My parents bought me a BB gun for Christmas when I was twelve years old. Shortly thereafter I shot a little sparrow that was chirping peacefully on a tree limb. I hit my target and the little bird fell lifeless from the tree.
I had made my first kill shot!
I should have been thrilled.
Instead I was devastated. I grabbed the dead little bird and ran into the house crying like a little baby. That was the last bird I ever took aim at with that BB gun.
A few years later my parents gave me a 410 single shot shotgun for Christmas. My father took me squirrel hunting with it. I didn’t kill any squirrels that day but my dad did with his 12-gauge shotgun. I was glad I didn’t shoot that squirrel. I would have never admitted that to my dad.
Then life got real serious for me. I joined the United States Air Force and while in basic training was taught how to shoot rifle, not to kill little birds or squirrels mind you, but rather to kill people.
Thankfully I never had to use that rifle. I never shot another one during my four years in the Air Force.
Years later while serving as a Navy Chaplain and serving with the United States Marines Corps I qualified with the 9 mm service pistol. It was more of an ego thing than it was of necessity since I was a non-combatant. I would have never been allowed to use that weapon even in war, which would have violated the rules of the Geneva Convention.
By the way, that 410 single shot shotgun my parents gave me, I gave it away later in life. Never saw the need for having it in my home, especially around my two young sons.
So my history with guns might be considered rather puny by the more experienced gun advocates. I’ve never thought it was necessary for me to own a personal weapon of any kind, for protection or for safety. Since I didn’t care for hunting what would be the point? I have friends who think otherwise and that’s okay by me. I even have a pastor friend and seminary classmate who carries a .38 revolver in his glove compartment. I suppose it gives him a sense of security.
Personally I have never cared for guns. Please understand, this is a personal thing with me. I don’t begrudge anyone the right to own a gun or even several guns if that helps them sleep better at night—arm yourself to the teeth if that makes you feel safe and secure or gives you some pleasure.
A former Navy Chaplain colleague of mine owned a weapons arsenal in his home and he was proud of it. His daughters’ boyfriends were not so pleased. He even carried (illegally?) an unloaded AK-47 in the backseat of his car while driving around Los Angeles. He had a full clip nearby in the front seat if needed.
Now to be fair, this Chaplain loved sports shooting. He spent hours at gun ranges perfecting the art of shooting. He used to joke with me that I liked hitting golf balls downrange while he enjoyed sending 9 mm rounds down range. Okay I get it.
The gun debate in this country is a dead end street. We live in a gun culture in which people are passionate about gun ownership. Yes it is a matter of personal preference. I get that. I prefer not to own a gun or guns. I just don’t care for them. That’s a personal preference and I own it. But that’s me.
I’m also for responsible safe gun ownership. My friends mentioned previously are responsible gun owners.
But here is what really concerns me. The issue of gun ownership in our country needs to be separated from politics. Politics simply exacerbates the issue by creating an “us against them” mentality. The national conversation about what ought to be done to curb gun violence in this country cannot be held hostage by a political agenda, whether conservative or liberal. It’s much larger than this and much more serious.
The superficial clichés used to defend gun ownership are also well worn and tired: “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Or, “the only thing that will stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” Or, “you can’t pass laws to stop those who are intent on killing with a gun from killing with a gun.” These clichés are simplistic and without nuance. We must have a more compelling conversation than what we have on most Facebook posts.
I remember when laws were first being considered to protect citizens from drunk drivers. Similar clichés were often used. People simply do not like being told what they can or cannot do. It took some really mad mothers to force legislators to pass strict DUI laws—and none too soon.
When was the last time you used air travel as a mode of transportation? Are there significant differences in security procedures from a pre- to a post-9/11 world? When was the last time you were allowed to pass through security with your shoes on? Have you been body searched or had your luggage searched? Are these measures a violation of your rights as an American to move about freely and unhindered?
When was the last time you drove anywhere without your seatbelt being fastened? What would happen if the police caught you driving without your seatbelt? Isn’t that a violation of a law intended to protect us?
The fact is the general public needs protection even when it seems like an infringement on our personal rights. Saying that improved gun laws won’t work is the same as saying we don’t need laws to protect us from DUI offenders or from terrorists boarding our plane.
I don’t believe we have even scratched the surface on what can possibly be done to provide a safer world when it comes to guns. Gun control is just as much a hot potato today as DUI legislation was a generation ago. It’s eventually going to happen. It has to happen or we will simply allow ourselves to be sucked down that rabbit hole of senseless violence and mass shootings.
So please. Spare me the overly simplistic clichés and shallow memes. If you want to own a gun or fifty guns I don’t really care any more than I care whether you wear your seat belt or not. That's your choice. What I do care about is that our lawmakers become really serious over reforming gun legislation that will help protect the innocent folks of our country.
It’s not gun owners that need protection. It’s not the right to bear arms that needs protecting. It is society in general that needs protection. We should expect our government to pass laws that offer maximum safety for its citizens. This should be their priority, not protecting the rights of people to purchase and military grade weapons.
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