Guns and the proliferation of fear
To the editor:
Many U.S. citizens are distressed following the elementary school mass murders in Connecticut. Some people are fearful that these events will be repeated in their locality. Sadly, intense fear of being victimized has the potential to make people lose perspective. Fear may reinforce the urge to arm oneself unnecessarily.
Recently on CNN, Fareed Zakaria reported that the U.S. has 5 percent of the world’s population, but 50 percent of the world’s guns. Irrespective of the 2nd Amendment, this stockpile of weapons seems contrary to common sense. Why would Americans need so many guns, some of which are high-powered semi-automatic weapons?
Probably, the assault weapon rationale is based on the protection of self and family. Here’s the issue: most neighborhoods are safe and the proliferation of weapons will not increase overall safety.
Having a virtual community “arms race” might be understandable if the majority of U.S. citizens were in immediate danger. But, they are not. Perceptions of fear can produce extreme over-reactionary behaviors like Don Quixote did combating windmills. In a civil society, a well-trained police force is sufficient security. Actually, many resident gun owners have inadequate firearm’s training and may also lack the psychological restraint to exhibit proper judgment.
A few weeks ago, Los Angeles officials conducted a gun buy-back program and amongst the hundreds of weapons turned-in were two American-made grenade launchers (Time Jan. 14, 2013). This is a significant problem! In recent weeks, contrived fears resulted in long lines at Big Box store gun counters. People with cash can eventually buy guns in the US, whether they need them or not.
Gun rights under the 2nd Amendment were never unlimited or absolute. Current gun laws throughout the nation need to be strengthened within the bounds of the U.S. Constitution. As a society we must also address a cult-like belief that “government” is plotting to confiscate your guns.
At a very young age, I discovered how fear impacts a community. Growing up in a small Connecticut town in the 1950s, America was in the midst of the Cold War. Fear spread. Elementary school students practiced Civil Defense preparedness where kids crouched under desks for shelter. In addition, my hometown actually built a bomb shelter adjacent to the new local library. Families were encouraged to store water and canned goods within cellars in the event of an attack. Hysteria associated with the Cold War is similar to the gun culture hysteria of today.
Fear that morphs into a weapon’s cache is not consistent with a civil society. Adults are far more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, and stroke than from a shootout in the front yard. Psychiatrist Karl A. Menninger said, “Fears are educated into us, and can, if we wish, be educated out.” Let’s give it a try.
Todd Russell
Presque Isle
