It seems likely the only certainty about “age” is that the more of it one is fortunate to have, the less remains available. Available to handle what conversely seems to be an ever growing number of challenges. None the least, making informed and otherwise responsible decisions. Such as, how to best protect our school children and their teaching staff from being harmed by persons having murderous aims.
The unthinkable massacre recently taking the lives of some 17 students and staff at a high school in Parkland, Florida has—once again—justifiably elevated cries for prevention of such atrocities. With age-restrictions, enhanced background checks, elimination of all or various types of guns, etc., being among the more notable measures being pursued by a variety of individuals, groups, and agendas. And as our well-intentioned race for quick and effective fixes is undertaken, hopefully we will not lose touch with reality and common sense.
For example, evil seeking to do harm to innocent others could care less about laws, rules, regulations, or “signs” forbidding their heinous acts and choice of weapons. And it was not a troubled teenager, but rather two adult men, ages 27 and 40, using not a gun, but rather a fertilizer-based bomb, who killed 168 people, injured more than 680 others, destroyed or damaged some 325 buildings, causing damage estimated to be $652 million—in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on April 19, 1995.
Likewise, on November 5, 2009, it was not a teen with an abusive home/social life, but rather a 39 year old U.S. Army psychiatrist and Medical Corps Major who—after shouting "Allahu Akbar!"— killed 13 people and wounded at least 30 others, in a “mass murder” he carried out at the Fort Hood Military Base, Texas, using not an “assault rifle”—but rather, a “pistol.” A tragedy that would have been much worse, were it not for the murderer being eventually felled by a civilian police sergeant armed with a gun. A senseless tragedy that could have been much less severe, had the murderer not had the benefit of a "gun free zone" to carry out this barbaric atrocity.
The above being but a couple of unsettling reminders that evil can be embodied in a wide range of ages—with access to essentially a boundless nature of weapons. Hence the importance that we unrelentingly hold our government accountable for effectively carrying out its U.S. Constitution granted powers and responsibilities for protection of U.S. citizens. While never infringing upon the likewise constitution acknowledged Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Including law-abiding citizens the Twenty-sixth Amendment prohibits the federal government from using age as a reason for denying citizens, at least 18 years old, the right to vote. Including law-abiding citizens who we permit to join our military at age 18 (and at age 17 with parental consent).
Some seem to find logic and peace of mind in our law-abiding being “old enough” to drive a potentially deadly vehicle; vote in our nation’s elections; and to be put in harm’s way in our military—but not “old enough” to purchase and/or possess a hand gun or rifle. Some feel otherwise.
Somewhere in our quest for solutions is an often muted cry for common sense to prevail. —William James Moore
= = =
A "Must Watch" Related Video:
No comments:
Post a Comment