So... The world didn't end on December 21st, the fiscal cliff was apparently resolved, and the Canadian World Juniors put together an abysmal performance against the Americans in the semi-finals and lost the bronze to the Russians 6-5 in overtime, ending a 14-year medal streak.
These events are what cross my mind 11 days into 2013. By the way, happy new year to all readers of this blog. I thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read my posts. I've actually received more feedback than I thought I would - from co-workers, friends, and family - who all say that they've enjoyed reading my blog. So, thanks again and all the best to you and yours in 2013.
For the purpose of this post, I'm electing to write about the tragic events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. Adam Lanza, the 24 year old gunman entered the school on December 14th, killing 20 students and six staff members. He also killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, earlier that morning in her home before eventually taking his own life after the horrific shootings. It was the second-largest school shooting in American history.
This event sent shock waves around the world and opened the gun-control debate yet again in the US. It's a very heated subject as pro-gun/Second Amendment proponents argue in favour of maintaining the status quo - even going as far to say that armed police should be in every American school (the National Rifle Association [NRA] stated this in their press conference on December 21, 2012). On the other side of things, many Americans and people worldwide are asking for stricter gun-control laws or demanding the outright ban of semi-automatic weapons.
There are so many aspects to this debate. For one, anti-gun folk state that the Second Amendment (which gives Americans the right to bear arms) is out of touch with modern-day America. They're right. Thomas Jefferson never envisaged the types of deadly weapons that exist today when he drafted the Constitution. Those weapons should never have been invented in the first place, let alone be available in abundance like they are today. But they were invented and do exist and there's no going back now. Anti-gun advocates say strict gun laws or the outright ban of weapons will save lives. But I don't buy it.
I will state a pretty obvious fact; that is, criminals are the people who break the law. Speeders speed, thieves steal, and unfortunately, murderers kill people. That's something that hasn't changed since the dawn of time. Instituting gun control measures will not stop these tragic events from happening because the people committing the crimes will just do it anyway. It's already illegal for someone to kill another person but that doesn't stop it from happening. Making it near impossible to acquire a gun or banning them outright will not stop deranged lunatics from committing crimes. They will still get the guns on the black market (like many criminals do already) and will still commit their crimes. Drugs like cocaine and heroin are illegal to produce, sell, and consume yet there is still a massive black market for these drugs. Making something illegal to possess does not stop people from getting their hands on it. Of course, law-abiding citizens will comply with gun-control measures. They are law-abiding citizens. It's not those people who commit outlandish crimes such as the one in Sandy Hook. It's criminals, who don't usually obey laws to begin with.
Also relevant is the fact that the Second Amendment grants Americans the right to bear arms. Granted, ordinary citizens do not need semi-automatic weapons (no one does) but that's not the point. The intent of the Amendment was to ensure that Americans have a means to legally defend themselves against tyrannical governments. While the idea of the American military turning on the people of the USA may seem like a ridiculous idea, one only needs to look at the history books to see democracies turn into nasty dictatorships/fascists states (i.e. Italy and Germany in the 1930's).
So let me be clear. I don't own any guns. I don't think anyone should own guns... They are dangerous. But I do completely support a person's right to own a gun, especially in the United States where it is one of their most fundamental rights. I do not trust governments very much; especially one with a tract record as bad as the US Federal Government. That being said, people have every right to defend themselves and their families against enemies, both foreign and domestic (to borrow a common American term). Just because some psycho goes into a public place and shoots a bunch of people does not take away Americans rights. It's a sad reality, but these events are unavoidable. Banning guns may seem to limit or eliminate the problem but in my eyes, it will only stir up more issues with adamant Constitutionalists who will only give up their guns by having them pried out of their cold, dead hands.
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