I grew up in a family and surrounding culture that included hunting and fishing. My dad was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed just shooting too, it was a sport he loved to pass along to me his son. I never developed the love of guns though, I just saw them as interesting in a scientific way with muzzle velocities, range, accuracy and all the other technological developments in history being most important. I was taught respect and care in handling and owning guns. Always have them pointed toward the ground... always assume a gun is loaded even if you know it isn't etc. I shot and killed game including deer. I always ate what I shot at the dinner table, even what we call here in north west Pennsylvania woodchuck. I hated killing though. I don't think any hunter should enjoy the act of shooting anything, even so called varmits. Some actually revel in the experience of shooting something nobler than themselves. It's a kind of blood-lust I suppose. Those are the people I wouldn't trust with any kind of gun. Here is what I believe this country should be like concerning personal gun ownership.
Ownership should include meeting certain criteria of responsibility and character. Certification should include training in safety and all aspects of ballistics. Automatic or what was known as machine guns should be illegal to possess by a private citizen unless employed in a legitimate security business or government military. The laws governing handgun and concealed weapons already on the books I think are sufficient in providing public safety and personal protection. Both the weapon and the person attached to the trigger finger make up the whole killing system. No more trite arguments that only people kill people, not guns please. Hyperbole is a good way to measure the truth of a statement like this. Substituting gun with atom bomb for example. "Atom bombs don't kill people, people kill people." Sound ludicrous doesn't it?
Preventing tragedies like we see happening in our schools today is going to take government intervention i.e. our intervention. Our government is for, by and of the people. Through laws and community action we can make it safer for our children and ourselves. Hunters and sports enthusiasts need not worry.
Ownership should include meeting certain criteria of responsibility and character. Certification should include training in safety and all aspects of ballistics. Automatic or what was known as machine guns should be illegal to possess by a private citizen unless employed in a legitimate security business or government military. The laws governing handgun and concealed weapons already on the books I think are sufficient in providing public safety and personal protection. Both the weapon and the person attached to the trigger finger make up the whole killing system. No more trite arguments that only people kill people, not guns please. Hyperbole is a good way to measure the truth of a statement like this. Substituting gun with atom bomb for example. "Atom bombs don't kill people, people kill people." Sound ludicrous doesn't it?
Preventing tragedies like we see happening in our schools today is going to take government intervention i.e. our intervention. Our government is for, by and of the people. Through laws and community action we can make it safer for our children and ourselves. Hunters and sports enthusiasts need not worry.
