im choosing to write about this because of the recent decision by the supreme court to allow people in Washington D.C. to own a firearm. several years ago i used to live in an average crime rate neighborhood. that is during the day anyway. for some reason at night the crime rate entered another bracket of local law enforcement statistics. over a five year period i had two different cars broken into for my stereo, a windshield shattered, and my apartment almost broken into(i was home and turned on the lights before they could enter). so i eventually purchased a handgun. a 9mm springfield with double safety's (one on the grip and one on the trigger) so the gun couldnt accidently go off if it dropped. i kept it loaded but not chambered and an extra clip loaded on the side as well. i felt good after buying it and would periodicly take it out to look over and hold.
i come from a gun family. several members are ex-mil and current NRA members and hunters. so guns aren't new to me. but owning one was. and i was surprised how easy it was to get one. i simply went to the gun store, picked the gun i thought i needed then, filled out some paperwork and then waited seven days. it cost about 500$ and i was able to bring it home. of course some people have to have a foid card and no criminal record whatsoever but that it. thats all i had to do. it surprised me. i remember thinking, "this just isn't right". two years later without firing a shot i unloaded the clips, returned the ammo and sold the gun back to a local gun store for about half what i paid for it.
i still respect gun owners and i like watching you-tube videos of people using guns. and on the holidays when the family is together the men will get together and talk guns and sometimes get one out to show everybody after the turkey has been eaten. and thats always cool to listen to. especially the old timers talking about shotguns. barrel lengths, shot patterns, and the good old days before lead was banned. but im just not ready to have a gun. i don't feel i should be able to own either even though i am qualified. im not going lib or pink i just feel that the bar should be set higher.
i think if i have to be 16 to drive - 18 to vote/enlist - 21 to drink - and 27 before my car insurance gives me break then i should have to be required to at least take an exam to get a license to own a gun. a FOID card is just a card it doesn't really mean anything and how many states have that as a requirement?. i should be required to take a written test on gun safety and a field test that requires proper firing and cleaning of a shotgun/rifle and handgun. simply not having a criminal record and waiting seven days is really not all that much of a hurdle. some states require a license to ride a motorcycle and ticket you if your not wearing a seat belt. why not require a gun license? it would increase knowledge about gun safety and foster responsible gun ownership. having a bunch of untrained people with loaded guns in their houses frankly is an accident waiting to happen.
for now ill still stick to shooting a paintball gun but in the future i might get a handgun for self defense. like a small 9mm with a 6 shot clip. but not until a take a safety class and practice at the range. there is enough people in my family to talk to and thats a big help but not everybody has my type of family. i think "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." should be contingent on being able to actually safely use those arms as was probably standard when the bill of rights was drafted.
