Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, both gun owners, have started an organization that is working toward the eventual enforcement of sane gun laws, including universal background checks. Let's get real here: Most proponents of the Second Amendment only quote the first part, and conveniently forget about the second - you know, that pesky thing about it being "well regulated." What is happening in our country right now is anything but.
Here's what I had to say about it on Facebook a couple of weeks ago: "This gun owner is proud to support Gabby's efforts toward sensible gun control (and, in case you're completely deluded, NO, that doesn't mean confiscating everyone's weapons, sheesh). I absolutely unequivocally support UNIVERSAL background checks on ALL gun sales and doing much more to make sure those who legally shouldn't have a weapon (violent felons and the mentally ill), can't get them. I also think that gun safety should be mandatory - especially after seeing SO many right-wing gun enthusiasts' photos on FB that demonstrate quite clearly that many people have NO friggin' clue how to safely handle a weapon. It makes me ill. IMNSHO, responsible gun owners MUST speak up. If we don't, we're not any better than real Christians who refuse to speak out against the hateful unChristian actions of the Westboro Baptist Church." My post received over 230 likes from people who aren't even on my friends' list, and over 50 replies, many of them from like-minded gun owners.
I'm going to give just two examples of out and out stupidity regarding guns that I have witnessed on Facebook. I posted both and asked for responses from my friends, many of whom are also gun owners. I have to say that I was sorely disappointed - because not a single one would dare speak up to denounce these blatantly stupid and irresponsible incidents involving guns. I grew up literally out in the boonies, and my father took great pains to teach each of his kids how to shoot, and shoot well, but even more importantly, he taught us about gun safety and responsibility. For that, I will be forever grateful - because while we have always had guns in our home, we have never had a mishap or horrific accident due to improper storage or handling of weapons. The very FIRST thing he taught us was to NEVER, EVER, EVER point a gun at anyone or anything, even if it wasn't loaded and even when just carrying it, so as to not shoot someone accidentally if we tripped, etc. When we carried a gun, we made sure that it pointed toward the ground - always. The ONLY exception was if we intended to fire it - in which case we would lift up the weapon and point it toward where we intended to shoot, after first checking our surroundings to be sure that nothing would be entering the path of the bullet. Also, we never kept loaded weapons in our home. It is nye on impossible to shoot someone accidentally if you keep your weapon unloaded and store the clip outside the gun. Anyway, back to the photos on Facebook that I was talking about. The first one was a "family photo" of a young woman holding a baby, who in turn was holding a revolver in its little hands - with the barrel of the revolver in the baby's mouth. WTF? Seriously? What is the matter with people? This is a tragedy waiting to happen. And what in hell was going through the mind of the person who actually TOOK the photo? Did they think the picture would depict both of them as being cute? clever? funny? badass? or just what? What they WERE being was f*cking dumb - both the woman in the picture and the person behind the camera - and to me it illustrates perfectly why background checks are needed every single time a gun changes hands; not everyone is mentally fit enough to own a gun. I don't care how much you want to strongly defend the Second Amendment to the Constitution - to condone the irresponsible behavior of this woman is reprehensible. And if you fail to speak up when you see a wrong being committed, yes, you ARE condoning it.
Another picture that really bothered me was one of a little girl, probably 5 or 6, sporting a pretty pink rifle slung across her back - with the barrel of her gun pointing UPward. Again, WTF??? That's a good way to get someone else shot in the chest or face - especially since we hear almost daily about adults shooting themselves accidentally with "unloaded" guns. The time to teach our children safe gun handling is before we even let them touch one for the first time. Just as with the other picture, this depicts a tragedy waiting to happen. I honestly had no idea that so many adults are seemingly unschooled in the proper and safe handling of weapons, and that they in turn are passing that along to their children. Yikes.
I know there are thousands upon thousands of other responsible gun owners who feel the exact same way I do, including many card-carrying members of the NRA. It is past time for all of us to make a stand and insist that something is done to stem the carnage that has been happening in this country at the hands of people who should never have been able to obtain a weapon in the first place. The very first order of business should be abolishing the "gun show loophole," that allows states, like Utah, to ignore background checks completely on every gun sale taking place at said gun shows. The entire purpose behind this particular loophole is to get around background checks. To insist otherwise is ridiculous and disingenuous.
If you're a gun owner, and even if you're not, and you are interested in helping Gabby and Mark in their efforts, check this out: http://americansforresponsiblesolutions.org/ .
