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Recent shooting events here locally in Utah, and nationally in the Littleton, Colorado disaster, leave me
pondering the solutions that we have available as Americans.
Do we jump on the band wagon and show total support for the anti gun initiatives that are bound to be forthcoming, or do we look at the problem in a more global sense before rationalizing our Constitutional Rights away. These are issues that run way deeper than the surface, at first, seems to appear.
Yes, something must be done to curb the violent social behavioral patterns emerging in today's youth, but will taking hand
guns off the available market dutifully solve the problem?
In light of the current gun laws, if I wanted an illegal gun, I would contact a local teenager in trouble.... Chances are, I could have one shortly to do with as I please, and I strongly feel additional gun laws would just force this problem further under the rug. Does gun control in ANY society really work effectively? Events taking place in Kosovo tend to make this American feel they do not. When control of guns is taken from the general public and put into the hands of the Government or only those that can afford to smuggle guns into their possession, devastating consequences often arise. More devastating that the Littleton, Colorado event by far.
My prayers, sorrow and heartfelt grief goes to each and every person who's life became rocked from its foundation due to the
Columbine High School massacre, it is a terrible tragedy when youth become so enraged that they carry out acts of mass violence. Or at least they seem like acts of mass violence to our softened
American hearts. It is my intent not to hurt further but to help, through honestly opinionating views I hear from hunters and gun owners each and everyday.
So far, fifteen people have perished from Tuesday's senseless attack. I sadly look at the numbers compared to the
Kosovo uprooting that is currently taking place and wonder how long it would be here in America, if we all gave up our guns and the rights to own them, before those that have no regard for human life and
have the means of mass destruction began a vigilant move to make recent Kosovo style events hit a little closer to home...
Through time and history, we have dealt with individuals that when given a little power, can influence and take control of
huge portions of the population to their own mad desires.
The Columbine High School events have linking to Hitler's reign of terror. Hate groups, communist and racist outcroppings are becoming more and more prevalent in every city in the United States. Are we ready to throw down our defenses and allow them to uproot us from our home as people in Kosovo are being forced to as this is being written?
America has been fortunate in the fact that, we see bites and pieces of these violent outbursts here on our soil.
Shattering our lives and reminding us we need to make change.
We need to better educate our children, we need to restore family values to our great country, but yet soon we forget, long after the hurt and pain has begun to fade from the Littleton Massacre, there are people in foreign countries being executed for no reason at all. Forced from their homes, leaving everything they own to be ravaged by the ones in power after they are gone. I remind you.... The ones WITH GUNS... Is it partially due to the fact that there are so many individual gun owners here in the U.S. that events such as Kosovo have not taken place? Would Hitler have been so successful in his march of death, with more individuals in control of the trigger than just his disciples of demolition? I have to strongly believe outcomes may have differed from what is recorded in the annuals of history now.
Is the solution in the control of guns or the enforcement of laws already in place, which can not and are not being
enforced? Do we take away the guns and HOPE the problem will go away? If the current stick laws we have concerning owning and obtaining hand guns are not enforceable, what fool will step
forward and lead the challenge to pass additional ineffective, irrationally thought through, temporary stop gaps? It is time that we learn what the real problems we face are and stop blaming them
on the weapon used in the destruction, but rather what leads us down this path in the first place.
I do believe not one gun was used in the recent Oklahoma bombing events, and more life was senselessly lost in this one incident that all the recent shootings occurring in public schools.
It is not the method of the destruction we are facing but what is causing it in the first place.
Controlling guns from the general public will do no more than place these same guns in the hands of those we fear most now. Enforcement of the laws we have in place should be the first priority, educating our youth on the consequences of life and death and there individual delicate place in it, should run strongly second. It is not the guns but the demoralization of society as a whole that is the true issue we face today.
"It will be a cold day in hell, when they pry my gun from my cold dead fingers", a sentiment shared my many Americans and
one, I truly hope, never comes to fruition in America.
Cris Draper
The Trail Master
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