Virginia Tech Shooting and Gun Control

First i'd like to preface this blog by saying several things. First I used to live in Blackburg, Virginia less than a mile from campus. I used to walk through the area this horrible event took place in, almost daily. I used to hear the screams from the Football Stadium when I listened out the window. I know VT is a good school, filled with intelligent young people, full of promise, and it would be the second to last school I would think something like this would happen, New Paltz being the first.

Also I am an Independent, with some conservative views, some liberal views, some radical on both spectrum's of political orientation.

I'd also like to say despite the comments I will make, I still give my heart out the families and friends of the people who died.

Now on to the politics of the situation. This was apparently a homicidal, suicidal, emotionally upset person according to the media, and we really wont know the psychology behind this guy for a few days until the suicide note is out verbatim. But from what I know it describes the debauchery of American Society, and a hatred and for "rich kids." The spectrum of possibilities my or anyone's psychoanalysis for this person is endless with such vague words.

But who knows what this person may or may not be subject to in their own mind. Honestly do we as a society care more than to add another case to the textbooks? No, we don't.

The important issue on the front pages, and News Channels is Gun Control. The 2nd amendment states simply every American has the right to bare arms. In other words, have a gun. But through legal loopholes, and events that give the left justification left for "control" the trade of firearms in this country. I'm sure we'll all hear that this event at VT will give the left even more reason to create even more gun control laws. But why? Was this event made possible because of gun control or a lack there of?

You can argue two things, one for the left, "This event would not have happened if stronger gun control laws were in place" and two for the right, "This event would not have happened if guns were allowed at VT, and someone had a chance to defend themselves with a firearm." Neither of these arguments are really any good, because the event did happen, and probably other similar situations will arise regardless of laws. If guns are being made, guns will be sold. You can also make a gun fairly easily if you truely desired. A crude one it may be but its the bullet that does all the damage.

So this whole thing is going to bring us back to the silly argument "Do guns kill people, or do people kill people." Since a gun doesn't have a brain, and is made by people, it's easy to assume that people do the killings, guns are just the tool. You could kill someone with a knife, or a blunt object, or even your own two hands. So it's simply ridiculous to try and restrict the sale of guns simply for the purpose of saving lives, because it wont do any good. It will just fuel an illegal market, and make it difficult for the average citizen to obtain one for defense.

See a person with a desire to kill and no record can get a gun with is seemingly an arduous process, is actually an easy one to someone with motive. If you are considering buying a gun the psychology changes, and the task seems more arduous. Therefore the laws seem reverse effective, simply meaning crazy people get guns, and regular people don't.

We have guns in this world, and it's a sad fact, but it's a reality. We can't simply tell ourselves that gun control will work by blocking the noted "insane" and "criminal" from getting one. That is just lying to yourself. There is plenty of non-state recognized crazies out there, and potential criminals not in the "system."

But the right to bare arms is crucial for a society like ours. People were in debate about the 2nd amendment just as they are in today. Back then it was Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists. Today its the Right vs the Left. It's the idea of people being allowed to form militias which are deemed unnecessary by some people due the States individual National Guard units. How good is our national guard when they're being used in Iraq and Afghanistan? And on top of that, we should be divinely given the right to defend ourselves, our families, and our possessions with firearms.

In Switzerland not only is there little gun control, but there is a law stating all men over 18 must join the Swiss Army, and are given a handgun. They have one of the lowest murder rates in the world as of the late 1990's, and a very low crime rate. Much less than that in the United States.

Now I will get brief (finally) and state the many reasons I feel guns are important for people to know about, to have, and to be familiar with guns of all fashions.

- Defense of our lives, loved ones, possessions and homes.
- Protection in society against people who aim to kill (just like at Virginia Tech)
- Defense of our own government, ever heard of martial law? Power corrupts.
- Forming of militias, we live in an unpredictable world, and would it be so wrong to have many organized factions working against invaders as possible.
- In a post 9/11 world to protect society against terrorists.
- Law Enforcement cant be everywhere at once, so in extreme cases the people can control
- To stop illegal gun trade

We live in a society of extreme complexity. Free choice and a lack of culture leads us to these social problems, which manifest in events similar to that at VT, and Texas A&M in the 60's, Columbine, and Waco in the 90's. It's a price to pay for the society we live in. Some attribute it to god and his wrath. I personally feel it's an inevietable phenomenon of Democratic Republics in which we live, where free trade is permitted, and illegal trade is abundant, regardless of laws.


All reference can be checked at wikipedia.com
Notably-
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution
-http://www.benbest.com/lifeext/murder.html#world