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Hot Topic: Gun Control

I was raised in a house with guns. My father was/is a hunter. Our holiday meals often depended on what my father had "bagged" in any given year. In good years we even held wild game feeds for friends and family to enjoy. My father is a responsible gun owner. The guns and ammo are locked up. Each of us kids were expected to understand that they were not toys and we all had gun safety classes. My dad took us out to practice shooting and I have to say I'm a better shot then some of the "big bad" boy scouts in my brother's troop. I respect guns, I think they can be pretty interesting. I honestly have no problem with them being in my home or shooting one from time to time. I enjoy the fact that if I choose I can buy a gun.

Right now our country has it's panties in a twist about gun control. Let me start by saying that first and foremost there is no "easy answer." I want my freedom just as much as the next person. However, when I look at the historical setting in which the 2nd Amendment was written at I do have to question the debate over semi automatic assault riffles. I also preface what I say with the fact that I'm not a gun expert but this is what I believe so take it or leave it.

I see the time in which the 2nd Amendment was written was at a time when semi-automatic wasn't even in the minds of those who wanted to protect their right to bear arms. Generally you had 1 shot, 2 if you had a double barrel shotgun, or maybe three is you were a fancy person that had a double barrel shotgun that was combined with a third barrel riffle. The idea of being able to shoot multiple rounds in a matter of seconds was not designed or thought of yet. So I have a hard time believing that America's forefathers were writing to protect the need for people to fire off 100 rounds in less then a minute.

I also have to wonder if you're not a member of law enforcement or the military what in the heck are you doing with a semi automatic assault riffle in your home? Those are not for hunting. Sure you might go to a gun range but really you can't find something else to go out and shoot? You don't need it, you just want it. Those are two very different things: want verses need.

Another issue I see in this debate is the fact that it is pretty easy for anyone to buy a gun. True there are state's with waiting periods and most require background checks. But like everything there are loop holes. We need to tighten up these loop holes.

So what's the solution. Well I think step 1 needs to be a rethink in the logic of it's an all or nothing mentality. Either I can have any gun or no gun. If you can be a responsible citizen and gun owner I have no problem with you owning a gun. Heck I may go out some day and get me a gun too. However in no way shape or form is it going to be a semi automatic ass ult riffle. And I guarantee that in the event of needing to "protect myself" I'm pretty sure the bad person will get me first because my gun will be locked up like Fort Knox.

So I hope and pray that people can think outside of this all or nothing mentality and look out for the best interest of everyone in society and in the world.

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