In February of 2018, I wrote an essay saying that I believe a gun ban in the U.S. in inevitable. Four years have passed and no gun ban, so perhaps I’m wrong. But I’m going to lay out my arguments anyway, and you can see what you think.
Some people here eat what they kill, but the vast vast majority of Americans hunting hunt for fun. Very very few people in America, if any, hunt because they wouldn't eat if they didn't.
Hi Sarah - I'm originally from Oregon and I can say for certain that many families I knew growing up who truly did rely on meat from hunting to sustain their families. That being said - that doesn't mean we can't limit gun ownership. It wouldn't be difficult to show need - and most hunters I know do training, have licensed guns, and safeguard their guns. NOBODY needs an AR-15 style gun to hunt for food.
I have had folks tell me that it is their god given right to own guns. I am not sure how the 2nd amendment became elevated to this level of religious significance. These are my colleagues that are smart and educated and yet this is what they carry in their hearts. Where do you go from there? I vote. But it feels so senseless when children die.
I have such a hard time being patient with people who feel religious about the 2nd amendment. At some point I noticed they never quote the 2nd Amendment in full. Here it is:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If you read the whole sentence, it's very straightforward and understandable. And it makes clear that the current interpretation, focused on individual gun ownership, is straight up bonkers. Trying to pull individual gun ownership out of it as it's written, is just making stuff up.
I fully understand the current interpretation comes from SCOTUS and is the current law. But it's also common knowledge amongst historians and legal scholars that the current interpretation was made for political gains. This article describes how recent and artificial the fundamentalist interpretation of the 2nd Amendment is:
I try to remember that at any time, SCOTUS and our lawmakers can choose to interpret the 2nd Amendment as it's written, and a whole lot of our "gun rights" problems will go away.
I agree with you Helen. While I was not a fan of John Howard's government, I admired him for his swift response to Pt Arthur. It really is impossible to fathom America's gun culture.
I love this. I agree 100%. I, too, was raised in a rural, hunting community. Most of the older men in my family hunt, so I'm not completely unaware of that culture. But you are 100% correct that none of the tiny little compromises that have ever been proposed in government, have ever had any effect. Chief Justice Warren Burger is quoted as saying that the gun lobby's interpretation of the second amendment "has been the subject of one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud,' on the American public." People act like there is nothing we can do about that wholly wrong interpretation of the 2nd amendment. But we actually have two choices: 1) interpret it correctly, as meaning that it refers to the establishment of a military, not the arming of every idiot who wants a gun; and 2) we can change it! It's an amendment. We can amend it, or abolish it, or rewrite it. It's not like we haven't done this to our constitution before. I am tired. I am heartbroken. I'm glad you've written this, it's brilliant and touches on every point, and it gives me hope that there are good, sensible people with good, sensible thoughts on this subject. I vote 100% Democratic. But I'm scared for this country. I'm in despair. I just don't know if we can be saved from these evil, powerful people anymore.
Thank you for another thoughtful response to the insanity. It is frustrating when most people want it to stop and our politicians don't act. My own belief is that the chaos will not end until we do more to end voter suppression. Right now, we don't need to encourage people to vote--we need to abolish the obstacles to voting. Australia is an example of what a true democracy looks like—it’s response to the last mass shooting there in 1996 and its handling of COVID resulting in a death rate that is 1/10th of the US levels is proof. Similar to US demographics (60% urban, 40% rural), similar spectrum of people who identify themselves as conservative or progressive—and yet, at the end of the day, sanity rules. Voting is mandatory (fines are less than $15) but this seems to be one of the only ways to ensure a strong democracy vs. the oligarchy which currently rules this country. I would choose mandatory voting over school massacres any day. What is at the forefront of my mind amidst the limiting of our civil rights, rampant mass shootings, inequalities in education and housing, etc. is that mandatory voting is not even on the table but rather we are still arguing about access to voting, what other democracy limits access to voting to its current eligible voters? Protests will only get us so far—putting the power of our government truly in the hands of its people is the only way to stability and reason.
Thank you for this. I agree 100%. Those of us who want our elected officials to do something need to keep on them. Call them every day. Get your friends to call them. Email them, I'm forwarding this to my elected officials. We can't just sit around and expect our officials to grow a back bone. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Let's let them hear our voices.
I've been struggling with how to respond to an argument that both of my parents have made in the past and in the wake of yesterday's shooting in Texas. "The schools are not doing a good enough job at keeping kids safe." When my father said that schools need to be designed better, I questioned it by saying that would be a massive infrastructure project to already underfunded schools.
How do your parents propose that schools become safer? They already have only one entrance, often with security guards. The shooter just shot and killed the security guard at the Uvalde elementary school. What else do your parents want? Who is supposed to figure out this stuff, and who is paying for it?
Also, why is the onus on the schools to be a safer place for kids, rather than society being a safe place for kids in which they can just go to school without worrying about these things? Our kids shouldn't be doing active shooter drills; they shouldn't be needed!
If asked, every child in this country could tell you which of their classmates would be most likely to come to school with a gun and start shooting. Making schools safer is not about the physical structure of the school. It's about identifying which students are hurting, which are struggling, which have formed no connections to anyone or anything, which spend every moment they are not in school playing murder games, which have no reason to live, and then providing them with whatever services they need - counselors, therapists, doctors, tutors, etc. The Uvalde shooter was bullied because his parents didn't spend the time or money to insure that he had clothes that fit properly. How many lives could have been saved if someone other than his classmates noticed his too tight, too short pants and got him appropriate clothing? This is not about arming school resource officers or hardening school facilities. We need to change the reason these kids want guns in the first place.
Thank you for another thoughtful article. I think we should strike the start of school this Fall. Until we have true gun reform, educators and parents should refuse to start the new school year.
I think going to school every day afraid one of their classmates might shoot up the school is doing much more harm than a strike would do. It would also teach them a lesson in political activism, and perhaps help inspire the next generation to push for the changes that we need.
I agree. And I've always been an advocate for more safety/laws. But this article really spoke to me. Maybe I'm just done. Today - I'm just so sad and mad and frustrated.
I agree 100%. 1000%. We have tried to get reasonable accommodations from the gun lobby. Nothing. So yes…I am in favor of a total gun ban. Now the NRA is right…we ARE coming for their guns. We have no choice.
I am from Texas and like you, grew up with hunters and around guns. I used to think if responsible gun owners could get on board with common-sense gun regulation, things would get better. It’s clear that’s not happening. I agree that we need a ban. I don’t know how any sensible person can read the text of the 2nd Amendment and think it gives Americans free, unrestricted access to guns. And now, living in Australia, looking in at the U.S. from the outside, it’s horrifying to see this keeps happening. I’ve met so many Australians who have no interest in ever visiting the States due to the gun violence and many expats who never want to return because of it.
Hi Gabi My heart is breaking for the families in Texas. Do American hunters hunt for food or for sport generally?
Some people here eat what they kill, but the vast vast majority of Americans hunting hunt for fun. Very very few people in America, if any, hunt because they wouldn't eat if they didn't.
I live in Africa and I was shocked to find out about Americans who come here to hunt lions for fun.
Hi Sarah - I'm originally from Oregon and I can say for certain that many families I knew growing up who truly did rely on meat from hunting to sustain their families. That being said - that doesn't mean we can't limit gun ownership. It wouldn't be difficult to show need - and most hunters I know do training, have licensed guns, and safeguard their guns. NOBODY needs an AR-15 style gun to hunt for food.
this is absolutely brilliant. thank you again for your thoughtful words and insights.
Thank you for raising your voice. It’s insane and infuriating that nothing changes, tragedy after tragedy.
I have had folks tell me that it is their god given right to own guns. I am not sure how the 2nd amendment became elevated to this level of religious significance. These are my colleagues that are smart and educated and yet this is what they carry in their hearts. Where do you go from there? I vote. But it feels so senseless when children die.
I have such a hard time being patient with people who feel religious about the 2nd amendment. At some point I noticed they never quote the 2nd Amendment in full. Here it is:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If you read the whole sentence, it's very straightforward and understandable. And it makes clear that the current interpretation, focused on individual gun ownership, is straight up bonkers. Trying to pull individual gun ownership out of it as it's written, is just making stuff up.
I fully understand the current interpretation comes from SCOTUS and is the current law. But it's also common knowledge amongst historians and legal scholars that the current interpretation was made for political gains. This article describes how recent and artificial the fundamentalist interpretation of the 2nd Amendment is:
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/05/nra-guns-second-amendment-106856/
I try to remember that at any time, SCOTUS and our lawmakers can choose to interpret the 2nd Amendment as it's written, and a whole lot of our "gun rights" problems will go away.
Isn't that law like 200 years old? How can they have such old laws when weapon technology has changed so much, as well as socio economic conditions.
Ah, such common sense, thank you. With all sincerity, my fellow Australians and I cannot fathom why these laws cannot be changed. Such senselessness….
I agree with you Helen. While I was not a fan of John Howard's government, I admired him for his swift response to Pt Arthur. It really is impossible to fathom America's gun culture.
I love this. I agree 100%. I, too, was raised in a rural, hunting community. Most of the older men in my family hunt, so I'm not completely unaware of that culture. But you are 100% correct that none of the tiny little compromises that have ever been proposed in government, have ever had any effect. Chief Justice Warren Burger is quoted as saying that the gun lobby's interpretation of the second amendment "has been the subject of one of the greatest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word fraud,' on the American public." People act like there is nothing we can do about that wholly wrong interpretation of the 2nd amendment. But we actually have two choices: 1) interpret it correctly, as meaning that it refers to the establishment of a military, not the arming of every idiot who wants a gun; and 2) we can change it! It's an amendment. We can amend it, or abolish it, or rewrite it. It's not like we haven't done this to our constitution before. I am tired. I am heartbroken. I'm glad you've written this, it's brilliant and touches on every point, and it gives me hope that there are good, sensible people with good, sensible thoughts on this subject. I vote 100% Democratic. But I'm scared for this country. I'm in despair. I just don't know if we can be saved from these evil, powerful people anymore.
Thank you for another thoughtful response to the insanity. It is frustrating when most people want it to stop and our politicians don't act. My own belief is that the chaos will not end until we do more to end voter suppression. Right now, we don't need to encourage people to vote--we need to abolish the obstacles to voting. Australia is an example of what a true democracy looks like—it’s response to the last mass shooting there in 1996 and its handling of COVID resulting in a death rate that is 1/10th of the US levels is proof. Similar to US demographics (60% urban, 40% rural), similar spectrum of people who identify themselves as conservative or progressive—and yet, at the end of the day, sanity rules. Voting is mandatory (fines are less than $15) but this seems to be one of the only ways to ensure a strong democracy vs. the oligarchy which currently rules this country. I would choose mandatory voting over school massacres any day. What is at the forefront of my mind amidst the limiting of our civil rights, rampant mass shootings, inequalities in education and housing, etc. is that mandatory voting is not even on the table but rather we are still arguing about access to voting, what other democracy limits access to voting to its current eligible voters? Protests will only get us so far—putting the power of our government truly in the hands of its people is the only way to stability and reason.
This is 💯!! White male power, money, and control over any other human life. It is disgusting.
Brilliant! Do you think you'll create one of your amazing twitter threads with this? I would love to share it.
Thank you for this. I agree 100%. Those of us who want our elected officials to do something need to keep on them. Call them every day. Get your friends to call them. Email them, I'm forwarding this to my elected officials. We can't just sit around and expect our officials to grow a back bone. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Let's let them hear our voices.
I've been struggling with how to respond to an argument that both of my parents have made in the past and in the wake of yesterday's shooting in Texas. "The schools are not doing a good enough job at keeping kids safe." When my father said that schools need to be designed better, I questioned it by saying that would be a massive infrastructure project to already underfunded schools.
How do your parents propose that schools become safer? They already have only one entrance, often with security guards. The shooter just shot and killed the security guard at the Uvalde elementary school. What else do your parents want? Who is supposed to figure out this stuff, and who is paying for it?
Also, why is the onus on the schools to be a safer place for kids, rather than society being a safe place for kids in which they can just go to school without worrying about these things? Our kids shouldn't be doing active shooter drills; they shouldn't be needed!
If asked, every child in this country could tell you which of their classmates would be most likely to come to school with a gun and start shooting. Making schools safer is not about the physical structure of the school. It's about identifying which students are hurting, which are struggling, which have formed no connections to anyone or anything, which spend every moment they are not in school playing murder games, which have no reason to live, and then providing them with whatever services they need - counselors, therapists, doctors, tutors, etc. The Uvalde shooter was bullied because his parents didn't spend the time or money to insure that he had clothes that fit properly. How many lives could have been saved if someone other than his classmates noticed his too tight, too short pants and got him appropriate clothing? This is not about arming school resource officers or hardening school facilities. We need to change the reason these kids want guns in the first place.
Thank you for another thoughtful article. I think we should strike the start of school this Fall. Until we have true gun reform, educators and parents should refuse to start the new school year.
Interesting thought. It would certainly make an impact BUT once again, would harm our kids to make a point.
I think going to school every day afraid one of their classmates might shoot up the school is doing much more harm than a strike would do. It would also teach them a lesson in political activism, and perhaps help inspire the next generation to push for the changes that we need.
I think that's a very fair point.
But we should not have to take that step. It’s so frustrating that there is still no action after so many years.
I agree. And I've always been an advocate for more safety/laws. But this article really spoke to me. Maybe I'm just done. Today - I'm just so sad and mad and frustrated.
I agree 100%. 1000%. We have tried to get reasonable accommodations from the gun lobby. Nothing. So yes…I am in favor of a total gun ban. Now the NRA is right…we ARE coming for their guns. We have no choice.
Love this!! Thank you 🤍
Gabi, you are my shero! Your words are so perfect for this moment.
I am from Texas and like you, grew up with hunters and around guns. I used to think if responsible gun owners could get on board with common-sense gun regulation, things would get better. It’s clear that’s not happening. I agree that we need a ban. I don’t know how any sensible person can read the text of the 2nd Amendment and think it gives Americans free, unrestricted access to guns. And now, living in Australia, looking in at the U.S. from the outside, it’s horrifying to see this keeps happening. I’ve met so many Australians who have no interest in ever visiting the States due to the gun violence and many expats who never want to return because of it.