It’s a societal thing. There have been uses for guns over the centuries, all being violent. Guns were used to take over the new continents (at least new to those in the labeled European continent). Guns were also used to subdue and take all of the other continents, for a time. There is a long history.

Baring arms is a whole other story that shows the flesh. Human flesh can be utterly decimated by citizenry who use the battle hardware of guns now. Children killed in a mass shooting at their school could not be identified by parents looking at their bodies. They looked at their clothing, their shoes.

The main rationalization, much of it reality based, especially in humanly crowded places, where there is easy access to this weaponry is … “I need to protect myself and my family”. Never mind the studies and the statistics that put everyone around more in danger with the accumulation of the number and killing power of the battle tool. A gun in the home is more likely to injure or kill someone in that home rather than by falling or burning or being stabbed or poisoned. Despondency is taken care of quickly with little chance of taking the action back or surviving the bullet. Here we can segue into the blame on mental illness about which many clinicians and their researchers into mental health say that a projected cure of all mental illness, all, would reduce gun violence by 4% … https://efsgv.org/learn/learn-more-about-gun-violence/mental- illness-and-gun-violence/ ... that’s it. This was the statistic for those who had mental illness AND committed interpersonal gun violence. There is another 96% of people out there committing gun violence who are not deemed mentally ill.

“Unfortunately, we continue to see policy proposals for firearm restrictions based on mental illness diagnoses. Policies that restrict access to guns based solely on diagnosis are not only stigmatizing, but will not significantly reduce overall rates of gun violence in the United States.

Instead of focusing on mental illness, policies and programs to reduce gun violence should focus on evidence-based, behavioral risk factors for future violence, such as past violent behavior, domestic violence, risky substance use, and risky alcohol use. Other risk factors for violence related to life experiences, personality, and identity that can be helpful markers for support and prevention programs to include exposure to violence, being male, being young, and impulsive anger” esgv.org

Now we have a battle tool, the AR-15 type of gun, that is nicknamed the “Barbie of guns”, because you can dress it up, modify it, make it sexier and even more powerful looking. In terms of how many people die by an AR-15 type rifle, handguns are the winners with suicides topping the list. AR-15 type guns are the go to for a larger number of dead bodies in one place at one time. It is the surprise event. Places are varied: churches, schools (a favorite), parties, grocery stores, music venues, theaters, homes. Many times there is a long time planning for such a blood bath.

Guns made for war are now in our homes and on our streets. Guns made for hunting animals for food are just not cool, rad, “bad” or what other jargon in current use that says the person carrying is “top of the line”. We make the world in which we live. The laws are a reflection of that; legislation and judicial rulings impact us all. The agreement about those values among ourselves allows what happens, to us, for us, and by us. "Stand your ground" or now the letters SYG have been a value that has come from “a mans home is his castle”. You know that castles are built to fend off foes. Recently an 84 year old white man shot to kill a 16 year old black youth. (OK I will not be on that jury. Even if I did live in the state.) The man shot the young person in the head and then shot him again when he was on the ground.) He shot from inside his home because the youth came up to his door and rang the door bell. Already the statistics of “Stand Your Ground” legislation has raised killings in every state it has passed. “Stand your ground” laws do not deter crime—in fact, they drive up homicides in states where they are enacted.” giffords.org

I do believe there is a space for individuals to have guns while we have laws addressing gun safety. Sport marksmanship and hunting for food are, to my mind, valid uses of certain types of guns, certainly not the “Barbie gun”. We have stopped allowing broad use of explosives and keeping dynamite in every home. It is time for standardized laws concerning guns. The manufacturers of guns have to be brought into this as partners in the community and not the bottom line, above the law money makers. Because of their influence, there is no ability to sue them if their product is used to kills scores of citizens. The Tennessee legislature was the latest to pass a law protecting gun manufacturers. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — “In the wake of a deadly school shooting last month, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee awarded final passage Tuesday to a proposal that would further protect gun and ammunition dealers, manufacturers and sellers against lawsuits.” No other product gets this pass. It is time we looked past the NRA, the gun companies best lobbyist, and hold accountable the companies themselves. 'Three Republicans voted against the legislation, including Sen. Art Swann of Maryville, who said "gun-makers have encouraged the environment we’ve got right now.”' -Nashville, Tenn. AP. Here is a quick historical look at how we are where we are with guns, guns and more guns, from The Washington Post on line. https://wapo.st/41wuSLW

I really recommend the Washington Post article to take a look at the kind of advertisements that have been leveled at the American public over decades. It is as bad as the cigarette commercials with cigarette smoking doctors … Before the tobacco giants were successfully sued.

Respectfully,

Linda Guffin