New Kent Charles City Chronicle

News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | March 28, 2024

Editorial: Gun laws are not the solution to gun control

By Andre Jones | February 20, 2018 11:29 pm

First, let me send my prayers and condolences not only to those in Florida who loss their lives in the mass shooting, but also to everybody who has lost a loved one due to an act of violence.

In probably the worst kept secret, there has been a lot of debate about gun control in the news due to the recent incidents that have taken place. I will say this; implementing new gun laws will not prevent gun control.

I have never used a gun before and I don’t have any intentions to do so. However, I do not have any opposition for a person’s second amendment right to bear arms. What is troublesome to me is some of these types of weapons that are being purchased and used by people. I can see a person buying a handgun for personal protection, or even a shotgun or rifle for hunting purposes. I just can’t fathom why a person would buy a semi-automatic weapon though.

I am probably naïve on the subject due to my inexperience with firearms, but I don’t see why a person would buy a weapon that pumps out several rounds per second if it didn’t have an intended purpose. I know there are a lot of gun enthusiasts in the world who collect these weapons and shoot them for fun. That’s their right and I respect that.

The government is taking a stance to implement new gun laws to restrict the number you can purchase to banning bump stocks. But what most people are failing to realize is that establishing gun laws is not a methodology of gun control. Several weapons are purchased illegally, traded for drugs, and stolen to sell for cash. It has happened in New Kent recently, as a defendant stole a gun belonging to his girlfriend’s father and sold it; and that weapon belonged to a law enforcement officer.

Instead of focusing on firearms and how to control them, it is better that we learn how to use them and secure them in a way that allows us to live comfortably. When a firearm is purchased, a person goes through a background check to see if they can buy one. Even if they are, it is up to the seller’s discretion to allow the purchasing to take possession of it. And if you are the buyer, it is up to you to handle it with care and with responsibility. It is the owner’s responsibility to store it in a secure and safe place with extremely limited access and out of view of those who may use it for purposes that cause harm.

Many police departments offer safety classes on how to handle a firearm. There are also secured locations where a person who enjoys firing rounds from guns can do it in a responsible way. They say guns don’t kill people; people kill people. But it’s time for us to stop living in fear and taking a person’s life because of differences.

If you see a warning sign or threat of imminent danger, don’t hesitate to call the authorities. I rather see something invested today if it saves multiple lives tomorrow. Being proactive and not reactive is something we all must do as a community. No matter if we agree or disagree, there is one thing that we know; a human life is precious and losing one due to violence is one too many.