With every gun-related crime, such as the Aurora, CO shootings early this morning, a rash of organizations calling for more gun control usually ensues. The tendency is to blame the weapon rather than the user. “Well, if he didn’t have access to guns, he wouldn’t have hurt as many people.” Possibly true, but if he wasn’t mentally disturbed in some way, he wouldn’t have used any weapon to hurt anyone.
Restricting guns further just punishes the rest of the population who respect weapons and use them responsibly. People who use guns to inflict harm usually obtain them illegally. They don’t normally walk in with their permit, go through the mandatory waiting period, and then go on a shooting rampage at a movie theatre. What I’d like to know is how the CO shooter obtained an “AK-style” weapon. I assume he obtained it illegally, so in my opinion, the black market shares responsibility for that shooting. What are we doing to combat the black market, underground weapons industry? If this guy had come in to the theatre and started slicing people instead of shooting, would we be calling for knife control? [Guessing “knife control” has already happened somewhere, just don’t have time to research it.]
It all boils down to a simple concept: we can’t disinvent guns. It’s as though anti-gun supporters think if we can restrict guns, then maybe we can reverse their invention and not have to worry about the problem. Sorry, but we can’t go back in time. We have to deal with the problem we’re dealt. I don’t know what that answer is, but I’m not going to blame the gun for the crime of the person.
Side note: why is this the second mass-tragedy incident in CO in recent times? Is it just a coincidence, or is there something wrong in Colorado?
