The gun control debate is becoming a perfect example with the problems with partisan political debates and how they are covered. First, this debate occurs almost exclusively after a tragedy, the discussion often revolves around emotion instead of logic. Second, both sides tend to work from a conclusion backwards to develop their logic instead of keeping an open mind and looking for reasonable answers. This results in both sides making weak arguments such as, “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Technically correct, but trying to deny that guns are don’t make murder easier and faster makes the whole gun-owners’ rights argument look silly. On the other side of the spectrum, gun control advocates often ignore that the Constitution has a second amendment. When the left argues that the Constitution is being ignored, then they ignore the second amendment of the Constitution they look foolish/hypocritical.
Finally, my pet peeve is the media. The media doesn’t report objectively on much of anything anymore, and gun issues are a prime example of this. They’re clearly advocate a political position in their reporting, and they create a weak framework for the debate. For instance, media outlets are reporting that unemployment is the reason for the latest outbreak of gun violence. While unemployment is certainly higher than normal, this rationale would predict a consistent problem with the unemployed shooting people, as there is always some unemployment. It is a ridiculously simplistic approach to gun violence considering that most of the millions of unemployed workers shoot no one. Finally, the media also frames this debate as being a problem that has a solution that we simply are not taking. It is very likely that there is no absolute solution for this problem, but possibly there are some remedies.
This is not an easy issue; there is gun violence; gun owners do have rights protected by the Constitution; most gun owners are peaceful law abiding citizen, yet outbreaks of gun violence wreak havoc on a community and its people, which can’t be ignored. Instead of suggesting that everyone should arm himself or herself, or overreacting with an overreaching government solution that ignores the Constitution, this is an issue that could use a healthy balanced debate. The remedies may not even be directly ‘gun-related’ as mental health clearly is a significant issue for anyone willing to commit mass murder. Hopefully this debate on this issue can occur in a balanced and rational manner.
Good post. Great perspective.
Gun control isn’t the only issue that gets the extreme partisan blood flowing in people either.
There are many areas where we need balanced and rational debate.
By: chiefopiner on April 6, 2009
at 6:06 pm
Thanks Chief – Agreed, more balance would be very useful when discussing a variety of topics.
By: kmorrison33 on April 7, 2009
at 2:15 pm
I agree both sides tend not to look at this subject very objectively. Your rationale for unemployment not escalating gun violence seems to make sense, but I would suggest you look up the statistics to completely back up your argument. Yes, we know that there are always unemployed people, but does gun violence rise when there is a rise in unemployment? I don’t have the stats myself, but I think I have heard this is true. Also, are the people who perpetrate this violence unemployed or not? something to think about.
By: your bro on April 9, 2009
at 10:05 am
Hey Bro,
Not so much trying to argue that unemployment or the economy plays no role, as violence in general has been proven to rise in a bad economy. My complaint is based on a couple different news sources that summed up the reason for the last two shooting as due to the two people being unemployed.
My hunch is that mental health should be more of a focus, but frankly don’t have any solutions to the problem.
By: kmorrison33 on April 10, 2009
at 2:40 pm
I noticed that this is not the first time you mention this topic. Why have you decided to write about it again?
By: Heartburn Home Remedy on April 15, 2009
at 7:10 am
[...] It matters because gun safety is an important issue, worthy of your attention–regardless of where you stand in the “ranchers’ right” debate or even in the national gun control debate. These are sensitive issues in the rural community, such that some might feel tempted to reduce all dog shootings to a simple country-versus-city fight. It takes a well-oiled mind to see the shades of gray in such dilemmas. [...]
By: “Ranchers’ Right” Debate Overshadows Gun Safety Issue « Comins v. VanVoorhis on June 27, 2010
at 10:16 am