The Middle Ground of Gun Control

Just a few nights ago I participated in a debate about gun violence and the issue of, “middle ground” came up.  The middle ground in question being that between those committed to ending senseless gun violence and those who wear their 2nd Amendment rights like a badge of honor.

It was suggested that there is very little middle ground between these two factions.  But honestly, I believe the middle ground that exists there is as wide as the Grand Canyon.

Everyone agrees something needs to be done to end senseless gun violence.  Stolen guns being used in drug deals.  Minors finding loaded guns in the house and using them to shoot other minors.  People wielding assault weapons to kill dozens of innocent victims.  Street crime, suicides…the list goes on and on.

Where do we begin?

A good place to start is to bring each faction in this discussion to the table.  And it is a discussion, not an argument or a debate.

No one wants to take away the rights of our citizens to own firearms if it done in a legal and responsible manner.  But gun advocates want to know what the end game is.  Extending background checks?  Denying guns to convicted felons and abusers?  Removing firearms from those considered mentally ill or a threat to themselves…or others?  Banning assault weapons?    Their fear is that once the laws start tipping in this direction, they will begin to lose more and more rights as gun owners.

An end game needs to be established.  As to where the argument ends.  To where we want to get to, then stop.  Once that happens then a lot of people on the pro-gun side will agree to come over to the other side.

I firmly believe that most gun owners want better gun laws.  To protect the majority of our citizens.  Laws that reflect upon them as responsible gun owners.  It’s the job of those arguing for safer gun laws to explain this to them and bring them over to the other side.  Only with great numbers, banging down the doors of the politicians like Pat Toomey, will change be effected.

Forget about groups like the NRA.  The people in control of groups like that will never change.  Like the KKK they see only their side of the issue.  And that is, about money, power and control.

If shouldn’t take another mass shooting to bring this argument to light.  And events like Parkland or Sandy Hook should not need to be made the face of this issue.  It should be a simple statement…that every citizen in this country has the right to grow up and to live in a safe community.

There will always be hate.  As well, there will always be evil, whether driven by mental instability or not.  But the amount of injury and death that can be inflicted with a firearm and without is again as wide as that Grand Canyon.

It is incumbent among every one of us involved in this debate to reach across to the other side and bring to light that, “middle ground”, the one we know most of us share.  Only then, when we have a great majority, will real change happen.  This is not a political issue.  It’s not a racial issue, nor one of gender.  It is a moral issue.  Do we want to give a safer world to our children and grandchildren?

Join the discussion today.  Join groups like Delco United or the hundreds of others like it and make your voice heard.  Luckily, this is not a fight that is ever too late to join.  Whether you have ever been touched by gun violence or not, you have a voice in this issue.  Because if not now, then the odds say that someday, you or someone you know will be the victim of a gun-related crime.  Before that happens, let your voice be heard.