“I have always been perplexed by the knee-jerk opposition of some veterans to any mention of gun control,” Marine Matthew Hess writes at marinecorpstimes.com. “After all, the military’s standards for weapons safety are exceptionally high.” You know where this one’s going: civilians aren’t trained enough to safely handle firearms. And hey! The government puts prospective Leathernecks through a background check. So why not all gun buyers? But don’t get Sgt. Hess wrong . . .
I do not believe that citizens who pass reasonable background checks and meet eligibility requirements should be prevented from owning guns.
Sgt. Hess’ remark pegs the condescension meter at 11. It also displays a stunning lack of consideration for — and understanding of — the Second Amendment; a document that makes no mention of “background checks” or “eligibility requirements” while prohibiting the government from infringing on Americans’ natural and civil right to keep and bear arms.
But I must question the yield-no-ground attitude toward gun control that I have heard from many of my friends. Of course, we will never be able to prevent every gun crime or mass shooting, and criminals will always be able to obtain guns illegally. However, responsible gun owners should want to make it more difficult, not easier, for criminals and terrorists to obtain these weapons. Further restrictions on gun ownership would not prevent law-abiding citizens from owning guns. Extensive background checks on gun purchases should be common sense, as should training requirements for concealed carry permits.
And I question any Marine who questions anyone’s “yield-no-ground” attitude about anything. I thought refusing to surrender ground — symbolic or physical — was the entire point of the U.S. Marine Corps. In fact, Sgt. Hess is on the offense; his rant has moved from supporting “reasonable background checks” to arguing for “extensive background checks.”
As if that wasn’t enough to rile any veteran who swore an oath to uphold and defend the United States Constitution, and I’m thinking it is, Sgt. Hess goes full you-know-what.
We should be willing to at least consider other forms of gun control, such as prohibitions on military-grade assault rifles, like those used in San Bernardino. I support my friends in their desire to protect themselves and their loved ones, but I do not trust every person in America to own a gun. Veterans — with their weapons experience and training — have a responsibility to lead the fight for more secure gun laws.
The comments under the article have been, shall we say, less than supportive. Like this from Mike Seven Andrew:
How about you go sit on a railspike while suck-starting a sidearm? “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.” There is no ambiguity in the language. Keep your dick-skinners off my goddamn guns.
Mr. Andrew may say that, but I couldn’t possibly comment. Any more than I already have.