Preventing Shootings: Is Gun Control the Answer?
When I heard about the shooting last Friday in Connecticut, I was devastated. Not only were there many victims but the majority were young children. No matter what a person is thinking or what’s going on in their head, children should be off limits. Right now, the whole country is in shock and everyone agrees to what we all really knew a long time already: something has to change. That is whether you’re pro guns or against guns.
Right after the tragedy, social media posts started pouring in with anger, shock and different messages. One of them was that guns should be banned. What you’ll read further in this article is simply thoughts from me, it’s not meant to be confrontational whatsoever. After all, gun control is an extremely heated topic.
As a native Belgian, I have some thoughts about the issue that may or may not be right. However, there are certain things that I have picked up and I am also able to compare different policies. First of all, let me address what the policy is like in Belgium.
Any adult and 16-18 year old (with approval from parents) is allowed to possess a firearm. I personally had my first firearm when I was 17 years old. The process isn’t easy and there are many restrictions. I had never seen a semi automatic rifle until I came to the US, but Belgium doesn’t have the expansive nature and predators either. When you want a firearm, you have to pass a safety test in the shooting range, as well as an interview with the local sheriff. There are also background checks, you are obligated to be part of a shooting range for the duration you possess your firearm and the police is allowed to make a home visit and make sure that the firearm is safely locked away in a safe.
That raises the question, what can we adopt from this policy? Perhaps that the tests and background checks are more thorough and expansive. You can’t just walk in a store and walk out after a quick check with a firearm. Maybe firearms should be required to be locked in a safe and police can come and check on that. That only might have prevented Adam Lanza of getting his hands on his mothers weapons.
I like firearms. I consider them valuable for sport shooting (target shooting, I don’t hunt personally) and for home defense. If it meant it would resolve all these issues with shootings and people hurting each other, I would gladly give them up. However, it would not be the solution. After all, it’s people hurting people. If they are motivated, they will find other ways unfortunately. That doesn’t mean that we can’t do anything about the law, purchasing process, requirements and background checks though. We can make sure it’s harder for individuals to get them. I personally have nothing to hide and applaud a stricter and slower purchasing process. It might be enough to demotivate certain other individuals who are out to do harm. On the other hand, would this increase the number of firearms on the black market? I don’t know.
When clients ask me about weapons for self defense, I always tell them it can be either really helpful or it can be used against them. That is why it’s a completely personal decision. As with any weapon, you need to know how to use it in a safe way instead of making things more dangerous for yourself or others. Maybe everyone who wants to purchase a firearms should follow a mandatory class which discusses their legal obligations and safety procedures?
Nobody can disagree with the fact that more needs to be done for mental health research and helping patients. There should be a database in which doctors (not only law enforcement) can share their concerns. As it is now, many mentally unstable people can still purchase firearms if there have been no previous charges against them. That is something that needs a major change.
Another topic is the assault weapons ban. After doing some research, I figured out the assault weapons are weapons that have certain requirements such as having military style and/or cosmetic features, as well as having high capacity magazine holders.
As you may already know, full automatic weapons have no place in the general population and are thankfully heavily restricted. The problem with an assault weapons ban is that so many firearms aren’t considered assault weapons but can still do the same damage. There are an extraordinary amount of semi automatic weapons out there and many or most owners will not give these up. It would be very doubtful the government would ever ask them to as any law would not be retroactive anyway. This means that all weapons already in circulation stay there, it only restricts manufacturing and possession going forward. Whether the ban from 1994 - 2004 (banning only certain firearms) worked is up for debate. But keep in mind that the tens of millions of weapons and magazines under the ban stayed in circulation.
I don’t want to get too much into the topic of banning firearms because it’s such a controversial topic. I personally don’t believe the biggest problem is gun control or possession. After all, let’s say you take them all away. The black market ‘criminal’ guns will still be out there. People can’t defend themselves against criminals, predators etc.
Saying that the world is safe enough now and we don’t need guns is incorrect in my belief. Things happen every day all over the map. There are carjackings, homejackings, violent assault, burglaries etc. Take a look at the 2011 riots in London and talk to the people who were stolen from, assaulted and whose residences were lit on fire. History tells us the world is not as stable as everyone wants it to be.
I don’t think there is a definitive answer to the problem, at least not for gun control. I think responsible owners should have the right to possess a firearm for home defense, hunting and sport shooting. I don’t think people should judge others for possessing a firearm as long as they are responsible. I don’t think it makes me look any cooler to have them and I don’t brag with it. It does make me feel safer and I enjoy going to the range every once and a while.
Besides the possibility of banning certain features and making the process stricter and more thorough, there are still a few other issues that have a direct influence to the problem:
- The media needs to stop making lists of who was the deadliest, the most devastating etc. That only motivates other individuals who are out to do harm and want to beat that number. It gives them ideas. Let’s please focus on the victims and how we can solve the problem, not indirectly make it seem like we praise this monster. Of course it’s human curiosity to find out who he was and why he did it but you can see my point.
- Mental health research and guidance (after diagnosis). Many people out there need help and if they got it, they wouldn’t do actions such as these. This is a hard goal to reach but imagine how much heartache we can prevent if we can catch a tendency or unstable temperament etc. in individuals. I don’t know much about the topic so refrain from making it seem like I’m an expert but a better safety net is necessary. Why not have a system in which doctors can ring the alarm bell?
- Why not have security people or a few police officers in institutions (schools, hospitals etc.)? This requires funds and time but also creates jobs right?
- Change the mentality of the population. Violence is put too much in the spotlight. Not everything has to be bigger, better, more violent and aggressive. There is much violence in the media, Hollywood and video games. Why not put the focus on something less destructive?
Our thoughts are with the survivors and the victims’ families. These tragedies happen too much and shouldn’t.
By Sander Vanacker, owner, head instructor and personal trainer .
Define Defense in Boulder, CO
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Article About Serial Killers, Victims & Safety!
19/10/11 15:49 Filed in: Other | Self Defense
My wife pointed out an interesting article to me from the Cosmopolitan magazine. Since we address this topic in our Women's Self Defense classes and teach much of the same info, I wanted to share some of the article with you.
The article is called 'How serial killers choose their victims' and explains more about serial killers and their victims, methods and most importantly: how to avoid and detect them!
There has been a resurgence in serial killers who target females. The targets could be anyone as some criminals pursue easy targets and others are drawn to successful young women who live normal lives. The criminals themselves should not be stigmatized! It is surprising how 'normal' they are. Do not think you will be able to tell if someone is dangerous because they may act normal, have a family and pets etc. but they may still have a very dark side you cannot detect.
In some situations, the victim simply is at the wrong place at the wrong time but, as we also emphasize when we talk about sexual assault, the criminal may also choose you, stalk you and prepare his actions beforehand. There are many unfortunate killings and rapes that took place because the criminal has checked out where you live, the names on the mailbox, when you come home, where you park and more. That is why we recommend everyone to switch up your routines, take different routes home, leave at different times, get your coffee in different places. Also try to have someone with you when you walk somewhere or go into a parking garage, don't put both earphones in your ears when you are walking or running, put lamps on timers at your home so nobody can tell when you are home or going asleep.
A valuable tip the article mentioned is to look behind you when you are in your car, especially when you are approaching your home. If you think someone is following you, take a right and take a right again to go around the block. If you are being followed, drive controlled to a well lit or busy area and call 911
Whenever you meet someone, be cautious. Of course not every person you meet will be dangerous but don't take risks, don't be overly relaxed and don't do anything stupid. Many of these criminals are very sly and charming and are very good at what they do. That is why many are still out there and still not caught.
Finally, trust your gut! We have a natural alarm system inside of us so listen to it! You may be wrong but it's much better to be safe than sorry... The point is, if you feel something is wrong with someone, it's ok to judge. It is your safety and well being on the line.
If you would like to read more about this topic, we highly recommend the book 'The Anatomy of Motive' by John Douglas.
Define Defense specializes in self defense workshops, seminars and classes for groups of all levels, ages, genders and skills. We believe every person should have a basic understanding and skill set of self defense and teach the most realistic and effective self defense. Define Defense is located in Boulder, Colorado.
The article is called 'How serial killers choose their victims' and explains more about serial killers and their victims, methods and most importantly: how to avoid and detect them!
There has been a resurgence in serial killers who target females. The targets could be anyone as some criminals pursue easy targets and others are drawn to successful young women who live normal lives. The criminals themselves should not be stigmatized! It is surprising how 'normal' they are. Do not think you will be able to tell if someone is dangerous because they may act normal, have a family and pets etc. but they may still have a very dark side you cannot detect.
In some situations, the victim simply is at the wrong place at the wrong time but, as we also emphasize when we talk about sexual assault, the criminal may also choose you, stalk you and prepare his actions beforehand. There are many unfortunate killings and rapes that took place because the criminal has checked out where you live, the names on the mailbox, when you come home, where you park and more. That is why we recommend everyone to switch up your routines, take different routes home, leave at different times, get your coffee in different places. Also try to have someone with you when you walk somewhere or go into a parking garage, don't put both earphones in your ears when you are walking or running, put lamps on timers at your home so nobody can tell when you are home or going asleep.
A valuable tip the article mentioned is to look behind you when you are in your car, especially when you are approaching your home. If you think someone is following you, take a right and take a right again to go around the block. If you are being followed, drive controlled to a well lit or busy area and call 911
Whenever you meet someone, be cautious. Of course not every person you meet will be dangerous but don't take risks, don't be overly relaxed and don't do anything stupid. Many of these criminals are very sly and charming and are very good at what they do. That is why many are still out there and still not caught.
Finally, trust your gut! We have a natural alarm system inside of us so listen to it! You may be wrong but it's much better to be safe than sorry... The point is, if you feel something is wrong with someone, it's ok to judge. It is your safety and well being on the line.
If you would like to read more about this topic, we highly recommend the book 'The Anatomy of Motive' by John Douglas.
Define Defense specializes in self defense workshops, seminars and classes for groups of all levels, ages, genders and skills. We believe every person should have a basic understanding and skill set of self defense and teach the most realistic and effective self defense. Define Defense is located in Boulder, Colorado.