“I’m appalled by the proliferation of handgun violence.”
. . . Particular instances are unforgettable. For me, that night in CA when we lost Sen. Robert Francis Kennedy; it destroyed great hopes and dreams. Years later, John Lennon, so senseless, and so personal, yes - it hurts still.
LAST YEAR HANDGUNS KILLED:
58 People in Israel
52 People in Canada
48 People in Japan
42 People in Germany
34 People in Switzerland
21 People in Sweden
8 People in G. Britain
. . . AND, 10,728 People in the United States!
Decades pass and Americans continue to witness more and more handgun related violence. Please think about that for a minute. I suppose you are, or you’d already have left for some other blog-o-verse. Your thoughts and possibly your emotions mirror mine. But what of those individuals who are proponents of availability and ownership?
What kind of person doesn’t shudder at the thought of
otherwise avoidable violence and death?
Who in their right mind really believes that more guns equal less danger? The insanity of millions of Americans, holding fast to such madness is like a never ending nightmare for the rest of us. Places like Florida and Arizona resemble life in the days of "the 19th. C Wild, wild west.”
No – that is not hyperbole – it is not conjecture – its reality!
Since I reside in Florida possibly its hit home more than it would in other parts of the country. In my state, “Stand Your Ground” is the law of the land. And, because of a law that invites death to visit unsuspecting victims, Trayvon Martin will never be forgotten. The fact that he became well-known and long remembered is for all the wrong reasons.
A crazed individual named Zimmerman killed an innocent young man for no reason whatsoever. The gunman went free, and citizens continue to purchase more and more handguns, citing Fl. state law and the 2nd. Amendment as if they were Holy Scripture. The worst part of this scenario is that these people are your next door neighbor. They are the guy behind you in line at Walmart, packing a concealed weapon. They are the Zimmerman’s of today, tomorrow and every day – AND - the law is on their side!
"Stand Your Ground" means I’m going to shoot and kill you with my handgun, because I insist you represent a threat to me. No proof, no witnesses, no evidence supporting my claim whatsoever. Criminal defense lawyers can use the Trayvon Martin case’s verdict in oral arguments – and judges must uphold a law based on complete disregard for human life!
So if you live in Florida, are a teenager, your skin is black, and you walk alone on a residential street . . . “Don’t wear a hoodie!!!”
I imagine most people would rather forget Bobby Kennedy, or John Lennon and Trayvon Martin. Most people would rather make believe the deaths caused by handguns every day in America didn’t really happen. Because to confront the truth head on means you will be vilified, castigated, labeled unpatriotic, and fodder for miscreants remaking society in the image of John Wayne. Handgun proponents think safety can only exist if we all carry weapons. They think the NRA is this nation’s most sacred institution.
If that doesn’t both scare you and make you madder than hell, you’re reading the wrong article and likely the wrong online publication. But if you’re like me, reading the numbers at the top of this article make you want to DEMAND legislation ending this madness.
“For the proliferation of handgun ownership is statistically proven to provide nothing but tragedy.”
Oh, just one more thing. Historically, most American’s of the late 18th. & early 19th. C did NOT own guns. The “well-regulated militia” legally enabled a very few musket owners to be ready for invasion by an outside force. Such forces didn’t wear “hoodies.”
- Jays Jewels is written by Jay H. Berman - Free-lance author & contributor to buzzfeed.com, sulia.com & Chicken Soup for the Soul. He is an Assoc. Editor for http://www.ronrambles.com and on twitter @BermanJ1
Tue Jul 08, 2014 at 2:57 PM PT: I've been negligent keeping up with comments/replies & I regret that. My apologies to all concerned. The scribbling I posted about "Gun Control" in June received more response than I'd ever imagine. Both comments & tweets. Please accept my apology if I haven't replied or acknowledged you. Grave error on my part - I really do appreciate everyone who spent time engaged with my diary. My collective thanks to this community. Jay