Two Facts and an Opinion About Guns
Fact 1:
Guns come in various calibers. All guns, even hunting rifles. AK style guns are the silhouettes we have all learned to fear, the ones we see plastered in the news. AK style guns are referred to in the media as “assault” rifles. This is a catch-all term covering guns that “look” like AK style guns. Here’s what’s true, the caliber of a gun matters. The larger the caliber the more damage it can do, no matter what style the gun is. We need to stop making guns available for nonmilitary use that enable mass shootings. Gun restrictions need to go beyond this “assault” weapon label and differentiate the caliber of a gun verses the shape and style of a gun. A scary appearance is not the same as lethal capability.
Fact 2:
Magazines that permit a shooter to rapidly fire bullets without having to stop often to reload are called high-capacity magazines. These magazines feed bullets into the gun’s firing chamber and permit a shooter to harm or kill more people in a shorter amount of time, AND they also make it more difficult to disarm a shooter because it’s more dangerous to take down someone who is rapidly firing ammunition at you. This means the “pause” in firing that provides a somewhat safer window to disarm the shooter is much less frequent.
Opinion:
We should be scared. And disgusted. But we also need to be well informed so we can make sure that any laws/restrictions that are hopefully passed in this difficult climate actually do the most to protect us. I do not believe this country will ever rid itself of guns. I am not saying whether I think that is a good thing or a bad thing, just that it is most likely a true thing. Fear should motivate us to do something about the gun situation in our country, and factual information should guide what we choose to do. In my opinion what makes sense is to: 1) limit the caliber sizes available for nonmilitary use; and 2) make it illegal for high capacity magazines to be sold (or owned) for nonmilitary use.
Cinse Bonino
2023
