thoughts on gun control and Amendment II by (me!) ~topps
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-how utterly undone i was personally to learn about the sandy hook mass shooting in 2012; and how utterly moved i am now/today, to learn about how those parents, survivors are reaching out to the survivors in texas now
i repeat here -my youth includes having a cocked gun at my temple by a very violent, angry, predator, so on the topic of gun control i have been slowest to land on my own -stance; if you will
but i watch very little to no news in the aftermath of any given mass, or individual shooting. -there has been no need "it is all script and loop" i say, which has become my own, "script and loop"
different people saying nearly the exact same things
those looking for greater gun control/regulations...
those against government interference; controls/regulations..
survivors with raw trauma, anguish...
"gun control would have prevented..." vs. "laws only prevent law abiding citizens from being able to protect themselves.. criminals will still find guns.."
i believe that if we captured the words exclusively from all political sides in the aftermath of a mass shooting
we could almost cut and paste for the next one.
-there will be a next one. what a heartbreak..
****
i had a vision recently. in it, children at an elementary school, free and safe, learning, growing..
and a prison with violent criminals behind bars in (traditional black/white stripes).
-a shooting over here.. a shooting over there..
iron bars go over the school windows, metal detectors installed on campus..
slowly, inmates are released... free, spreading fear, evil... inflicting violence..
and the once free beautiful young children are wearing black n' white striped clothes looking through the iron bars of their classroom windows.
we have to be so careful about not allowing criminals to imprison our children; not allowing criminals to imprison our law abiding, caring, loving, everyday citizens.
****
these are equally true for (me!): i can utilize my imagination, as a loving parent.. and having had my own horrific experience with violence/guns/murder.. i can imagine the shock, the pain, the anguish, the disbelief, the suffering of a parent who receives the news their child has been shot and killed at school.
and i can easily understand how devastated to learn about how the shooter got access to the guns that claimed their childs life.. easily understand wanting answers; greater control; stricter laws;
equally true: i can use my imagination to understand and to see, how criminals -at their very nature; disregard regulations, laws.. outlawing guns = only outlaws have guns
equally true: i can see how disarming everyday citizens, gives the advantage to violent, predators, and there are also children shot, lives lost, due to an absence of being able to protect one's home and family; business
equally true: i can see via history, disarming citizens can also be a set up for tyranny.
equally true: i've seen/visited areas with very relaxed gun regulations, but no mass shootings; very low homicide rates; and areas with stricter laws, but greater murders.. & vice versa
add on political agendas; monetary issues... it is certainly a great deal for anyone to wade through and make sense of
and this may change, but i am currently in agreement with the sad truth, that more laws are not the answer. enforcement of laws already on the books; perhaps.. i do believe in background checks and waiting periods
still working through..
but, inevitably the constitution, and Amendment II are discussed in the aftermath of any/every mass shooting in the news
without having read/researched the federalist papers, or other historical reference,
in a plain, dry and current read of Amendment II, i offer this interpretation
in regard to the argument that guns were intended only for militia
if that were true, Amendment II would read,
The right of a well regulated Militia to keep and bear Arms, being necessary to the security of a free State, shall not be infringed.
or,
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, shall not have their right to keep and bear Arms, infringed.
in my interpretation/opinion, there is a very discernable distinction being made; Militia and people (people synonymous with everyday citizens; laypeople).
in my interpretation/opinion, there is no reason at all for the inclusion of 'the right of people' unless they intended to include 'the right of people.' in addition to the Militia.
and i'm going to turn the page here,
to mention two rather unrelated, but impressive things
1. when the discussion came up recently about 'the second amendment' -i immediately said with a smile, i said,
"i have a pocket constitution! but even better.... i know where it is!" /you would have to know my history with clutter/boxes/storage/moving to appreciate what a miracle and answered prayer that is, and let me slip in a "thank you!" here to Cheryl Cook-Kallio for gifting me the pocket constitution when she was a customer and i was a cashier at Ricks Picks.
and 2.
i still remain so amazed really, by the generosity and selflessness of America's founding fathers..
literally,
because just in my own 56 years of life.. the amount of exposure i've had to "my way or the highway" personality types, in history, books, tv shows, movies.. but also, in life at schools, places of work, places i've visited.. the amount of dictators, bullies.. the amount of exposure i've had to leaders who can't listen; who insist whatever they believe is what everyone should believe or else
and so,
i am wildly amazed and impressed.. by Amendment I: ... no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..
etc., -especially when you consider the Christian beliefs of leaders writing the constitution
im getting way off track, but
add it to the long, long list of why i love to blog.
hallelujah & amen.
posted by SANDRA HARRISON KAY @ 1:46 PM
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