Flying Solo? Maybe Not
/Have you ever felt like the oddest person on the planet, perhaps the individual who sees a particular scenario differently than any other person on earth? That’s got to be a lonely position; maybe I’m being a bit extreme. But, in all honesty, when it comes to this notion of “gun control,” I’ve developed a very firm position – different than anything I’ve ever heard proposed by another person. Logically, then, I’ve assumed not a single other person sees it like I do. Now, my position is no secret; I’ve published it several times here in the Speakeasy. No one has ever said, “I agree. That’s the way to approach it.”
And then, today, I had a chance to test my theory: Is it possible someone else sees it this way too? Was I surprised! Pleasantly surprised, maybe even “gratified.” Let me tell you about it.
One of the luckiest senior citizens in the country, I am enrolled in the Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. In addition to other intriguing and stimulating courses, I take a bi-weekly course called “Current Issues.” About two dozen seniors meet every other week in a campus classroom with a facilitator (who is one of “us”) to discuss issues in the news. While our discussions are robust and energized, they are decorous and respectful. In fact, we raise our hand to speak and wait patiently until the microphone is passed to us before we offer our opinion or observation.
As it often does these days, today the conversation again came ‘round to gun control. Listening to various offerings by people I truly respect and have come to think of as friends, I finally took a deep breath and posed this question: “Can we take a poll here? If anyone in this room agrees with my proposal, will you raise your hand?”
First I offered the shocking statistics I’ve written so many times:
With less than 5% of the world’s population, we have about 40% of its guns!
For every 100 American, there are 120 American guns.
Those guns are concentrated in fewer than half the households in our country.
A large percentage of gun owners have 10 or more guns in their households.
Then I quoted the Second Amendment. (I’ve got it memorized by now.) “A well-organized militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” And then, I took a deep breath and told my classmates my position on guns, based on the Second Amendment and the atrocities we hear on the news, day in and day out: I believe that guns should be in the hands of the military, the police and the National Guard only. Hunting guns should be locked up on licensed hunting reserves, made available only to their licensed owners to be used only within the confines of that reserve. Please raise your hand if you agree with me.
Slowly the hands began to go up. Very quickly half the class had raised their hands. They agree with me! They looked me in the eye as they voted in favor of my position; they meant it! I was not, after all, the only person in the country who believes the only way to truly control guns is to get rid of them! Even one man who’d told us he possesses five hunting guns raised his hand. “But you have guns,” I protested. “Yes,” he said, “but I’d be willing to have them secured at a hunting reserve for me to use during hunting season.”
And there it was: Evidence that other Americans might consider my position reasonable. (“Doable” is another story. We all pretty much agreed it will never happen.) So now I have to ask you: What do you think of my position on “gun control”? Please comment reasonably and respectfully, and feel free to explain your views.
Afterword: As of this moment, we have had more than 600 mass shootings in our country in 2022. Should you wish to consult my previous articles on gun control, you can find them here: