GUN VIOLENCE: How far we have strayed

The U.S. military knows what it is doing with weapons

In the news there seems to be a school or university shooting or shootings with some frequency. Kids have been behind the triggers and it has been ghastly. Columbine was only the first of many horrible things that came after. It is an American tragedy.

Then there is George Zimmerman, Jr., who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin to death in Jacksonville, Florida in 2012. The state of Florida through the person of Florida State Attorney General Angela Corey tried to make the case that Zimmerman murdered Martin unlawfully. Well, she didn't win her case.

Did you know he is selling artwork of Corey saying she didn't respect the justice system or some such garbage? He is apparently using an Associated Press photo shot of her during the trial, and the AP is bringing his ass to court to try and stop his selling his "art." Who knows how that will end up?

Zimmerman was back in court later on some domestic issue with his girlfriend or wife or whatever, following the murder case, after and media reports that a gun was involved then too. But, nothing came of it.

Then, there was that video shown on the news about Zimmerman being stopped by a cop for speeding or some such thing and he was being treated like a celebrity by the officer.

While we are at it, let's remember all of the terrible police shootings that have ended up with innocent people being shot down in cold blood by officers in the street. I only pay attention to the Greater New York Area, so I don't speak for anywhere else.

We all remember these things. We all know about these things. And, these things have impacted each of us personally, and perhaps differently.

If someone had to put a brand on me, I'm a Democrat and a Liberal. I started out as a Conservative Republican, but life taught me that wasn't going to work for me until I made my first couple million.

Let me recount the Conservative argument: Criminals will always have guns, and if "good people" are disarmed then they will be easy prey for cutthroats. And, just in case the U.S. Government "turns on" its own people -- or we are invaded by some other country -- then an armed citizenry is good because it came in handy during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and the Civil War. So, the last time a citizen of the U.S. needed a gun to protect themselves from a marauding army was in 1865, which was like 150 years ago.

Meanwhile, I don't think the U.S. Government, or any president or executive elected or appointed within it, will ever try to change our form of governance by trying some mad military or police takeover. It's rubbish.

Meanwhile, if there are armed "good guys" and armed "bad guys" then it sounds like a cheesy western picture where the only one that wins are the weapons manufacturers; that's it.



The Civil War was the last time citizens had to 'arm' themselves for war

In the U.S. Army and the Marines, servicemen and women, particularly in combat units, live with their rifle or sidearm at all times. They know everything about it. They not only shoot for qualification twice a year, but some units frequently fire for sustainment to get better. Our servicemen and women live in a culture within the armed forces that knows firearms safety and lives it every single day. There is even lots of formal schooling about firearms and firearms safety throughout their careers. They know what they are doing, and they truly need to because they are our national strength: God bless them.

OK, back to cops. I had a roommate who was a retired police officer for a while. He always talked about what a great shot he was and how he was great on the range. He went once or twice a year. When he was younger, he went a little more -- but it was pretty casual. This us unlike the constant drilling and grilling of our servicemen on the range (well, yes, certain specialties).

I am saying that police officers, with qualified exceptions, really understand the responsibility on their hip or are thoroughly versed in firearms use in a live-or-die situation. So, they frequently screw it up, kill someone, and say they had to make a "life and death call and used their gut." Well, that system seems to be working like a charm.

Hardly anyone 'needs' a gun, certainly not civilians, unless they live in some rural part of the country where animals may have to get hunted for food or a firearm might protect people from will animals.

I don't believe enough use of non-lethal weapons is in use yet by the police from sea to shining sea. And, some cop not knowing what they are doing with pepper spray or rubber bullets is a lot better than them not knowing what they are doing with ball ammunition (live rounds). Sure, there are times they will need guns. But, by far, and again with some exception, police officers don't need firearms to do their day-to-day job if they have non-lethal alternatives. They are not the weapons experts they make themselves out to be in their hubris.

I know...I know...if you're some die-hard gun guy or gal you are jumping up-and-down about what I am saying. But, a lot of people think like me. People are more valuable then guns.

'What if they use knives instead?' OK, let's entertain that. It's harder to use a knife than a gun. Maybe, a crazed kid will injure or kill someone with that at school before he is knocked down and arrested. But, he will not kill 10 or 20 or 30.

What about the criminals? Arrest them. Start using prison space for actual criminals. Put child support non-payers and marijuana smokers somewhere else or in some community based program. Prison should really only be for violent offenders: That's it. Wow! Look all the space we made in prison by putting the non-violent people elsewhere!

Meanwhile, redneck yahoos who just want to have and carry guns to do it and be their version of Matt Dillon are utterly frustrated by their attempts, I hope. History will ultimately make the call on this one, and I believe, despite all the money behind the gun lobby, this issue will eventually have common sense applied to it.

Hey, I'm done with this world and focusing on my last act, kids. So, I have no dog in this race. But, this gun lunacy is so preventable, so counter to common sense and so very tragic.