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letter from Denver by James Mason From: James Mason Subject: Lisa B. wrote: Dear James, I am a 21 year old resident of Denver, Colorado, and I go to Arapahoe Community College located about 6 blocks from the now forever famous Columbine High School. I was first informed of the incident on April 20th bout what was going on at approximately 12:00 p.m. I have followed this "story" from beginning to end and I've even been privey to inside information from police officers that were the first to arrive at the scene. This occurance has hit home and hit hard. On your site I got the impression that you don't care about the "why people do it," but "what should we do about it." if that's true then I agree with you. However, you have to know what's causing the problem before you can fix it. It's elementary to me. You talked about your violent childhood on your web site. Where were your parents? If they were around, what were they doing about your behavior? Don't you think lack of guidance and parental supervision has a little something to do with youth crime today? After all, (I don't know the exact statistical figure) aren't the majority of violent crimes commited by people under 25? Gun laws aren't for criminals. Gun laws are for law obiding citizens. I am not saying gun laws aren't necessary but they do decrease accessibility of guns to law obiding citizens, and at the same time the accessibility of guns to criminals remain the same. People who intend to break the law don't aquire the gun they plan to do it with legally. In your site you had a lot to complain about but you didn't offer any solution. I believe that (like in your sister's case) the people who don't care for their weapons in a manner such that they are available to children or theft, then they should be held responsible for the crime commited. In your sister's case- "Accessory to Murder I" would have been appropriate. I don't think we need more regulation on buying, selling, or private ownership of guns. I think more responsibility should be placed on the gun owners. The debate on having to lock up your gun is (obviously) that you wouldn't beable to get it in the time of a break-in or other emergency. I agree, that's why I own two loyal and beautiful PIT BULLS. The fool that decides to break into my house, weapon or no, will be one sorry M.F. What I'm getting at: I think people need to have the ability to posses guns in the time of true terroristic take over. Look at the world around us. It would be ignorant to say that our country will never be in Civil War. What if the government made an announcement via the media that in the next year everyone in America will be fitted with a tracking device in their brain. What are we going to fight them with? Rocks and sticks? Because of the terrorism at Columbine High, 2 bills that permited concealed weapons in Colorado have been droped. I do not own a gun, nor am I a pro-gun advocate. But, I can't help wonder what could have happened if a teacher had a licensed gun in their holster under their suit coat at 11:30 a.m. on the 20th of April at Columbine High. Would of, Could of Should of, Right? Lisa B. Executive Assistant LVL Associates, LLC Re: Gun Control To: Lisa B. Welcome to this issue Lisa. I do care about those reasons why. The fact is it will take a very long time to address those reasons and they may never cease. The psycho social reasons are for parents and government to deal with and may never be dealt with because these tensions and stresses and cruelties are as old as institutionalized learning itself. What is not so old is a nation of 270 million people that purchases and distributes 12 million firearms to itself per year, and whose population only grows by a few million people each hear. Sound fucked up to you? It is. I've known about this problem for about 8 years. Sheer numbers tells us that mass murders should be frequent and almost common place in this kind of environment. However, gun control in every nation where it is in place, works to reduce deaths and wounding and frequencies of deaths and woundings, dramaticaly. This is strong evidence, not hypothesis. A physical SOLUTION that works. Get it? And the majority of all crimes are committed by adults. In fact, one could say that what Happened at Columbine High was similar to a "bring your parent's violent world to school day." And if a teacher had had a gun in the school there very likely would have been a GUN FIGHT with said teacher, if the teacher had an opprotunity to use it, (if he didn't get killed first) except in this case the perpetrators would have had their guns drawn and ready long before him, be more prepared and willing to kill, and have outnumbered the teacher. The gun fight would likely have resulted in persons nearby wounded or killed also. Unlike the clean shootouts of Hollywood where heros abound and bullets don't miss and wounded perons talk and walk (instead of sreaming like babies). As for your fear of a fascist government that would attempt to personally control all of us. That's pretty far fetched, considering even, that not one country, communist, or democratic or monarchy or whatever, is not doing anything like that currently, nor has plans to. And if they ever did, if it happended in a Democracy, there would likely be consensus among representatives, like ALWAYS. This issue is too riddled with complexities and arguements to cover it all in one email. Im sure that you will have all the usual NRA type arguements and questions. And guess what? You'll dislike it, but I've a very reasonable and rational explanation for it all. later. |
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