Come and Talk It is a show that I love to do. I’m proud of the show, the way we present information, and the way we use facts to consider and analyze the world around us.
The same cannot be said for States United to Prevent Gun Violence.
Recently, this group set up a fake gun store, only offering to sell guns that had been used in high profile crimes and shootings. Their goal was to shame potential gun buyers out of buying a gun by telling them the horrific details of the shootings. A .22 revolver was used by a 5-year-old to shoot his baby brother, while the AR-15 was used at Sandy Hook to kill 20 little kids. Little tidbits like this were thrown into the conversation by the clerk.
These things did happen. No one has been ignoring them: how could they? These kinds of tragedies grab our attention, and they demand a greater focus on gun safety.
Notice I say gun safety, not gun control. That 5-year-old should never have been able to access that gun, and proper storage is undoubtedly something about which we should raise awareness. Adam Lanza, the shooter at Sandy Hook, was on campus nine minutes before he began massacring children. This, too, is preventable with better school security, perhaps and armed guard or policeman.
These groups didn’t tell their customers any of those caveats. Nor did they tell them that most Americans do not want more gun control, or feel safer with armed guards in schools, and do want better treatment for the mentally disabled and deranged people that commit mass shootings. All these polls are according to Rasmussen, and they are recent.
Gun violence can bring out some difficult emotions. But it is our responsibility to keep our decisions logical and based in fact, regardless of the circumstances. And it is never ok to shame someone for wanting to protect themselves.
We have the facts to back it up: More guns equals less crime. Go out and buy yourself a gun! You’ve been listening to Come and Talk It! with Michael Cargill.