written 29 May 2022
published 5 June 2022
The US Constitution second amendment reads; "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
"Regulate" means; to control or adjust by requirement or specification, for accuracy and proper functioning. "Militia" means; organized, managed, and commanded by state governments, not a grassroots collection of citizens. "Arms" in 1791 meant; single shot, black powder, muzzle loaded pistols, muskets, and rifles. "Infringe" means; to transgress, violate, or encroach.
Since 1791, America is 4 times larger, with 85 times more people, and this "right to bear arms" has blossomed into a uniquely America tragedy. Whatever the original intentions, what we have is unregulated, outside of any structured militia, with modern weapons beyond historic comprehension, inflicting insane violence throughout the society. Any deranged individual, with cash in hand and hate in their heart, can buy military grade weapons and begin slaughtering people. In 2022 there have been over 200 mass shootings (4 or more injured or dead), one every 17 hours. Other countries have mental health issues, disaffected youth, domestic violence, racial and political animosity, but only America has this daily carnage.
The US, 4 percent of the global population, owns over 400 million guns, 40 percent of the global total. Of the 340 million Americans, 70 percent don't own a gun, and another 10 percent own only one. Just 3 percent, mostly men, own 200 million guns, half the national total.
I mentioned last week that extreme wealth could be considered a form of hoarding; an expression of mental illness. Extreme gun ownership is another form of hoarding, hazardous to the owners and their neighbors.
The leading cause of death for children recently shifted from automobiles to gun violence, the consequence of two contrary forces. Decades of regulations have improved auto safety and reduced drunk driving. Aggressive marketing by gun manufacturers and increased polarization from radical right extremists have expanded gun sales and accessibility, increasing childhood gun deaths by 25 percent in the last five years.
When other nations experienced a mass shooting, they seriously regulated firearms, preventing repeats. But in America, pro-gun politicians, mostly Republican "leaders", offer "thoughts and prayers", while working to make guns even more available. The lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association, heavily funded by the weapons manufacturers, supports mostly Republicans. With more regard for their donor class than the carnage to their citizens, Republican "leaders" ensure that no effective solutions pass into law. Just the opposite in fact. Fox News listed 49 "solutions" to the latest school shooting in Uvalde; 8 were faith based, 13 turned schools into fortresses, and 13 were variations of more guns.
Four in five Americans, including many Republicans and gun owners, want the gun violence to stop or be significantly reduced. The public trauma extends far beyond just the dead and their families. Wounded survivors suffer long term health care costs and mental trauma, and even those physically unharmed have lasting mental distress.
So, what are we to do?
One solution would allow unrestricted civilian ownership of historic weapons; single shot, muzzle loaded, black powder pistols and muskets. If nothing else, this would slow down the rate of carnage. All other guns should be regulated with background checks, selective prohibitions, registration, regular training sessions, safe storage requirements, limited points of sale, wait times, and perhaps quantity limits. Weapons of war should be banned from general circulation, reserved for law enforcement and the military. Heavy fines and generous buy-back programs would facilitate the process.
The current slaughter is driven by profit for the weapon manufacturers and dealers. Inspired by the Texas bounty hunting abortion laws, a bill proposed by California Senator Bob Hertzberg would allow citizens to sue those "who manufacture, distribute, transport, import, or sell assault weapons, ghost guns or ghost gun kits", recovering up to $10,000 and attorney fees.
Above all, it is imperative to elect more Democrats this fall. The intransigence of the Republican "leadership", which is getting more extreme and acting crazier every month, has stalled or reversed effective action on not just gun violence, but women's rights, civil rights, voting rights, wealth inequity, affordable health care, and the climate crisis. They serve only the very wealthy, not the needs of the country. Enough is enough! Vote out the crazies. Let's begin real discussions about functional solutions.
