Responsible Gun Ownership

Due to the violence and instability in this country (Thanks, Donnie!), people have turned to purchasing firearms—I’m considering getting one myself. Not only are people on the furthermost extreme right are collecting guns, but there are now gun clubs for people on the left, like the Socialist Rifle Association (https://socialistra.org/).

Oppressed groups in this country arming themselves and organizing themselves into quasi-militias is nothing new in this country. The great book of Labor history, Labor’s Untold Story (https://www.ueunion.org/labors-untold-story), tells of workers, facing the threats of police, militias, sheriff’s deputies, vigilantes, and the regular army, organized their own self-defense groups.

In 1966, the Black Panther Party (for Self-Defense) advocated Black people arming themselves against racially-motivated police abuse, and raised questions about the effectiveness of the non-violence tactics of the civil Rights movement; on May 2, 1967, a group of armed Panthers marched into the chamber of the California legislature to protest a bill they believed would disarm Black communities. (https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/black-panther-party-challenging-police-and-promoting-social-change) (https://capitolweekly.net/black-panthers-armed-capitol/) (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-panthers-california-1967_n_568accfce4b014efe0db2f40)

I have always supported responsible gun ownership, as opposed to banning guns altogether, or just letting them be owned by any mentally imbalanced fool. My approach is far more nuanced.

The anti-gun-control crowd often has the “argument,” “People die of auto accidents, are you going to take away people’s cars?” Let’s use the automobile example: a kid in high school takes a Driver’s Ed class to learn how to properly operate a car, how to park and make turns, what pedal to push, etc. So, a person can take a class in Firearms Education, learning how to clean, lock, dismantle, reassemble, and safely store their firearms—I emphasize the word SAFELY.

If you drive abusively with your car, say drive drunk and hit someone, not only would you face imprisonment, you would lose your driver’s license, thus losing your privilege to drive—that’s what a license is, and bestowal of a privilege. So, if you misuse a firearm, not only are there criminal charges, but your license to carry is taken away.

If you feel the need to purchase a gun for your self-defense, and that of your family, I support you; but PLEASE, do it the right way!