Everyone is aware of the tragedy that happened in Arizona recently. Senseless violence makes us all stop and ponder what went wrong. When that violence results in people being killed, we search for the reason so it can be avoided in the future. Everyone of us, whether consciously or subconsciously, was scared that it could have just as easily been us as those poor folks in Tucson. We need to discover what went wrong so we can put it to rest, and not be haunted by the fear that it could happen any place at any time.
It was a political rally so some of us decided it must be politically motivated. This led to the obvious solution that Sarah Palin drew some targets on a map, and thats what motivated the murders. Then there were the folks who preached that this was the result of widespread gun ownership, and thats what handgun owners do when they are irritated. Finally the blame was laid on the legislatures that didnt renew the ban on assault weapons, and it was because he possessed a 32-round clip, that the shooting took place.
I have heard all of these reasons given in a hundred different variations. It is the hot topic on TV, radio, and print. I really dont know whether it is just a great opportunity for news people and commentators to espouse their views on politics and gun control, or if they are really too ignorant to see the situation for what it is. Probably both of those reasons are true in some cases, but there is a third reason that for most of us is a subject we just dont talk about.
The man who committed these murders was mentally unstable. Something inside his brain wanted him to commit a crime that the rest of us cant even fathom. No one persuaded him to do this, nor could anyone have stopped him from trying. It was premeditated, well thought out, and affective. Whatever reason his attorney gives at his trial, or whoever he tries to blame is just a cover for an urge he had that he could not control. No sane person murders innocent strangers.
The gun he used in those murders bears no more blame than if he had used a sword, or a car. Blaming the high capacity magazine makes no more sense than blaming a fork because people are fat. The reality is that we have mentally ill people in our society, and a few of them are violent. Some of the time they slip through the cracks, and no one knows until they strike. There are no easy solutions to this problem. Thankfully we dont live in a society where we lock up, or institutionalize, everyone who is a potential threat. That being said, we have an obligation to pay attention to what is going on around us, and protect ourselves the best we can.
If you are wondering what this has to do with outdoor activities, you need to listen to what the anti-gun folks are saying about this issue. A lot of our outdoor activities involve firearms, and this is the same incident that led to the gun bans in England, Australia, and Canada.
Catch you later, Rick
