Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Guns No Longer Banned... In Chicago

In my newspaper (the Goshen News) yesterday, they included an article, "Gun Ruling Really a Tax," based on the ruling that was recently made in Chicago, allowing anyone to own a handgun (with the proper registration, of course).

Unfortunately, despite searching, I can't find the article to link back to it, but basically, whichever reporter wrote the article felt, of course, that this is a bad thing. See, now it's no longer illegal for law-abiding citizens to have guns.

He mentions most of my arguments in a cynical tone. And the way he writes it, he sounds right. Then, he goes on to say that this ruling will increase suicides, people killing their spouses, etc.

Here's the thing: Yes, access to guns probably will increase gun crimes. (Duh.) However, if someone is going to go off and kill their spouse, or kill someone in a crime of passion or commit suicide, it doesn't change the fact, that, gun or no gun, they will find a way to do it.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that I'd feel safer walking around with a gun. Consider it like this: guns are fairly commonplace in the criminal realms of any major city. As a law-abiding citizen, that makes me a target for people who would rob me, kill me or rape me. Frankly, I'd rather not have any of those things happen to me. Or anyone else. I think access to guns - for the law-abiding citizens - though not enough, is one step in the right direction. It's one step towards change.

Personally, I'm for this type of change. Not change in the "Pro-Obama Mantra" but change in matters where it matters. Change in things that can be changed - and should be. Politicians can promise change all they want, but all they have is hot air. That won't change. What will change is people: people who stand up for themselves, people who pursue change, and who strive to change the things they think should be.

2 comments:

Emily said...

I completely agree w/ your position. I never did understand why anyone would disagree.

Melody said...

Because they're secretly communists?

People somehow think that gun laws are going to protect them.

As if a criminal is going to hear about the law and say, "Oh, I'm not permitted to carry concealed? Well, I guess I'll just have to find another way to threaten, maim, and kill people."

When Ohio passed laws against carrying concealed a person from Indiana sent the Cincinnati Enquirer a thank-you note, explaining that now all the gun toting criminals would be moving to our fair state where they knew that if they couldn't see someone's gun - they didn't have one.