My Thoughts on Gun Control and Gun Safety

Gun control, that controversial issue that always sparks a debate. Thing is, most people just aren't open minded. They don't understand both sides' points of view. I've spent a great deal of my life around firearms, and I wont lie, I'm biased on this issue - I'm personally alive today, only because of the firearm I carried. My circumstance on that being much different than the average citizen's daily routine, yet I know what its like to be in a sticky situation and have to resort to deadly force to survive. That being said, however, I try to see both sides' arguments in the same light, then analyze them and come up with my own opinion.

"Guns are horrible all they do is kill people" I hear this way too much. Granted, that is the entire point of weapons in general, is it not? The entire argument on this statement is that guns should not be sold or owned because criminals get their hands on them and use them for malicious reasons. So what you're saying is, I can't own my own firearm to defend myself and my family from the armed criminal. Do you think a criminal with intent to inflict serious bodily injury cares if it is illegal for him to own a firearm? I know he doesn't. He will find another means to buy a firearm if they weren't sold anymore, like the importation black market we are having such a problem with now - drugs aren't the only contraband being smuggled across our borders in incredible amounts daily! In general, if firearms were made illegal for purchase, the only outcome would be higher crime rates as people no longer have a line of defense against armed intruders.

That being said, what about my constitutional rights to own my firearms? The second amendment of the Constitution of the United States grants the right to bear arms to all U.S. Citizens, granted you must meet requirments, and waive your rights under certain conditions (commiting violent crimes, etc) but we're still given that right. Many politicians and their supporters are trying to take away our rights, and take away our defense. Guns are what shaped this country, and what continue to keep it strong. Without firearms we would be drinking tea and eating biscuits watching the Queens' speech on BBC right now (Sorry England, but its true.) Guns continue to defend our citizens every passing moment, and have saved just as many lives as they've taken.

Guns and Children aren't quite the best thing to hear going together are they? Well maybe you'll think twice and take your son or daughter with you next time you and the guys hit the range. Teaching children gun safety and handling procedures at a young age significantly reduces the chances of them find a way into your gun cabinet, closet, or drawer and playing with your firearms. Many people I've talked to that have taken this route have very good things to say about their children's interest in firearms. I think of it this way; Kids are curious - they always want to play with what they do not know, in a way trying to figure it out. If you were to take a kid out shooting and show him how it works and what it really does it takes away a lot of that curiosity and makes your home safer for everyone - and gives you a new activity to partake in with your child - of course none of this means leave your new Glock model 22 laying on the table while you take a shower.

What do you think? Leave me a comment and let's discuss!

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Gun safety is a simple thing to learn and implement. As long as you have half a brain and some common sense, firearm incidents related to unsafe handling should not be a problem of any sort. Here are a few no-brainer tips:

• Always keep your weapons on "Safe" - Super easy, just click it to safe when you're not pulling the trigger!
• Always lock your weapons up - Again, Super easy! Use any method of lock-and-key firearms safety lock you chose, in conjunction with a locking firearms safe or even a locking cabinet will do.
• Carry your firearm in what is referred to as an "amber" status - with the magazine in place, but no round in the chamber. This will help eliminate the chance of a negligent discharge (accidental firing.)
  
• ALWAYS treat your firearm as if it were loaded - No matter how good you think you are at ensuring your gun is 100% cleared/empty, thousands of people each year have negligent discharge incidents due to that same thought process.
• Never point your firearms at anything you don't intend to KILL - I shouldn't even need to touch on this one!
• Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire - this goes hand in hand with keeping your weapon on safe.
• My last tip- After every day at the range, or every firing of your weapon, clean it thoroughly and inspect all your weapon's parts for damage. One damaged or dirty part could cause a misfire or worse - and possibly at the worst timing imaginable!

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