Matthew McConaughey Op-Ed Calls for Gun ‘Responsibility’ After Uvalde – Opinion

Actor Matthew McConaughey wrote an opinion piece for USA Today Monday saying that “It’s time we talk about gun responsibility.” He explained:

Control and responsibility are two different things. There is a difference between control and responsibility. The first can be used to infringe our right, while the second will help us keep it. Gun responsibility does not have a constitutional limit. Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous people is not only the responsible thing to do, it is also the best way to protect the Second Amendment. We can do both.

People will wonder, “Why do we care so much about the opinions of Hollywood celebrities?” After all, don’t we have enough confetti-for-brains “stars” spouting off on Twitter all the time?

McConaughey, who was raised in Uvalde and visited the town recently after the tragic May 24th tragedy. He quietly visited Uvalde and expressed his support, rather than trying to take photos like Meghan Markle. He considered running for Texas governor in 2022 but decided to not. He might still run for office. He was also spotted in the US Capitol Monday, prompting speculation that he’s consulting with senators who have been mulling over the legislative response to the recent spate of mass shootings.

He explains his reasons for writing the Op-Ed.

A father and the son of a Kindergarten teacher, I am also an American. My birthplace was Uvalde in Texas.

That’s why I’m writing this.

responsibility https://t.co/V5MTw0yXal

— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) June 6, 2022

First, he described what’s happening in the country:

Depraved acts of violence, with guns as the weapon of choice, are ripping apart families, tearing at people’s faith and shredding the fabric of our society.

Then he presented his list of possible solutions to stop mass shootings and preserve our Second Amendment rights.

• Background checks should be required for all gun purchases.
• If you do not serve in the military you must be at 21 years of age to purchase an assault weapon.
• “Red flag” laws should be the law of the land.
• We need to institute a national waiting period for assault rifles.

My colleague Bonchie points out that background checks would not have stopped the Uvalde shooter, writing that such checks “are really just a Trojan horse for a national gun registry and would do nothing to prevent mass shootings.” He argues that increased security and the hardening of campuses would be more effective measures to stop school shootings. It is problematic that someone must be 21 in order to purchase an assault rifle. There is still much debate about what assault rifles are. So-called “red flag” laws are ripe for abuse because if your neighbor doesn’t like you, she could simply file a report with the police saying “He’s crazy and he has a gun” and they’ll come to take it away from you.

Many will disagree with some or all of McConaughey’s suggestions, but they are not the rantings of a fanatic like Beto “We’re Going to Take Your AR-15” O’Rourke. The issue is incredibly complicated, but at least he’s trying to have a conversation.

He’s crystal clear on one important point:

My belief is that law-abiding Americans are entitled to a Second Amendment right which allows them to carry arms.

That statement alone separates him from so many leftists like Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden who say the Second Amendment is “not absolute.”  McConaughey concludes:

It’s not about making a decision between guns and no guns. It’s the responsible choice. It’s the reasonable choice. It’s a quintessentially American choice: Where I have the right to be me, you have the freedom to be you and we have the responsibility to be US.

To find common ground on this issue, both sides are going to have to answer the call and reach for the higher ground of our collective responsibility.

This approach is not for everyone. There are many competing voices, such as Kurt Schlichter at TownHall who writes:

Below is my proposal for gun control in light of the most recent attack against children. This was not a crime that many of us committed. Ready? Gun fascists are welcome to kiss my Schumer, and we can keep our guns.

Schlicter says it better than anyone.

McConaughey’s ideas may appeal to you, while others may find them offensive. McConaughey has an impressive platform to use and wants to participate in the discussion.