Guns – Support Them Or Not?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

One of the hottest topics of conversation today – Guns

The laws on the possession and use of guns varies from country to country or state to state, some are more liberal while others have strict policies on guns and how they are allowed to be used or not used. Regardless of the implementation of said laws there is still an element that refuse to listen or obey such laws, there always has and probably always will be so long as the ability to choose for themselves is taken away from them.

The subject of the safety of guns is always presented as a valid argument for the defence (against having guns), they are dangerous and responsible for many unnecessary deaths each year, the prosecution will argue that it is the holder of the gun that is responsible for the pulling of the trigger, the gun itself is an inanimate object.

It has been put out there that each person wanting to own a gun should be put through a series of tests that prove he or she can and will be responsible with and for that gun and that they must carry a licence for the gun, this is the case in a few countries like Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Other countries like the USA and Canada have more liberal views on the ownership of guns. Most of Europe and Asia have very strict laws on owning guns, in most places only the military are allowed to be armed.

So, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Should people have the choice to own guns or not? Are guns more dangerous than other potential weapons such as knives, biological weapons, drugs and bows/arrows? In my opinion, it is a matter of opinion. Anything can be used as a weapon if someone is intent on hurting another person or animal. A large kitchen knife can inflict pain, mutilation and death on a person or animal. Common household ingredients can be used to make bombs strong enough to clear a whole block of houses or worse. There are many accelerants available over the counter that will burn a building down (and whoever is in that building) without too much encouragement. Alcohol in the wrong persons hands can cause them to maim and kill others as can drugs yet most of these things care sold over the counter at your nearest hardware/supermarket or drug store.

So how are guns any different? They have the same result in the end. Is it that there is so much attention and hype given to guns that they seem to be a larger problem than anything else? Is it because we have such a war mentality and guns are the weapons of war? Is it true that the more attention you pay to something the bigger it grows?

I firmly believe that as an individual we are capable of anything we put our minds to and that includes intentionally hurting someone and once the decision is made then it doesn’t matter what weapon is chosen to get the job done, the result is the same. So, it comes down to personal responsibility, responsibility for our own actions and responsibility to teach our children and grandchildren the same. I personally think that owning guns should be a personal choice but justas you must have a license to drive a car, so must you have a license to own guns.