I Read a Book About Guns, and It Changed My Mind
Does reading an article/book/essay ever change your mind about something? It happens to me, though rarely, I must admit. It helps that I read widely, on all positions. I find that I am often curious about how the other side defends their position. But reading the other side rarely changes my mind.
I’ve been negative on guns for a long time. I can’t recall a time in my life where I supported guns. I’m not exactly sure why, although it may have something to do with my personal experiences with suicide. My dad kept a couple shotguns in the house, although I never saw him use them. I think hunting for sport is disgusting. I’m not AFRAID of my government, I can’t envision any possible circumstance where I might need a gun to defend myself against it. I don’t worry about self-defense, I’m the kind of person who is more confident of my ability to talk my way out of a dangerous situation than shoot my way out.
At any rate, in the wake of the El Paso massacre (Aug. 3, 2019) and the Dayton massacre (Aug. 4, 2019), may they ALL Rest In Peace, Rise in Christ, I committed to educating myself on the subject of gun control. 3 books were recommended by a Twitter resource (Elisabeth Ryan, JD, expert on gun law/violence/2A/public health): Gunfight, by Adam Winkler; The Second Amendment, by Michael Waldman; and Private Guns, Public Health, by David Hemenway. I’ve read one, Gunfight, and it changed my mind on the subject in 2 ways.
First, I am now convinced that 2A IS about individual rights, not about militias. Winkler presented a convincing case for the historical context, and he convinced me. Second, I am now aware that gun regulation has always been an accepted part of individual rights, throughout US history, even for the original authors of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
So. Although my mind has been changed about key issues of gun control, my ideology has not. I frequently post the following after massacres: When will we accept our responsibility to regulate our 2A rights? I feel even more strongly about this. I accept that we have a right to arm ourselves, even though I choose not to. I also STRIDENTLY insist that this right can and should be reasonably regulated, and that such regulation is not precluded by 2A.
When will YOU accept YOUR responsibility to work towards reasonable regulation of YOUR 2A rights?
Recommended first step: Educate yourself. Read one or all of the 3 books recommended above. Read Scalia’s Majority opinion in DC v Heller. Read John Paul Stevens’ “Worst Decision of My Tenure.” Read.
Photo credit: Colt Python .357 Magnum 6” barrel, owner Marc A. Nard, Sr. Used with permission.