Opinion
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- After the murders at the Pittsburgh Synagogue, I keep seeing this question on Quora and other social media; ‘How do we stop mass murder?’
Most of the people asking this question feel strongly about things they don’t understand. They have not studied the issues of physical defense or contemporary mental health. I’m sorry to give them the bad news, but there is no magic button to fix the human condition.
We can not eliminate mass murder, but we can reduce it.
- We grew mass murderers after we developed mass media. Stop rewarding narcissistic murderers with a billion dollars of publicity.
- Almost all mass murders are in so-called “gun-free” zones. Make the government strictly liable for every injury in a government-mandated “gun-free” zone.
- Make owners/operators strictly liable for every injury in a privately mandated “gun-free” zones.
I’m tempted to add that we should hold bureaucrats responsible for the crazy people they release back into society, but we have never found a way to hold bureaucrats accountable. To claim that would be a solution is magical thinking and this isn’t an article about fantasy fiction.
The three things I mentioned won’t end the problem of mass murder, but they will help a lot. If you doubt that conclusion, then please consider this;
Is there any “gun-free” zone where we have not found a gun? I have not found a single one.
I’ve also heard people propose more background checks and more bureaucratic “no-buy” lists. That sounds too good to be true..and it is. Gun prohibition would disarm an honest citizen like me, but bans have not stopped criminals or determined murderers.
Do you agree?
About Rob Morse
Rob Morse writes about gun rights at Ammoland, at Clash Daily, and on his SlowFacts blog. He hosts the Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast and co-hosts the Polite Society Podcast. Rob is an NRA pistol instructor and combat handgun competitor.
No offense to the author, but we are the government. So penalizing the government, just penalizes us. Now if you’d like to penalize the politicians that do not create and enforce laws that reduce the number of incidents, then I concur. As for the media, I cannot go into a public event and yell fire, so why can the news media broadcast and glamorize shootings. Of course the answer is clear for many in the media. It is their own personal political agenda. Failure to hold the sponsors of this rhetoric accountable, creates an atmosphere of freedom that allows one… Read more »
I’ll really believe that leftists politicians are serious about gun violence when they get rid of their armed bodyguards. Until then they can STFU.
“Gun prohibition would disarm an honest citizen like me, but bans have not stopped criminals or determined murderers. Do you agree?”
No, and yes: Gun prohibition WILL NOT disarm an honest citizen like me, and it should not disarm you. Gun prohibition by definition is but mere “color of law” and is prohibited to the federal government by the 2nd and 10th Amendments and is prohibited to the State governments by Article VI Clause 2 and by the 2nd and 10th Amendments.
But you are right, of course, than bans have not stopped determined criminals.
According to FBI data mass shootings are actually down over the past 25 years. Dana Loesch ferreted this out. What is happening is that it’s being played over and over for weeks on end, so it seems they are on the rise.
Bottom line is the Founders addressed this directly; Arm Everyone!
I’ve been pushing #2 and #3 for years. People with no skin in the game don’t mind spending your money or spilling your blood. If the people who support “gun free” zones were held responsible for what happens in them attitudes would be different.
I, too, believe in the second amendment strictly as it was written in the late 1700s. I believe you have the right to own a musket…..not an assault rifle.
It is not about gun control , but , people control. they can’t force armed people into cattle cars. Think about that ! Wake up America !
I live i n a western state. We mark distances between towns in time, not miles. 1/2 hour, 1 hour, 2 hours or more. These towns don don’t have law enforcement in them, just people. Law enforcement is MILES AND HOURS away. They arrive in time to take pictures and write reports. The politicians can’t get this through their thick skulls! Or simply don’t care about us. We are “fly over country “!
Only GUN OWNERS can save the Second Amendment . To do that they MUST get off their dead asses and vote . NO vote NO saving the second .No one to blame but THEMSELVES.
I read a comment from a viewer wanting more gun restrictions claiming that the founding fathers would have been appalled by seeing weapons in restaurants, stores and churches. I had to remind him that at the time of our founding fathers weapons in public places was a common occurrence. We should return to this attitude in which is is accepted to defend yourself. As to #1, the social media blitz surrounding any horrific event is the cause for more to occur. We’ve all heard of copycats and the instant celebrity provided by electronic media feeds them. Our latest generation is… Read more »