The above quote is from an article by Marc Santora of The New York Time reporting on the shooting outside of the Empire State Building yesterday.
This is hugely important for those who say that answer to gun violence is more guns (yes, this is a pretty pervasive thought) but guns in the right hands. I recall when Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others were shot last year, many on the side of keeping guns unrestricted claimed that having more armed police officers present would’ve made the event safer. More guns would’ve solved the problem.
Let this stand as Exhibit A that that way of thinking is false. More guns means more people get hurt. Police Officers are trained for these kinds of situations and when it’s 2 against one we still get 9 people injured just from police fire because these situations are so uncontrollable. The idea that untrained (or less trained civilians) with guns makes the world a safer place is just a falsity and is an idea the gun-rights activists cling to because they don’t want their guns taken away from them, not because it holds truth.
I don’t want to take away everyone’s gun. I believe in a populace that can defend itself. I also believe that not everyone should be allowed to hold such deadly power and that it’s a safer world where gun aren’t as pervasive. And that’s what matters. That’s what everyone on both sides of the debate wants at the end of the day: safety for all. Please, please, let this be the final wake-up call. We’ve been sleeping on this problem for far too long in the face of real, terrible tragedies. Please let’s make some real, effective change.
