i read an article a few days ago about a right-wing extremist group that was organized around the members' common hatred for and fear of government. on its face, the idea that the government is something to be afraid of and depised seems absurd. yet, this philosophy runs deep in our national psyche. our country was founded on the idea that the british government was the enemy of the colonists in what became the usa. the second amendment was written and adopted while the war of independence was still fresh in the people's minds, and those who endorsed it knew that, if ordinary citizens didn't possess firearms, there was no defense against a tyrannical government. our first national government based on the articles of confederation which gave most power to the individual states and little to the federal government arose out of the fear of overreach by a strong central government that might oppress individual liberties.
it seems that we have lost the sense of balance between what is good for public safety and the rights of individuals. everywhere we look, americans openly carry weapons, may of which are designed to kill as many as possible as quickly as possible. a few years ago, such a practice would have been unthinkable. we recognized that guns are dangerous and shouldn't be too handy when conflicts arose between people. now it is hard to tell the difference between extremists and ordinary citizens. gun enthusiasts carry their weapons as a badge of honor and are all too ready to use them.
as our gun culture has grown and become more open, mass shootings have become commonplace. churches post armed guards during their worship services and security people roam the halls of our schools. commonsense gun regulations, such as bans on assault weapons and large bullet magazines are struck down in the courts as violations of the "right to bear arms" provision of the constitution. state legislatures that see the need for laws restricting easy access to firearms are fearful of passing them because they may not stand up in court. all the while, the number of gun deaths continues to climb, and members of law enforcement become more wary of the people they are sworn to protect because it so easy to carry and use a gun.
there was a time when we recognized that the more guns being carried around by people, the more likely it is that those guns will be used. homeowners who lived in high crime areas might keep a weapon at home for self-defense, and hunters recognized the difference between a sporting rifle and an assault weapon, seeing no need to own the latter. we now have many who insist that an assault rifle is a necessary instrument for self-defense and for hunting, knowing that such a position is ridiculous even as they utter it. it is not surprising to enter a restaurant or other public space and see someone with a pistol in a holster on their belt or to see guns intended for use by the military to fight a war mounted in a gun rack in a private vehicle. some argue that the right to bear arms extends even to those who have demonstrated their danger to others, such as the mentally ill or known spouse abusers. "they're coming for your guns" is one of the threatening campaign slogans used to demonize politicians who support sensible gun legislation, and some candidates for office who support commonsense gun regulations go out of their way to emphasize their support for the second amendment.
it is time for the american people to find a balance between public safety and the right to own guns. may we adopt laws that protect all of us and return to the principles which prevented those who shouldn't own guns to be denied that right. may we recognize that owning certain types of weapons makes no sense. may we enable all of us to feel safe when we go into public places by insisting that those who own guns keep them where they should be kept. may we show compassion for one another rather than menacing others by openly carrying weapons that are intended to kill and maim. shalom.
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