While pundits all across America were rushing to publish article after article on the terrible Texas school shooting, I stayed back. I had so much to reflect on and so much to write. But maybe it’s not enough. Toss in the redundancy and “solutions” from pundits and politicians alike? It can be called whatever you wish, from writing to make clicks or political expediency. I’ve never been interested in either.
I decided not to wait. Until Wednesday night, that is, after I had a thought-provoking conversation over dinner with a good friend, who also happens to be a smart-as-hell guy, a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, and a law-abiding gun owner who is extremely knowledgable about firearms of all kinds— many of which he owns and has a clear purpose for Why The guns that he owns are his.
Anyway, my friend — let’s call him “Al” — shared with me his strong opinions on actions he believes should be taken and changes he thinks should be made after yet another unconscionable mass murder by an out-of-control madman. You are notAs you may assume, one of those changes and actions is to further limit the Second Amendment rights for law-abiding gun owners. “Evil finds a way,” said Al:
You can enact all the gun-grabbing laws and Second Amendment-threatening laws you want. What is the surprise? You can’t make evil follow the laws. The theater attack of years past is a reminder. The shooter drove 10 or 15 miles to get to a theater that had ‘gun-free zone’ signs posted, outside. Evil can find a way. Laws are useless to these individuals.
Al, cool like a cucumber, saw me in my eyes.
Michael, had I been as insane as the son-of-a_bitch, and as determined as that boy-of-a_bitch to do an unconscionable, evil crime, I would have killed those children with a hunting blade. You could also throw some gasoline or fertilizer into the classroom and light a match. And that’s just off the top of my head.
Al had a point, no matter how horrible it may sound.
Conservatives understand this. Perhaps some liberals know it, as well — but even if they do, the gun grabbers seemingly cannot wait to capitalize on tragedy as they arrogantly and ignorantly call for stricter gun legislation.
Now what? We do? What do Second Amendment advocates do; beyond repeating what we always repeat, much of which I’ve said in this op-ed regarding Second Amendment rights? Given the impossibility of having an intelligent, fact-based dialogue with the left about “solutions” to mass shootings, we must take the lead and offer our own solutions — beyond “just” the Second Amendment argument.
Certainly, improving the detection, monitoring, and adequate response(s) to people who appear to be troubled — particularly, young men, statistically — who clearly should not have the ability to purchase firearms. People who post dark and threatening comments via social media must be reported immediately to authorities. There are also those who shouldn’t be allowed to freely move in public, without being supervised. It’s easy to say but hard to do. We must be better.
My friend Al also talked at length — as I and others have, as well — about hardening access to our schools. Every door must be secured and locked. For supervision and control over entrances and exits, armed guards should be stationed at all entrances. At all times, security cameras with operation must be mounted around the building. You can go on and on.
To me, this is no-brainer stuff and must be viewed, if nothing else, for now, as a last-resort stopping of evil in its tracks before evil does evil things, while we continue the same ol’, same ol’ arguments.
As Al asked me, rhetorically: “Is it more important to have armed guards at banks — when the money they protect isn’t even that of depositors — those funds are guaranteed by the federal government — than protecting our Children We can?
Al looked at me again and finally said, “Al.”
Michael, I don’t love guns; I love my family and I love our freedom. Don’t get me wrong. I like my collection, but I’ll be damned if I’ll make it easy for AnyoneI would like to be taken from my beloved ones and my freedom.
Amen.
Incidentally, you ever notice that many of the liberals who rush to TV cameras to exploit the death of children while calling for a ban on “assault rifles” or “weapons of war” also support the murder of unborn children — right until birth? Me, too.
It is time to do more.
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