In the wake of this most recent tragedy in Virginia and in the light of the ongoing situation in Iraq, it's time for all of us to take a long hard look at who we are, how our government is suppposed to work and what our constitutional rights really are.
Before exploring issues like gun control, let's look at the current administration and the decline of our country over the past six years. There are few times in history when a hugely powerful nation has been so reviled by the rest of the world. Since 9/11, the rights of citizens have been systematically weakened or stripped entirely from the populace and we've let it happen. It some cases we are guilty of even encouraging it. Foregoing our liberty for percieved security. And what have we gained by this horrific trade-off? Less security, fewer liberties and a world that fears, loathes, despises and pities us.
How truly sad is this? The answer can only be, very sad indeed.
Let us not forget that much greater empires have fallen and ours is a very young nation still full of hubris believing that we are right and just and in many ways superior to the more primitive and less enlightened peoples of the world. How is this different from the Spanish seeking to save the native peoples of the Americas with christianity or the Catholic crusaders seeking to convert or destroy the Muslim infidels or for that matter, the Muslim radicals presently seeking to spread their version of Islam and the eradication of those they call non-believers?
The constitutional guarantee of a right to bear arms "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." was designed to ensure that that the citizenry was able to protect itself from a tyrannical leader or governing body. This simple statement has been interpreted in so many ways over the past 200 years that practically no one can agree on what it truly means to a nation of 300 million composed of people from just about every nation on earth and of varying mental and social capacity.
Mention gun control and the NRA flips out citing the 2nd Amendment.
Mention gun control and the left will cite examples of restrictive laws in other countries that seem to result in much lower rates of gun violence.
Let's look at this from a 50,000 foot level. In Canada, there are an estimated 7 - 11 million guns in the hands of 2.4 to 3.8 million citizens. In the most recent findings, there were 816 deaths in a one year period attributed to guns. The fact that needs to be observed in this figure is the rise in the use of handguns to facilitate these deaths and how many were suicides versus homicides. The use of handguns in the these deaths in Canada has reportedly risen sharply over the past few years.
Point to consider.
Handguns are more readily concealed and transported than rifles.
In Australia, strict regulations on the ownership and sale of both handguns and long guns have seemingly reduced the number of gun deaths in recent years. This is an interesting case where virtually all guns have been included in the regulations and registration of weapons is required. I'm not trying to draw you to any conclusions here, just providing some food for thought.
Let's get a little bit closer now and see what simple steps we might take in an effort to address the problems associated with guns in these United States of America.
Registration of guns. May discourage a small number of borderline individuals from seeking out or acquiring guns. Will likely enrage the NRA and some citizens.
Gun buy back programs. May prove helpful in reducing the availability of weapons "on the street" or more accurately in closets, nightstands or other areas where they are easily reached by children or burglars.
Commission of an in-depth study to seek out causitive links related to violent behavior involving the use of guns. Such a study may examine factors linked to gun related homicides in the hope of determining potential areas to target for remediation. Look at key factors such as prevailing economic conditions, political climate, localized economic factors, personal details of the offenders including home and work life, history of drug or alcohol issues, mental challenges, etc. Such a commission would need to include people from academic, law enforcement, medical and local civic organizations to ensure a wide exploration of all possible links.
Now that we've started down the path of the guns/homicide issues, let's take a look at the civic side of the house and how we as citizens might act to regaing control of our country from powerful lobbying groups funded by major corporations that benefit at our expense from the largess of so called "corporate welfare". John McCain was once an allegedly strong opponent of corporate welfare and powerful business interests. Sadly, this no longer appears to be the case.
What we need now more than at any time in recent history is a grass roots effort to elect local politicians who will represent the interests of a society that we want to be. It's going to be a long, slow and sometimes painful process as those we've chosen fail to win election or disappoint us once they have and we need to start the cycle again. But it is a worthwhile endeavor that in years to come will show us as the truly great, compassionate, caring and free nation that we like to think we are but are actually nowhere near to truly being.
So, how do we get there? And, more importantly, who is this "we" and how do we make sure that everyone is included? On this point I have a couple of people to mention. Both of them politicians, both outspoken and somewhat controversial, one electable to the executive branch and the other presently restricted from doing so. Figured it out yet? I'll give you a hint. Tennesseein is believin' and Kalifornia! Yes, I am serious about this and yes I believe these two men can help to bring the nation together, restore our internal and external credibility and start us down the path of a being a nation of genuinely United States forging ahead into the 21st century where we have decent wage paying jobs, a political establishment that is trustworthy and serves the people, not the corporations, and a society in which we all feel valued, heard and responsible for our future and for that of our neighbors, friends and families.
I'll have more posted up here in the coming days and weeks, but for now let me leave you with this thought.
No matter our outward appearances and
disparate beliefs, we are all human beings here
by good fortune and divine providence as
stewards of this earth and each other.
Be nice.
Peace
