America without hand guns would be a much safer country but tell that to an NRA advocate or most Republicans or most men for that matter--a John Wayne, male bonding thing. Heck, two of my Republican friends have concealed weapons permits. After one of the local elections got ugly, they took defense courses and shooting lessons. They are ready for any home invader or bad guy.
Gun lovers really believe that hand guns make us safer. In their minds, gun control would only put guns in the hands of criminals and murderers and we would be left defenseless. They also contend it is our right to bear arms.
Each day in America eighty people die from a gun and another two hundred are wounded. We lead all nations in violent crime as well as all nations with incarcerations now standing at 2.3 million. American citizens also make up the greatest number of criminals serving time in overseas prisons.
Heath Miller of Wellington, unfortunately, had to kill someone to protect himself and his family. A friend of the home invader who was killed said, “He wasn’t the type to get into trouble. He got along with everybody.” I guess even his friends didn’t know that their buddy had been arrested six times since 2006. Perhaps we all should be notified when convicted criminals live in our neighborhoods just like sexual offenders.
We are a violent people in a violent culture. Crime is out of control. Keep that gun under your pillow. Just don’t blow your head off.
