One thing I’ve learned while working with law enforcement as security is laws are based on perception. On a basic level it seems to make perfect sense but its completely superficial. Creating laws that are aimed to ease people’s mind first will never acknowledge the actual cause and leave the police somewhat ineffective.
I understand why there is a call to ban specific models like the assault rifle. The media seems to only focus on tragedies that involve the legal ownership of the more controversial types of guns. The type that seem not to have any use in a “civilians” hands. It’s a stereotype that ignores the actual issue. When you ban certain guns there can’t be any regulation of something that will exist anyway. Taking guns away from responsible gun owners will not change the black market or someone who decides to break the law. We already have laws that cover most aspects. We just forgot that a virtual boundary ( a law ) only works after the fact, when someone is caught and consequences are applied.
A responsible person should be able to own any model of gun they want. Anyone interested in shooting appreciates the innovation of the newer models and would want to own a more controversial model without some evil intent. I’d want a Kriss Vector or Magpul FMG-9 like I’d want an iPhone 5 over an analog cell phone. Guns do not mean violence. You need intent to make any object a weapon. Any of the acceptable models available that will always remain legal ( because they are perceived as more useful ) are just as dangerous. Limiting the magazine capacity of any gun will not stump someone who is organized. Remember laws only work for people who follow them. If someone is at the point of breaking those laws they can simply modify a magazine removing the limit or get magazines that are already banned.
Unfortunately violence has been apart of life since day one. Knowing who will do what is impossible because the mindsets that we have accepted cover up the symptoms of someone’s real state of mind. The definition of an acceptable frame of mind is really just a common one. The truth is if someone wants a gun they can get one . A gun that is untraceable to the holder defeating the purpose of regulations. They may also be smart enough not to use a gun at all, as a gun is a forensic nightmare.
The emphasis of associating “”” mental illness “”” with gun violence will only add an element of discrimination to good people trying to obtain a gun legally. Most “mental illness” does not bring on violent behaviour. The ones you need to watch usually spend a lot of time on their image and learning how to come off as acceptable to fit in despite their intentions or how they function. The core issues with violence involve the quality of emotional development, a long term issue we have to face as a whole.
So you can ease the publics mind by saying that not accepting certain types of guns means we are not going to put up with gun tragedies in our society, just keep in mind that facing the actual problem will bring us closer to a big picture solution. I think literal solutions out weigh symbolic ones in keeping the public safe.
Jeff MacKenzie
ohfuwc@live.ca
on the edge of nothing
