Get A Knife, Get A Dog, But Get Rid Of Guns By Molly Ivins

Get A Knife Get A Dog But Get Rid Of Gunsby Molly Ivinsguns Everywh

Get A Knife Get A Dog But Get Rid Of Gunsby Molly Ivinsguns Everywh

Get a Knife, Get a Dog, But Get Rid of Guns By Molly Ivins Guns. Everywhere guns. Consider the merits of the knife. In the first place, you have to catch up with someone in order to stab him. A general substitution of knives for guns would promote physical fitness. We'd turn into a whole nation of great runners. Plus, knives don't ricochet. And people are seldom killed while cleaning their knives.

As a civil libertarian, I of course support the Second Amendment. And I believe it means exactly what it says: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Fourteen-year-old boys are not part of a well-regulated militia. Members of wacky religious cults are not part of a well-regulated militia. Permitting unregulated citizens to have guns is destroying the security of this free state.

I am intrigued by the arguments of those who claim to follow the judicial doctrine of original intent. How do they know it was the dearest wish of Thomas Jefferson's heart that teenage drug dealers should cruise the cities of this nation perforating their fellow citizens with assault rifles? Channeling? There is more hooey spread about the Second Amendment. It says quite clearly that guns are for those who form part of a well-regulated militia, i.e., the armed forces including the National Guard.

The reasons for keeping them away from everyone else get clearer by the day. The comparison most often used is that of the automobile, another lethal object that is regularly used to wreak great carnage. Obviously, this society is full of people who haven't got enough common sense to use an automobile properly. But we haven't outlawed cars yet. We do, however, license them and their owners, restrict their use to presumably sane and sober adults, and keep track of who sells them to whom. At a minimum, we should do the same with guns.

In truth, there is no rational argument for guns in this society. This is no longer a frontier nation in which people hunt their own food. It is a crowded, overwhelmingly urban country in which letting people have access to guns is a continuing disaster. Those who want guns—whether for target shooting, hunting, or potting rattlesnakes (get a hoe)—should be subject to the same restrictions placed on gun owners in England— a nation in which liberty has survived nicely without an armed populace.

The argument that "guns don't kill people" is patent nonsense. Anyone who has ever worked in a cop shop knows how many family arguments end in murder because there was a gun in the house. Did the gun kill someone? No. But if there had been no gun, no one would have died. At least not without a good footrace first. Guns do kill.

Unlike cars, that is all they do. "A well-regulated militia" surely implies both long training and long discipline. That is the least, the very least, that should be required of those permitted to have guns because a gun is literally the power to kill. For years, I used to enjoy taunting my gun-nut friends about their psycho-sexual hang-ups— always in a spirit of good cheer, you understand. But letting the noisy minority in the National Rifle Association force us to allow this carnage to continue is just plain insane.

I do think gun nuts have a power hang-up. I don't know what is missing in their psyches that they need to feel they have the power to kill. But no sane society would allow this to continue. Ban the damn things. Ban them all.

Paper For Above instruction

The debate over gun control versus firearm rights has been a persistent issue in American society, reflecting deep-rooted cultural, legal, and safety concerns. Molly Ivins, a renowned columnist and political commentator, passionately advocates for strict gun regulation, comparing guns to other dangerous objects like automobiles. Her perspective emphasizes both the societal risks associated with widespread gun ownership and the constitutional debates surrounding the Second Amendment.

Ivins begins by proposing a radical alternative to guns: knives, and even a dog, implying a more civilized and less lethal method of self-defense and confrontation. She argues that knives promote physical activity and are less likely to result in accidental deaths compared to firearms. Her point underscores the lethality of guns, especially in domestic settings where many accidental deaths occur. Ivins highlights the danger posed by guns, emphasizing their primary function: to kill –, and criticizes the notion that guns are essential for individual freedom, asserting instead that modern society’s urbanity renders such access unnecessary and dangerous.

The author references the Second Amendment, supporting the idea of a well-regulated militia but condemning the unrestricted possession of guns by civilians. She challenges the original intent of the amendment, suggesting that it was never meant to protect the right of every individual to own guns, particularly without regulation. Her interpretation aligns with the view that this constitutional right was intended for military and national defense purposes, not to enable free-for-all gun ownership by civilians.

Ivins further compares guns to automobiles, another hazard that is heavily regulated. Unlike guns, cars are licensed, restricted to sober adults, and their sale is monitored. She argues that similar restrictions should apply to guns to ensure public safety. Her criticism is rooted in the fact that, unlike the functional purpose of cars—transportation—guns are primarily lethal and serve no essential societal function in modern urban life.

The essay asserts that the presence of guns in households significantly increases the risk of violence and accidental deaths. Ivins cites the tragic reality that many homicides and suicides occur because a gun is accessible, reinforcing her call for a comprehensive ban. She dismisses the argument that guns do not kill people, emphasizing that guns are designed for killing and that societal safety is compromised by their unchecked proliferation.

Ivins advocates for long-term discipline and training for those permitted to own guns, aligning this requirement with the concept of a “well-regulated militia.” Her critique extends to the gun lobby, particularly the NRA, which she criticizes for perpetuating a culture of violence and power insecurity. Her tone suggests that the emotional and psychological needs driving gun ownership—such as feelings of power and masculinity—are unhealthy and contribute to societal chaos.

Concluding her argument, Ivins calls for an outright ban on guns, asserting that a sane society cannot allow the current levels of gun violence. Her perspective reflects a broader concern for public safety and rational gun policy, emphasizing that banning firearms is the only viable solution to stem the carnage associated with firearm violence.

References

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