possess a weapon for procuring food and act in defense of themselves against evil in forms of the unknown wilderness or the tyrannical forces of power from other countries.  The modern 21^st century economy (230 + years and nearly a fully populated continent later) still embraces this right.  Remember that when this right was initiated, it was assigned under the technology of the day – single shot weapons.

Supporting this argument of need through the years is much like supporting road laws that would still dictate a horse & buggy lane or minimally-motorized lane on a freeway or a collection booth every 100 miles for rights to use the road (but it might only cost a penny).  If communications laws were subject to the same “base authority,” then all our text, chat, email, calls, would still filter through a few central monopolized exchanges where the cent charges for each would be billed to each user.  Those processes once existed and were all voted out for favor of technology, business growth, and transportation safety.

Now, however, we have limited restrictions on the manufacture, sale, distribution, and presence of firearms that aren’t limited to single shot muskets or pistols.  A background check, a driver’s license, an explanation of need, and the money to pay for the full package are the base requirements throughout the land.  Stockpiling of weapons by an individual is perfectly legal, stockpiling of ammunitions is the same, and no one can promise that after-market modifications can’t be achieved (because that’s the right of the licensed owner).  Safety in storing or responsible ownership means the creation of another sub-branch of enforcement to handle the personal investigations (which is NOT going to happen without risk of other confrontations).  Isolating the sales of such items to specific businesses and applying penalties (HAS OCCURRED but the effect hasn’t done much).  Investigations into mass shootings wherein massive casualties are attributed to a single individual leave family, neighbors, friends, contacts, and businesses at large subject to scrutiny (ONGOING with results anticipated in no less than years).

Every mass shooting adds to the wealth of businesses that are shells of their former selves:  Bushmaster Firearms LLC (owned by the Remington Outdoor Company) now under the Cerberus Capital Management, American Outdoor Brands Corporation (that includes Smith and Wesson), Sturm Ruger and Vista Outdoors were all reported by Forbes to have risen in the wake of Florida’s school shooting.  There is an economy based on weapons that includes their proper and improper use, development to improve their operational safety, and improvement of accuracy and recoil.  People buy more weapons because they fear they might lose that right or that product down the road.

All the compelling and articulate stories of survivors won’t bring about a change because if the parents of 1^st and 2^nd grade victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 could not compel the country to resolve portions of this issue, what chance do you have? What’s the only way to truly rally the changes to Gun Laws … be a US Citizen at least 18 years of age and VOTE for people who represent your opinion.   If 97% of the public opinion is that the national conversation focus should be on restricting assault type weapons (which by the way rises like the stocks for gun companies after a mass shooting), then how come bills to do so over the years have been overturned regularly.  This isn’t all the power of the National Rifle Association, it’s an apathetic public not endorsing or supporting the candidates who are willing to stand against the tide.

At the rate of assault-rifle involved shootings, we are now seeing that it is very possible reach a point where everyone will know or come into direct contact with someone affected by such an incident and it won’t matter where you live.  It is unfortunate that there will be requirement of more bloodshed for this to move into the wholly unpopular status, but in the meantime hold onto your passion for or against stricter gun laws stance and maintain it until election time.  Remember that a rapid firing of bullets into a crowd is non-discriminating and the person who does it could be anyone under any form of distress or motivation.  All those gun and ammo sales that spike after a mass shooting (handgun, rifle, etc.) went to people somewhere and into conditions unknown beyond the answers to a questionnaire.