The United States had around 10,000 gun murders in 2010. That's a significant number, but did you know that 369,629 people died on America's roads between 2001 and 2009. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2011, there were 32,367 traffic-related fatalities and in 2010, 32,885 people died on America’s roadways. Also, there are 100,000 alcohol related deaths each year in our country. 2.5 million people worldwide die each year from alcohol related causes.
It's been one month since the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 20 young children and seven adults in Newtown, Conn., and today there was another shooting at a college in St. Louis, Missouri. A former student at Stevens Institute of Business and Arts shot his financial aid adviser and then himself.
After other recent shootings at a mall, a movie theater and then with the elementary school shooting in Connecticut, there have been many calling for stricter gun controls. Some are even pushing for total gun bans. Yet, it has been proven through history that gun bans don’t work and they don’t stop mass killings from occurring.
Today, New York passed one of the toughest gun control bills in the United States. Even President Obama has threatened to use an Executive Order in an attempt to curb gun violence and possibly ban guns. That of course would be unconstitutional and infringe on our constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms. If he would do this without Congressional approval some in Congress may try to have him impeached. There is no way that Obama has the authority to issue an executive order which supersedes an amendment to the constitution.
The Second Amendment was designed to protect us from an oppressive government by guaranteeing the citizenry a means to fight back if the need is warranted. The Second Amendment states; A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. The Supreme Court has definitively held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that weapon for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. Moreover, this right applies not just to the federal government, but to states and municipalities as well.
To enslave, disarm the people . . . “When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, – who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia.” – From a speech in 1788, by George Mason, one of the Founding Fathers of our country.
To stop all the violence maybe all law-biding citizens should do their part and just turn in their guns. I’m sure the criminals and gang-bangers will do the same. What utter nonsense. I am for better gun laws, enforcing current laws and tougher sentencing though.
But, a better way to stop lots of the violence would be to seriously address the ills of our society. It’s a sad commentary to have locked doors, armed guards and police in our schools, work places and stores. It has been suggested by the NRA that all schools should have armed guards. What a terrific expense and burden this would put on our school districts. Locally, the East Stroudsburg School District has had police officers in its schools for over 5 years.
As long as our nation’s leaders will not face the real problems and put blame on those who deserve blame, not much will be accomplished. Politicians should stop worrying about offending certain groups of people and stop playing to their voting base.
We all know we can’t depend on our government, our military and even our police to fully protect us, so don’t even think about banning my guns. The majority of people in this country want to be able to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Since all this gun control talk, gun sales have gone through the roof. Local sporting goods stores and firearms shops can’t keep ammo on their shelves. People are arming themselves to the teeth.
One last note: Today at a middle school in the Wilson School District in Berks County, one student stabbed another student. One more act of school violence, but this time no gun was involved.
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