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Opinion: Why can't we talk about guns?
In the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, Main Line Media asked, using its Twitter and
Facebook accounts, “Newtown Ct school shooting revives gun control debate.”
We also asked, “Is it time to talk about gun control in the U.S.?”
What I heard back wasn’t very surprising.
“What a terrible headline. How about focusing on the tragedy & saving your politics for another day.”
Others were angry that we even brought up the subject of gun control on the day of the shooting. Again, on the day of a shooting, one person commented that it was wrong to talk about how we could find ways to stop these shootings from occurring.
“Not today,” one reader tweeted.
“I don't think we should even be discussing it at this time,” another said.
My general response, “Why not?”
“Today is about the children,” that reader responded.
“Agreed.” I said, “Let's talk about how better gun control could protect our children.”
I’m no expert on gun control. I don’t think guns need to be wiped from the face of the earth but I also don’t think we should sit on our hands, as one reader suggested during the Twitter conversation.
Don’t we talk about nuclear disarmament when news breaks about Iran developing the potential to build a nuclear weapon? In 2007, when the I-35 W. Mississippi River bridge collapsed during rush hour, didn’t we talk about bridge regulation reform?
Why are guns any different? Let’s have a discussion. If you’re worried about a world without guns, tell me why. If you think there is a middle ground, tell me where it is. Should certain guns be available with a license? Which shouldn’t?
To be clear, I am not for or against guns, but I am 100 percent behind having a discussion so that we can figure out how to put an end to these shootings. Post a comment and let’s begin to figure it out.
Facebook accounts, “Newtown Ct school shooting revives gun control debate.”
We also asked, “Is it time to talk about gun control in the U.S.?”
What I heard back wasn’t very surprising.
“What a terrible headline. How about focusing on the tragedy & saving your politics for another day.”
Others were angry that we even brought up the subject of gun control on the day of the shooting. Again, on the day of a shooting, one person commented that it was wrong to talk about how we could find ways to stop these shootings from occurring.
“Not today,” one reader tweeted.
“I don't think we should even be discussing it at this time,” another said.
My general response, “Why not?”
“Today is about the children,” that reader responded.
“Agreed.” I said, “Let's talk about how better gun control could protect our children.”
I’m no expert on gun control. I don’t think guns need to be wiped from the face of the earth but I also don’t think we should sit on our hands, as one reader suggested during the Twitter conversation.
Don’t we talk about nuclear disarmament when news breaks about Iran developing the potential to build a nuclear weapon? In 2007, when the I-35 W. Mississippi River bridge collapsed during rush hour, didn’t we talk about bridge regulation reform?
Why are guns any different? Let’s have a discussion. If you’re worried about a world without guns, tell me why. If you think there is a middle ground, tell me where it is. Should certain guns be available with a license? Which shouldn’t?
To be clear, I am not for or against guns, but I am 100 percent behind having a discussion so that we can figure out how to put an end to these shootings. Post a comment and let’s begin to figure it out.
posted by Andy Stettler at
12:50 PM
2 Comments
