In Guns We Trust!

In The Weapons of MassRepercussions, Eileen Smith writes a satire-laced blog on gun-control laws and the inability of Congress to come up with any meaningful resolution to the demanding issue of gun control. I did chuckle when reading her argument to those who love to hoard weapons to ensure self-defense in case they are invaded. All jokes aside, Smith attempts to bring to light the significance of the matter and what has permeated our society with the obsession of gun ownership and the desire there of, especially following the conversation about gun control. Partly it seems that the mention of guns may have awoken the sleeping giant that is the gun totting crowd whose argument has little to do from constitutional standpoint and plenty full in emotions fueled through pure misleading.  And partly because of interests in the industry that is committed to share holder value than identify the underlying challenge. Yes! The NRA’s solution to the problem was a “good guy with a gun”. Yes, more guns seem the solution. If I could go ahead and stoop to that level, I would equate it with more drunk drivers on the road to be the key to less drunk driving related deaths. This brings me to Smith’s other opinion with regards to a training plan that will cost the state of Texas $9.3m in training teachers in preventing classroom gunfights. This proposal was put forward by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) whose goal is training two teachers per school in case of a shooter is in the school. Pretty fascinating, given the ever-declining education fund that in fact would have served better in cultivating a well-rounded citizen that would probably become a responsible gun owner. The whole thing seems in reverse order but I am very certain somebody is reaping the benefits and it sure is not a gun owner that is waiting for another 1776 to happen.

Eileen Smith’s lighthearted approach to reporting this hot issue is nonetheless a sure way to reach out many who do not have the “time”. It offers the option of entertaining the idea at a pace that is more manageable with a language many like myself can understand. Chuckles aside, it is a helpful way for some to be intellectually stimulated in digging further to the truth. After all, with the all the hoopla in the media and the folks in Washington that intentionally make it complicated and uninteresting, the likes of Eileen Smith (and Jon Stewart) may offer an avenue that would pique the interest of the reader or viewer to dig deeper. Lack there of would only be a self-induced ignorance followed by inaction.