In Memory of…

Here in the United States, we Americans celebrate the memory of those heroes who have fallen in the line of duty on the last Monday in May. In recent years, this has also been extended to include the first responders who have fallen in the battle against Covid-19.

About three weeks ago, on May 30, 2022, we, the people living in the USA, celebrated Memorial Day, the day in which we remember and honor those men and women who gave their lives to protect the freedoms that should be a given for all men, women and children wherever they live. In more recent years, this honor has also been extended to include the first responders who have fallen in the battle against Covid-19. It is right, because they are involved in the battle for our lives.

But today I want to talk about another war, one that shouldn’t exist, because it regards a subject that should be governed by common sense. Then again, in my opinion, if people would use common sense more commonly, there would be no wars, battles or skirmishes, nor would there be a need for them. The war that I’m referring to is the war against gun violence, gun violence caused by people who SHOULD NOT HAVE GUNS IN THE FIRST PLACE. Let me be clear here: I’m not referring to organized crime; that is another war all on its own.

This year, the US has been beleaguered by an increase in mass shootings. It’s ironic, because this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the school massacre at the Sandy Hook elementary school. On December 14, 2012, a young man, who should never have had a gun in his hands, shot and killed 20 children and six adults in the mass shooting.

This year, in New York State itself, there have been several mass shootings, most notably the one in Brooklyn, where 23 people were shot and injured — some seriously, none fatally — in a subway station; the man, who has since been apprehended and indicted on domestic terrorism charges, launched a smoke bomb and then started  shooting blindly and the people trying to escape.

Another mass shooting took place inside a neighborhood grocery store in Buffalo, NY. In this shooting, another young man shot and killed six people; his intention, racially motivated, was to kill as many blacks as he possibly could.

Besides these two, there were nine other mass shootings in the United States so far this year, and the year isn’t even half over. All were horrible, some could have possibly been avoided, but the one that wins, at least in my opinion, the dubious “honor” of being the very worst, is the one that most resembles the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary: the one at the Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. In this senseless, horrific shooting, 19 fourth-graders and two teachers were gunned down by a teen. And one has to ask, “Why did this happen?” and “How could it happen?”

Before I continue, I wish to state that I have nothing whatsoever against guns per se. As has been said by others, guns are not free agents unto themselves; they need someone to operate them before they can kill. However, I do believe that guns should be used with caution and only by responsible adults, which means that there must needs be measures that serve to help determine who can fulfill the requirements necessary for responsibly using these instruments.

As a responsible adult I, personally, do not own a gun of any type. The reason for this is that I enjoy having two feet; walking is much easier with two feet, and if I were to ever own a gun, I might possibly be tempted to use it and would most certainly shoot off one of my own feet instead of the intended target. Therefore, I do not own a gun, something for which the rest of the world should be very grateful; I know my Dad’s younger cousin Jimmy is… Sigh.

So, one might ask, why am I writing this article? I have already stated that I am not anti-guns. What I AM against, however, is allowing guns to reach the hands of people who would use those guns for the wrong reasons, and I’m not referring to the idea of, like in my case, shooting off their own foot, although that is also a pretty good reason. I intend to state a case in favor of stricter gun laws, in order to avoid as many massacre situations as possible.

Many citizens quote the second Amendment of the United States Constitution where it states that “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed ” to support what they believe to be their right to own and use guns.

I’m not disputing their Second Amendment right. But I think we need to take into consideration the context and the life-style of the people when the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791. The Country’s independence from England had been gained just a few years earlier, and relations between the two nations were still a bit iffy at best. There were still British loyalists who supported neither the new government nor its Constitution. And  there were  other enemies, too.

A great many of the new Country’s citizens were farmers who lived outside of the protection of the towns. They needed guns to be able to provide food for their families. Fresh meat wasn’t readily available to anyone, because there were no grocery stores and no one had refrigerators. Hunting was a necessity of life. Livestock, such as cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, and poultry all had to be protected from vermin and thieves, as did grains, fruit and vegetables. I can totally relate to the problem… squirrels!

Hunting is still necessary in certain places, also. My ex-husband was a hunter, but he was also a responsible gun owner. He kept his gun locked up in a wall-safe, out of reach of my young daughter and her cousins, and even I was unable to open the safe. He used it only for hunting for food to eat, and only during legal hunting seasons. We had dogs to keep the foxes out of the chicken coop. He also had a license to use that gun, and it was also duly registered with the Carabinieri.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Second Amendment didn’t provide an unlimited permission to own a gun. Nor did they have automatic, machineguns or submachineguns. I can see why they might be necessary — or considered such — for military use. I can’t understand why non-military personnel, or even military personnel not involved in a war, might need these weapons of war, registered and licensed or not. It goes way beyond my comprehension.

Guns are much too easily obtained in this Country, and because of what I feel is a gross misinterpretation of the Second Amendment, anyone can obtain a gun: even me. Fortunately for all of you, I’ll never buy one! But I’m the exception to the rule, as we have seen from the sad experience of so many massacres of innocents because the guns were so easily obtained.

The right to not only own guns, but also to carry them is provided for in the U.S. Constitution. However, the provision is also subject to interpretation. I understand the desire of many to own a gun. What I DON’T understand is why serious, responsible gun owners refuse to even consider the idea of more realistic, UpToDate laws regulating their purchase and use. Don’t they realize that those using guns improperly are ruining the reputation of ALL GUN OWNERS?

So what can we do, especially since we are facing a truly serious problem? I’d like to offer a few suggestions that will probably never be seen by our legislators, but it’s what I personally feel could be of some help:

·         Background checks. Some people might think this is too invasive of their privacy. But I’d like to ask: Would you actually prefer preserving your privacy or saving lives? I know which I’d prefer, and I’ve already admitted that I’m not a good candidate for gun ownership. That’s pretty up close and personal. If you have something to hide, then maybe you shouldn’t own a gun?

·         Training on gun use and care. It seems logical to me that if you are going to use something, you should also learn HOW to use it and, even more logical, how to take care of it. Guns are not toys, despite what some people might think, and to get the most out of one, you need to know how to use them correctly.

·         The above point should be followed by a test ascertaining that the individual does indeed know what he’s doing. There is nothing wrong with learning correct usage and proving you know what you’re doing. It’s what happens in the military, and it’s just as important for civilians. You wouldn’t want to shoot your foot off, would you?

·         Getting a license. After training, it’s also Important to have a license. It should be a logical result. If you have a license or permit, you prove that you know what you’re doing and that you have passed a background check.

The license should be comparable to a driver’s license, with your photo, address, birthdate, and expiration date. It’s true, cars are not provided for in the Bill of Rights, probably because cars didn’t exist in 1791; sincerely, they’re even more necessary in today’s world than guns. And no, I don’t drive a car, either.

·         Last, ALL guns should be registered. Now, I’m not a techie, but I’m pretty sure that there is a way to make sure that all guns made with 3-D printers are registered. If the owners of all guns are known and registered with the proper authorities, I’m pretty sure owners would keep a closer eye on their property.

Folks, I don’t want to curtail your enjoyment of your lawful rights and property, but don’t you think maybe we all have a duty to protect, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, the right of everyone to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”? And the first of all is Life.

I wanted to do something in the aftermath of the massacre at the Robb Elementary School of Uvalde, Texas, and after listening to Mr. Matthew McConahey’s impassioned plea, I decided to do what I do best: write. And I wanted to write something useful.

So please, let us remember Irma Garcia and Eva Mireles, from Uvalde, Texas and Victoria Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Dawn Hochsprung, Mary Sherlach, Rachel Davino, Anne Marie Murphy from Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. Although dying on the job was not part of the job description for these eight women, they each lay their life on the line in hopes of saving the children in their care.

Please, let us not forget their sacrifice, and let us work constructively together to find a way to make sure that guns do not make their way into the wrong hands ever again.

 

Copyright © June 21, 2022. Mary E. Purpari. All Rights Reserved.