My boyfriend has completely changed my opinion of guns. I used to be very anti-gun and thought no one should have them. But after I met him I decided that I wanted to learn how to load and shoot a gun in case I ever needed to. So, he took me to the range for the first time, and I now realize how careful and safe most gun owners are with their guns. They take ownership very seriously - they're not a bunch of wackos brandishing their guns about. However, I do think there should be some restrictions on the kinds of guns you can buy - no automatic weapons (done), but also restrictions based on what a gun is realistically used for. For example, at the range we go to sometimes, the shop there has a 50 caliber long-range gun...the kind that you have to use with a tripod on the ground. What is someone going to use that gun for? Surely not self-defense, and not hunting either. That gun could blow up a car hundreds of yards away, and in my opinion it has no business being owned by Joe Somebody.
Anyone who's seen Bowling for Columbine remembers the cartoon debate in it that pondered why there is so much gun violence in America. And they'll also probably remember from that that there was no clear answer as to why America is so different from the rest of the world in this regard - remember, Canadians have more guns per capita than Americans
But what I do think separates the US from the rest of the "big" countries is our obsession and TOLERANCE of violence...period. Not gun violence, but any type of violence. We are a very aggressive, hostile country and it seems that more and more kids are not being disciplined when they act up. Well, those kids grow up...and then they turn into teenagers, then adults, who act up. And I should say that it's not just about disciplining them when they act up, but it's also about teaching them why they shouldn't act up in the first place...why it's not a desirable behavior.
For the past week I was down in L.A./Orange County, and I can't tell you how many times my friends and I sat someplace for lunch or whatever and watched pre-teens and teens disrespect the people and property around them. We saw kids kicking planters, spitting on cars, shoving people aside as they ran around a boardwalk, etc. That stuff may seem minor, but it's a lack of discipline and control like that that I think leads to some of the violent behaviors. These kids aren't being taught right vs. wrong by their parents. Sure, they may know what's right or wrong in the law's eyes, but what's right morally/ethically is not being instilled. We're not raising kids with character and good sense anymore...just "go for it", independent, and in some cases, book smart, individuals who don't care about doing the right thing.
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