Posted on 05/03/2012 1:16:31 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The Trayvon Martin tragedy has given gun control activist new ammo. Another American is dead because we don’t exercise enough control over who carries guns, and few Americans want to admit this is a problem.
Guns seem to be everywhere, including many places where they should not be. Inevitably they end up getting people killed.
The Trayvon Martin death would not have happened if the man accused in his killing, George Zimmerman, had not been carrying a firearm. There was no need for Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watchman of a gated community, to be armed.
There is no need for the average American to be armed.
Aside from their use in hunting and for police protection, guns serve no purpose. You can argue about personal protection, but isn’t that argument what has Zimmerman facing second-degree murder charges?
Why do some people feel the need to carry around a gun — an object that could end someone’s life in a second? Do gun packers derive some feeling of power? Do they not understand the risk of turning a bad situation into a tragedy?
It’s hard to make sense of some Americans’ attitudes about guns. Don’t they understand that too many guns in too many hands can have such a negative impact on our country?
Never mind whether they’re unregistered or legally owned, guns are killing people every day. Accidental shootings, criminal acts and crimes of passion — they all are made worse when you insert guns in the equation.
Not all guns are evil. If someone wants to own a rifle and use it for hunting, they have that right. Gun owners who invest the time to train on how to safely use and store their guns are to be commended.
Accepting the responsibilities of ownership is essential. But inevitably, for every law officer who trains extensively, or for every gun owner who does the right thing, there are people who have no business owning guns.
They’re carrying high-risk weapons, and unfortunately, our nation’s lax attitudes about guns invite them to do so.
You could argue that the freedom to own without responsibility is what killed Trayvon Martin.
If there had not been a gun, Martin and Zimmerman would have scuffled. They would have punched and rolled around, and then each would have gone his separate way.
Nobody would have been killed, the story wouldn’t have made the news, and we wouldn’t be discussing it today.
Despite a 911 operator’s warning, Zimmerman felt compelled to track Martin. Would Zimmerman have continued if he hadn’t been carrying a gun?
Could stricter enforcement of our gun control laws make a difference?
The United States is seventh in the world in gun crime according to population. Canada, a gun-control nation, isn’t even on the list.
If we don’t exercise stricter control, perhaps more education would make a difference. If people understood the risks and responsibilities, how many would still feel as if they need to walk around town with a gun in their jeans?
If all gun owners acted responsibly — became educated and secured their guns when not in use — guns wouldn’t cause nearly as many problems.
But when guns wind up in places where there’s no good reason to be — as in the hands of an overzealous neighborhood watchman — we’re going to have problems.
*******
Jay Omar is a junior journalism major from Omaha at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
email to:
omarjm@lopers.unk.edu
Ditto cars.
What’s his stance on banning those?
I like to put some variations in my barf alerts. You didn’t see this:
(Bucket suggested)
Yeah. I’m going to take life guidance from a junior journalism major. Because actors aren’t stupid enough.
If there had not been a gun, Martin and Zimmerman would have scuffled. They would have punched and rolled around, and then each would have gone his separate way.
Nobody would have been killed, the story wouldn’t have made the news, and we wouldn’t be discussing it today.
Such a complete fool. Martin would have murdered Zimmerman. This nitwit didn't even pay attention to what Martin was doing to Zimmerman that got Martin legitimately killed.
If there had not been a gun, Martin and Zimmerman would have scuffled. They would have punched and rolled around, and then each would have gone his separate way.
Nobody would have been killed, the story wouldn’t have made the news, and we wouldn’t be discussing it today.
Such a complete fool. Martin would have murdered Zimmerman. This nitwit didn't even pay attention to what Martin was doing to Zimmerman that got Martin legitimately killed.
You think that’s bad?
Justice For Trayvon Martin: Other Killings And The Liberal Media Bias Myth
http://live.drjays.com/index.php/2012/05/03/justice-for-trayvon-martin-other-killings-and-the-liberal-media-bias-myth/
The author, just another victim in waiting.
Those that believe that their own personal protection is to be left up to someone else (police/government) are just victims waiting in line............
I can see you have never owned a British car.
That, sir, is the post of the thread.
Our local high school newspaper is a careening Titanic, if the Titanic was piloted by a vat of non-intelligent goo. My highly conservative, Christian-schooled, 4.0 GPA son regularly shreds the stories found therein. He wants to become editor and set the paper straight. I tell him he has no future in journalism.
Unfortunately, he has a natural talent for it. He's the best editor I've ever seen. Everyone (myself included) goes to him to review their papers.
Change that to “Bucket Advisory” and make it a standard warning. Maybe just below “Barf Alert”.
Our junior journalism major is just another college naval gazer. His college degree should read “useful idiot”.
University of Nebraska, stick to Agriculture Science. You're just not producing journalists.
... and Jay, catch a shave and comb your hair.
His e-mail address is right above you.
This guy needs to change his major. But then again, he’s probably not smart enough to do anything else except to write drivel like this.
One irony the author fails to recognize or attempt to discuss.... The reaction from race baiters and the thugs comitting crimes out there in the name of avenging Trayvon have made many of us... buy more ammo, get more guns.
I hate it when people hold back and don’t say what they really think.
.
.
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Seriously now, spot on, you’ve nailed it.
Really? I would have guessed 'sophomore' because the (lack of) logic and (poor) writing skill comes across as a tad sophomoric...
I can just as easily carry around a shovel, rat poison, knitting needle, length of rope, car keys, or any other method of snuffing out another person’s life.
Thye just take more effort and dedication to kill someone with them than a gun. Of course, they love to think that outlawing the tools of the crime and you prevent the crime, noooooo the way to prevent the crime is to punish the people who hurt people besides themselves.
Well, SHAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAMMM!!!!!! My guns have been in my house for many years and not one has ever killed anyone.
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