Deer Hunter
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2005
- Messages
- 4,097
I love this campus. I saw this in The Battalion last night.
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http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/...nion/The-Truth.About.Gun.Safety-3512168.shtml
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The truth about gun safety
When used responsibly and appropriately, guns can be used to help, not hurt.
By: Christopher Buckley
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: Opinion
The usage of guns in America has always been a hot-button issue used by politicians to appeal to their various constituencies across the country. Thanks in part to the efforts of our Founding Fathers, the right to keep and bear arms is a protected right shared by all citizens. The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution ensures that the government does not have the jurisdiction to take away this right.
The importance of protecting this right is derived from fear of the government exhibiting some form of abuse toward its citizenry, in which case the citizens would have the right to replace that government with a new one that would better serve them. The relevance of the Second Amendment can be derived from a single sentence in the Declaration of Independence - "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Initially, gun rights were established to allow citizens to protect themselves from threats that may arise from the government, but firearms now serve as everything from competition to protection to collectors' items.
The Uniform Crime Report, an accumulation of official data on crime that America's law enforcement agencies provide to the FBI, reported that 400,000 crimes in 2006 were committed using firearms. What these figures do not report is that suicides make up 56.5 percent of gun deaths in America, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
It's difficult to abrogate suicidal tendencies, but it isn't hard to educate the citizens of a state on the responsibilities that come with firearm possession. Gun education should continue to be taught because it is common sense and doesn't require an Ivy League education. Responsible gun owners don't typically waltz into public areas toting revolvers for the sake of attracting some young divorcée and luring her into a one-night stand.
Education decreases the risk of someone making a brainless decision, such as shooting innocent victims or themselves, and it further protects a population from violent outbursts by criminals.
So when do you shoot? When there is an immediate possibility of violence being committed and you are in fear for your life. When do you not shoot? When innocent bystanders are at risk of being hit and you do not feel your life is at risk.
In 2007, the State of Texas issued more than 91,000 concealed handgun licenses, a number which has steadily risen since the liberalization of gun laws in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported from 1995 to 1999, the interval of time following liberalized gun laws in Texas, aggravated assault declined by 14 percent, robbery by 18 percent, rape by 16 percent and murder by 32 percent.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also reported that concealed handgun license (CHL) holders made up 71 of 59,770 convictions in Texas in 2003. Clearly, gun ownership is not only a means of allowing a citizenry to protect itself from victimization, but gun education, like that received by CHL holders, shows a correlation between low crime and responsible gun ownership.
Unfortunately for the responsible gun owners in America, the bad guys give the good guys a bad rap. It would be interesting to see how many criminals in America use unregistered and illegally purchased guns to commit crimes.
"Everyone should educate themselves about firearms, be it through the NRA or getting a CHL," said Jake Lilly, a junior economics major and avid gun collector. "There are so many ways to educate yourself and you can even attend safety courses at a gun shop.
"I think it's absolutely necessary for gun owners to educate themselves in order to be responsible and effective with firearms."
Last summer, in the case of the District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Washington D.C. residents had the right to possess handguns and eliminated restrictions on firearms. Let's hope that the preservation of this inherently - just right will be validated by educated and responsible gun owners and groups like the NRA, not the criminals who inspire the government to take that right away.
National Rifle Association Gun safety rules:
Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
Tips for safe gun handling:
Use a gun lock or trigger lock.
Know your target and what is beyond.
Know how to use the gun safely.
Be sure the gun is safe to operate.
Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons.
Be aware that certain types of guns and many shooting activities require additional safety precautions.
http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/...nion/The-Truth.About.Gun.Safety-3512168.shtml
I'm currently working to get a paper together supporting the SCCC movement.
