NRA Should Embrace Gun Control or Accept Complicity in Aurora

As new details surface about the mental health of Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes, pro-gun groups attempt to reconcile their support of lax gun laws and the role of guns in yet another tragedy. However, the only legitimate avenue available to these groups to distance themselves from such tragedy is to embrace — not rail against — gun regulations. They can’t have it both ways.

A few scenarios of why, off the top of my head: Some nutcase with legally purchased weapons shoots up a movie theater, some guy stands his ground by chasing and shooting a boy in a hoodie, a congresswoman is put in the hospital and six others killed or injured by an armed man, some other deranged individual decides to kill his college classmates.

Guns are a complicated aspect of our society. They are intricate, often beautifully crafted, precise pieces of engineering technology that require skilled handling. They have become a part of our history and our culture. They provide our soldiers with a lethal edge over our enemies and provide our cops with deterrent power that complements moral authority. They are a multibillion dollar business, they often save innocent lives, and often end them.

As I walk around some streets in Mexico, as I have for a few weeks, watching the Federal Police patrol in armored pickup trucks carrying shotguns and assault rifles, I think of all the societal repercussions of the gun.

http://politic365.com/2012/08/02/nra-should-embrace-gun-control-or-accept-complicity-in-aurora/