For your consideration, nothing more. [View all]

Some here get their tender feelings hurt over an imagined attack on “gun culture” like the war on Christmas. Well, let me say right out loud that such an attack, if it exists, isn't necessarily a bad thing for society at large or for responsible gun owners.

Some would say we (anti gun violence activists) should treat guns like tobacco but I reject that approach because I can think of nothing good or benign about smoking tobacco. The fringe of my movement might disagree but I see no inherent evil in firearms.

A much better model would be MADD. MADD's goal was never to ban cars or end drinking, only to reduce as much as possible the ill effects to combining the two. The campaign was very successful in that it greatly reduced the carnage of drunk driving. Do people still die in DUI “accidents”? Yeah, but not as many as before. Do people still enjoy competitive driving sports like drag racing, road courses and rallies? Sure they do. Do people still enjoy cocktail parties? Oh hell yes. Just not as many of us combine the two as before.

What would I hope to see from such an approach? An awareness in the general public that some people just shouldn't have access to guns. I'd like that awareness to include those who may currently want to have guns. Take the guy going through a nasty divorce with child custody at stake. I'd like to see that person consider removing guns from the situation until it is fully resolved. Voluntarily put them in the possession of someone he trusts to be fair and distanced from the emotional strain.

I'd like to see someone who has a substance abuse problem recognize that having a gun around isn't a good idea. I'd like the idea to at least occur to them that perhaps guns and bourbon by the bottle aren't a good combination.

I'd like to see someone suffering from depression or PTSD consider the danger of having a gun readily available. I'd like them to take the affirmative action of placing their guns in the hands of someone they trust until they are better.

That's what MADD did. They changed the way the public and in particular the people who drive and enjoy alcohol think about both cars and alcohol.

If we activists could accomplish that would everyone still be able to enjoy hunting, sports shooting and collecting? Yes. Would the population at large develop a more relaxed view of responsible gun owners? I think so. Would the level of carnage decrease a bit? I believe it would.

Call this a drive by or whatever but I don't intend to engage the usual suspects. It's just here for your consideration.