Guns should be more regulated than driving cars – Akron Beacon Journal

Another mass shooting, another day of mourning, another day for "One Nation Under Guns." If this is freedom, I'd hate to see what tyranny looks like.

Nearly 250 years ago, the nation was busy declaring its independence. The Founding Fathers were intelligent men and had, for the most part, many brilliant ideas in regard to creating this country. However, included with these brilliant ideas were some awful ones: slavery being chief among them. Additionally, some of the ideas that made sense then, make less sense now: the 2nd Amendment, which allows for the right to bear arms made sense then. (See 'busy declaring independence' above.)

Gun people, please don't get your knickers in a twist. If you are a responsible hunter and want to feed your family, far be it from me to take away that right. Let's go even further. Say you are a law-abiding citizen who feels compelled to own a firearm: consider applying the same standard required to drive a motorized vehicle. Driving a car legally has several requirements such as completion of driver's training, testing, licensure, and proof of insurance. Doesn't it seem reasonable to apply a similar standard for gun ownership?

I know, I know, putting these standards in place won't solve the entire problem of gun violence. There are ghost guns, 3-D printed guns, unscrupulous sellers and manufacturers, a gazillion loopholes in existing laws, powerful gun lobbies, and oh yeah, politicians who don't give a damn who dies as long as they get re-elected. But we've got to do better than we're doing now.

I cannot begin to imagine sending my children to school each day, wondering if it's the last time I'm going to see them alive. I cannot imagine being a teacher walking into school each day wondering if I'm going to have to take a bullet.

This is not what freedom looks like to me. Let's stop being one nation under guns. Now.

House Bill 616 does not "dehumanize" racial minorities or transgenderpersons. It simply prohibits discussion of the topics in the classroom. To claim that is dehumanizing and harmful is truly twisted logic.

Classrooms are for the teaching of academic subjects, in which our children are becoming less and less proficient. They can ill afford the distractions of social and political issues. Of course, the teacher has every right to insure that all students are treated with respect and compassion. That is a long way from validating or siding with a student's life choices or social situation. The teacher should emphasize and enforce the "golden rule."It is up to parents to instill strength of characterneeded to withstand the bigotry of the few, rather than claim victimhood at every turn. And if some students are taunting or otherwise belittling other kids, they should be disciplined by the schools and their parents.

There is a movement in this country to divide us along racial, religious, genderand other group identities. We need to stay united around a common set of moral and political ideals, with inclusion and respect for all.

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Guns should be more regulated than driving cars - Akron Beacon Journal