I wanted to explore this topic for my activism project because it is so relevant and I am always wanting to know more so that I might be more informed in the debate. I support people who want to hunt or have a gun for self protection, but I am equally mortified by the unnecessary gun violence that occurs in our society. I am further alarmed by the fatal accidents that can happen to even those who are the most careful with their weapons. So why would I not support gun control laws? No, they are not the end-all solution to the problem. Yes, there are many cases of violence they will not prevent against. But even if it means one less child dying or one less weapon in the hands of someone with a background of crime, is that not worth it?
I have an uncle who is an avid hunter, and I would by lying if I said I have not benefitted from his hobby on many occasions. Every Christmas Eve he used to make us all duck that he had shot, cleaned and cooked, and it was nothing short of delicious. My uncle keeps his guns locked in a case in the basement and has taught his kids gun safety from the day they were old enough to be curious. I have never met anyone who is more careful or responsible with their weapons.
Two years ago he and his two kids who were 11 and 9 at the time were walking at the Duck Club where he hunts, and a gun misfired and exploded in his hand. It was a shot gun, and he was carrying the barrel as is the proper safe way to carry a shot gun. Luckily, because he was carrying it correctly, his hand absorbed all of the explosion and his kids were unharmed. His hand, however, had around 150 shot gun pellets in it and it was more or less ripped in half--right in front of his kids. He underwent 6 surgeries and it was unclear how much use of his dominant hand he would have. Luckily, doctors were able to reconnect most of the main tendons and nerves and after much physical therapy he has regained about 90% of his range of motion in his hand. I share this story because guns are dangerous weapons, that can cause accidents to even those who use them for purely recreational hunting purposes and follow every safety precaution that exists. There is no assured safety with guns. The argument that more guns will contribute to greater safety feels just plain wrong to me. Based on personal experiences, I think more guns will only lead to more accidents--sometimes fatal ones.
I think gun control laws can be helpful, but I think we have a larger cultural problem in this country, and we should consider how we might solve the problem of people feeling a need to carry a gun to protect themselves in the first place.
I have an uncle who is an avid hunter, and I would by lying if I said I have not benefitted from his hobby on many occasions. Every Christmas Eve he used to make us all duck that he had shot, cleaned and cooked, and it was nothing short of delicious. My uncle keeps his guns locked in a case in the basement and has taught his kids gun safety from the day they were old enough to be curious. I have never met anyone who is more careful or responsible with their weapons.
Two years ago he and his two kids who were 11 and 9 at the time were walking at the Duck Club where he hunts, and a gun misfired and exploded in his hand. It was a shot gun, and he was carrying the barrel as is the proper safe way to carry a shot gun. Luckily, because he was carrying it correctly, his hand absorbed all of the explosion and his kids were unharmed. His hand, however, had around 150 shot gun pellets in it and it was more or less ripped in half--right in front of his kids. He underwent 6 surgeries and it was unclear how much use of his dominant hand he would have. Luckily, doctors were able to reconnect most of the main tendons and nerves and after much physical therapy he has regained about 90% of his range of motion in his hand. I share this story because guns are dangerous weapons, that can cause accidents to even those who use them for purely recreational hunting purposes and follow every safety precaution that exists. There is no assured safety with guns. The argument that more guns will contribute to greater safety feels just plain wrong to me. Based on personal experiences, I think more guns will only lead to more accidents--sometimes fatal ones.
I think gun control laws can be helpful, but I think we have a larger cultural problem in this country, and we should consider how we might solve the problem of people feeling a need to carry a gun to protect themselves in the first place.