OPINION – Do you get it yet?
Do you understand that it’s time that we finally do something about the laws that allow anybody with a fistful of money to purchase these things that we call assault weapons?
Look at the words: assault weapons.
Study the words: assault weapons.
Understand the words: assault weapons.
According to police reports, an assault weapon was used in what has turned out to be the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history when a gunman in an act of what is being termed as “domestic terrorism” walked into a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday morning and killed at least 50 people and wounded another 50-plus.
They are called assault weapons for a reason.
Look up the definition. Never mind, here, I did it for you. An assault weapon is a “weapon designed for use in warfare, especially when used in noncombat situations such as terrorism.”
Go ahead, argue that some people use them for varmint control in rural areas. Argue that some people collect them.
Give me your interpretation of the Second Amendment, go ahead.
You will never convince me that the 100-plus lives forever ended or changed are less important than your right to play cowboy.
Look, as I have often said, I understand the right to own weapons.
But, I also understand that some of those weapons have no purpose other than to kill people.
The AR-15 that was used in this tragedy is a very common, very popular weapon.
It is a civilian version of the military’s M-16.
It was also the weapon of choice used in deadly attacks in San Bernardino, Sandy Hook and elsewhere.
Now, sadly, in Orlando.
So, again, we mourn the dead, shake our heads at the tragedy that has become humanity, then, in a week or so, move on as if nothing has happened, as if those lives don’t matter.
Until the next time.
Then, we will go through our faux mourning once again, talk about how tragic it all is, how fragile life is, how terrible this all is but do nothing to change it.
There will be some who argue that if somebody in that Orlando nightclub had a gun, perhaps some lives would have been spared.
There was a guy with a gun at the club, a policeman who encountered the shooter and got into a shootout with him before he entered. He couldn’t stop him. It took the cops hours to finally take this guy down.
There will be a lot made of the shooter’s Middle East heritage, how it was an act of domestic terrorism.
Look, any assault is an act of domestic terrorism, whether the shooter is from Afghanistan or Albuquerque.
The only thing certain about today’s tragedy is that it will benefit the weapon manufacturers as the gun people rush to the stores and load up on even more guns and ammo because “Obama’s gonna take away muh guns!”
No he isn’t.
Obama doesn’t want your guns. He has had more than seven years to do so if he wished. But, Obama, like most reasonable people, believes there should be stricter controls on exactly who owns weapons, how they are purchased and why.
Reasonable people understand these things.
Responsible gun owners understand these things.
Responsible gun owners also understand that carrying a weapon does not guarantee that events such as this will never occur.
This is a tragedy on so many levels.
It is a horrific reminder that we desperately need gun reform in the United States.
It is a horrific reminder that domestic terrorism is now a fact of life in the United States.
It is a horrific reminder that whether this was a jihadist act or some whacko with a gun, this was also a hate crime, targeting an already heavily discriminated-against segment of our society – the gay community.
It is a horrific reminder that guns and violence do nothing but promote more guns and violence and that if you armed the entire citizenry, even the possibility of encountering somebody with a gun would not prevent such carnage.
It did not stop the shooters at Virginia Tech, Virginia (32 dead), Sandy Hook Elementary School, Connecticut (27 dead), Killeen, Texas (23 dead), San Ysidro, California (21 dead), Austin, Texas (18 dead), San Bernardino, California (14 dead), Edmond, Oklahoma (14 dead), Ft. Hood, Texas (13 dead), Binghampton, New York (13 dead), Columbine High School, Colorado (13 dead), Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (13 dead), Camden, New Jersey (13 dead), Washington Navy Yard (12 dead), Aurora, Colorado (12 dead), Atlanta, Georgia (12 dead), southern Alabama (10 dead), Roseburg, Oregon (9 dead), Charleston, South Carolina (9 dead), Red Lake, Minnesota (9 dead), Waddell, Arizona (9 dead), Jacksonville, Florida (8 dead), Seal Beach, California (8 dead), Manchester, Connecticut (8 dead), Appomattox, Virginia (8 dead), Carthage, North Carolina (8 dead), Omaha, Nebraska (8 dead), San Francisco, California (8 dead) or Louisville, Kentucky (8 dead).
No place is safe. These shootings have occurred in movie theaters, on military bases, on our streets, in our schools, in places where we gather and normally expect a certain degree of safety.
This has got to stop.
Is it sensible or feasible to try to collect all of the weapons currently on the street?
Of course not.
Is that something that would be practical and within the guarantees of the Second Amendment?
Of course not.
But, the Second Amendment was not created to allow weapons with no other intent than to kill human beings to be put into the hands of lunatics who do just that.
The Second Amendment does not usurp our right to an expectation of living in safety and comfort.
The Second Amendment does not mean we should be free to walk the streets like Old West gunslingers.
Look, you may have a right to own a weapon, but your right to own a weapon is not greater than my right to be protected from you and your weapon.
Ed Kociela is an opinion columnist. The opinions stated in this article are his and not representative of St. George News.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews, @EdKociela
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
Ed, I think you feel much safer and more comfortable in a sanctuary city. The very name suggests safety and security. Sanctuary. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it.
You are wrong, the 100 lives were changed by an Islamic terrorist following the law of his belief system (Sharia law) and killing people because they were LGBT. A man raised in the tradition and belief of killing gay people heard his religious leader’s call and obeyed orders.
It wasn’t guns that killed those people, it was an intolerance, a hate, a religious zealot. Guns didn’t kill those people in Paris or the other areas wrtten down, it was intolerance, a hate, religious zealots. Hate … the oldest enemy.
Extreme radical Islam is the enemy yet the left won’t even call it what it is. The left prefer to demonize guns. As soon as shots ring out by Islamic extremists or by the hands of an insane person, the liberal salivate to begin thier rant on gun control, as if those intent on the act might be controlled.
Dear author, those intent on the act of killing will find the needed instruments of death.
By laying stringent rules and laws down to prevent criminals from getting guns, the rights of the multitude of God fearing, law abiding citizens will be slowly eroded. This course of action is a very “slippery slope.”
Well said Jeannette!
I with you Jeannette. People keep blaming guns and not the terrorist. There should be a law that says, if you end up being investigated by the FBI for being a terrorist, you automatically can’t purchase firearms forever in the US, whether or not the FBI finds there is a connection to terrorism or not.
And as Jeanette’s inferred, they will find any means to necessary to commit acts of terror.
Jeannette, you are absolutely correct!
I couldnt have said it better than Jeanette. Thank you. Cain killed Able with a rock. Its not the instrument that is evil, its the persons and intentions that are evil. You cant blame an inanimate object for evil. Lay the gun down on a table and it will never do anything except lie there. It takes the evil intentions and evil heart to do evil. Cant blame the gun at all.
Contrary to what Ed says above, the Second Amendment was in fact “…created to allow weapons with no other intent than to kill human beings.” Why? Per Wikipedia : “The Second Amendment was based partially on the right to keep and bear arms in English common law… supporting the natural rights of self-defense, resistance to oppression, and the civic duty to act in concert in defense of the state.”
Almost every responsible citizen agrees with the Supreme Court that some limits on citizens’ “arms” are needed. Few would argue for the right to own RPGs, mortars and the like. But Ed’s argument against AR-15s is an argument against any semi-automatic weapon and starts down the proverbial slippery slope. Also, I don’t have the information at hand, but most of the tragedies Ed lists were not committed with assault weapons per se. Drawing the line is difficult.
Note: I do not own a gun and am not a member of the NRA.
President Barack Obama speaking to the nation yesterday in the wake of the Orlando massacre. He was right in saying that this tragic shooting was an act of terror and hate. But why didn’t he say it was an act of radical Islamic terrorism? ED , with all due respect, don’t forget Fort Hood; don’t forget the Boston Marathon; don’t forget San Bernardino; and don’t forget 9/11. What do they all have in common? They were all Islamic terrorists carrying out their treachery in the name of their religion. The Obama administration has cut our military to the bone and some experts say we’re the weakest we have been in modern times. It’s time we were rebuilding our military force worldwide to take on this enemy. It’s time we tighten America’s borders until we can clearly vet those we’re letting into the country. How many more American lives have to be lost before you understand the threat radical Islam is to every freedom-loving person? This always seems to get switched up to talking about limiting guns….controlling guns…..How about dealing with Radical Islam!!
In addition, Fort Hood, Boston and 9/11 were NOT committed with so-called assault weapons.
Agree…
I am a gun owner. It was bought the correct way. I am not in the NRA. What I do have is a unique view that you do not. Due to my soon to be ex-husband, I know more than I care to about the illegal side. I know there are guns coming up to Saint George that are totally illegal. The people that are handling and bringing them here are not doing it legally. Guns come up here from California and Mexico with no serial numbers. Some are even converted later. These people are not getting their guns thru legal channels. I have no problem with some gun control, but let’s be realistic about who is obeying those laws. The people that aren’t worried about them don’t have too. They don’t get them legally.
Exactly Melissa.
Call it what it is! Islamic Radical Terrorism!
Why are people blaming guns? the president says, it’s not terrorist fault. What? It’s the terrorist fault I don’t know but perhaps if someone is being investigated by the FBI for having terrorist ties um they should never be able to buy a gun in the US just for the simple fact that they might be a terrorist. Like this guy was
I’m with you Ladybug 100% but remember President Obozo does not want us to offend them. !
Jeanette and Big Guy – very well stated, rational points by both of you. The amount of illogical rants by people such as Ed Kocura are expected.
Ed, do you even know what an “assault rifle” is? It may look menacing to you, but it’s still basically just a semi-automatic rifle. Would you feel better if these mass shootings were conducted with weapons that look more like a typical hunting rifle?
The shooting locations you cited were almost all gun free zones. Contrary to your incorrect belief, the shooters often chose those locations specifically because they WERE gun free zones. Do some google searches and educate yourself.
I grew up with a firearm in a Country that respected its neighbours, Its Laws, and Its Christ centered beliefs. We now have all but outlawed Christ is all segments of our lives, and have outlawed disciplining our children. We use to say the pledge of allegiance and had daily prayers in our schools. Did we ever hear about mass shooting then? No! Fix what is broken in our Society, and shut the hell up about your right to have my right to own a assault semi-automatic weapon alone!
Yeah. Let’s go back to the good old days, when “radical mormonists” could shoot up a caravan of folks passing through from, say, Arkansas. Hard core religious bigotry and violence is what we really need to make this place great again.
Oh that never happened ! don’t believe me ? ask a Mormon
Eddy boy your such a drama queen, the assault weapons you are referring to in this article are are copy’s of the real thing. The real thing are 223 cal. But are fully automatic.
The ones you are referring to as assault weapons are semi automatic they shot one shot at a time,
Just like a lot of 223 cal rifles that are used for hunting and sport, but they do look scary to boys like you.
I have a pressure cooker that could be a bomb but it still looks like a pressure cooker . Even in a back pack siting on a side walk in Boston it still looks like a pressure cooker, the one I’m referring to is illegal to have yet it was still there. If you restrict guns you get pressure cookers.
You are so simple you just don’t get it.
I still think you look like a demented old lady with the long hair.
“Drama Queen”. Perfect description of the acclaimed “journalist”.
LOL. Hey 422 if it wasn’t for drama queen’s then Hollywood wouldn’t exist. I give ya 3 months and there will be a made for TV movie about this
I’m disappointed that this online publication allows this author any space. His views are distorted and so extreme to the left that they don’t fit any reasonable discussion forum. His articles seem to be written simply to cause a heated discussion and gain views.
Well then it worked Mark because you took the time to comment
chuckle
why is anyone letting even 1 muslim into this country? i can tell you who’s doing it, the motive i’m not so sure of. look what happened in gun restricted France. Those muslims were slaughtering people just like cattle in the slaughter house. Did they care that France had banned all guns? The worst people will find ways to get guns thru all the little underground networks. AND THIS INCLUDES THE MUSLIMS. the so-called liberals are drifting farther towards fascism will all this hard-handed gov’t control of people’s lives. “ALLAHU AKBAR” to you Ed Kociela
Did you find your meds dumbob ?
What another tragic event, this time in Orlando. In hoping that I may address this topic with all the soberness it warrants, I will attempt to list what I see as the biggest enablers to the horrific event.
1) The media…and we the viewers. Unfortunately, whenever terror is enacted, we as humans and bystanders cannot help but tune in to the grisly details. We are captivated by it, for whatever reasons. And the media knows this. But we can hardly blame the media, for they are in the business of attracting viewers and making money. Nonetheless, the terrorist–whether it be a religious extremist or jaded, outcast adolescent–knows they can scratch the incessant itch within them through the media channel. Through INFAMY. Infamy for terrorists is more motivating than anything else. Through the media and billions of viewers tuning in, they can memorialize themselves and their cause…but more importantly THEMSELVES. They will become a villainous celebrity and streamed through media outlets 24/7 for however long our attention is kept and dollars are being made. But that is not all. For years to come, they WILL be recognized in a sea of nameless faces, notched into the history of human existence with other notorious villains.
2) In this case, longstanding, generalized and hateful rhetoric aimed at homosexuality. Religious institutions can probably take the biggest blame for this. True, most people will not go beyond biased language and nonviolent actions. HOWEVER. There are clearly some who will take that hateful rhetoric and act violently in the name of it. Please, you who construct rhetoric to large or even small demographics, cease language that marginalizes groups of people based on their race, gender, sexual orientation–or anything else that is inherently a part of our beautiful species and doesn’t hurt others.
3) (And I own guns and have a concealed permit). I’m supportive of more restrictions on weapons. (However, I don’t believe guns are the main problem, and I also believe more in my right to protect myself and my family with equal force if I ever had to). But there is, again, logic for restricting access or vetting the process of obtaining a weapon. This would help cut down on the unnecessary violence, though not stop it. At the end of the day, unstable people will act out violently. We will not be able to stop that. Mental illness or construction/buy-in of harmful propaganda is as much a part of us as are our beautiful traits.
My heart goes out to those who are now suffering from the needless and terrible actions of others.
Just thinking out loud here………Would Gov Herbert order flags at half staff if there were 50 killed in a biker bar? a red neck bar? a skin head bar? a _____ bar? Just wondering.
Pfffft idiot !
Eddie boy….have you ever considered writing for Comedy Central? This article you wrote provided me with hysterical comedy relief. Tragic as the atrocity that occurred in Orlando is, you have once again proven that you do not know what you are talking about. You claim that “assault weapons” don’t belong in the hands of law abiding civilians. I have owned AR 15s and AK 47s for well over 25 years. I have left them alone for long periods of time and they have yet to “assault” anyone. What I don’t get is that you advocate for the government to tell me what I can own or not own. Regardless if it is a firearm or a toothbrush. No one, including you Eddie, you do not have the right to tell, or in your case , even suggest, what kind of firearms we legal gun owners can have, let alone the government. Recall who the “government” is Eddie? Or have you mushed up your brain with all the margaritas you have been slurping up in Mexico? The “government” here is WE THE PEOPLE, Eddie. You state Obama has had 89 years to take guns away from us gun owners. Well, it isn’t because he hasn’t tried Eddie boy, because he has. Get over it Eddie boy, there will be no more stupid gun laws passed by this incompetent administration. And you sure as heck are not going to do anything about it either, Eddie boy. So, just get over it!
Please get yourself unstuck from the 60s Eddie boy. And please, get yourself a haircut, that style went out in the early 70s, if that. And I have to disagree with dogmatic above, you don’t look demented. You sport the classic liberal look. Liberalism is a mental disorder…..and dementia is a mental disorder.
Not 89 years, 8 years. Excuse my fat fingers.
the first thing a dictator or tyrant will do is disarm the populace. a disarmed people are easily ruled over. our muslim dictator ‘president’ is an example of this.
but to be fair baby Bush II set the groundwork with the ‘homeland security’ police state.
Assault weapon is a made up term do your research. A ruger mini 14 ranching rifle is the exact same caliber and firing style of an ar-15. An Ar-15 is not a military weapon an m-16 is. It is not automatic and is the exact same thing as an ordinary hunting rifle just in a different skin. If you are going to be a journalist do your research before you make claims about certain weapons. Bad people will always get guns and if they can’t they’ll find a different type of weapon. Religion, guns, and upbringing can be factors but are not all to blame some people just aren’t ok in the head and nothing will change that. It is a tragedy what happened however if you have time to write an article placing blame you have time to think of a real viable solution.
There needs to be changes in our society to prevent needless killings of innocent people. What are our choices when guns are considered?
The road we are following supplies everyone with guns. Everyone could carry guns anywhere they go. Guns could be big or small, capable of individual or mass carnage. Regulations would be a thing of the past.
This IS what’s happening today. We can thank the powerful gun lobby for financing pro-gun propaganda. Follow the money.
Another choice might be some common sense regulations. Background checks – even at gun shows and when there are individual sales. Prevent the sale of weapons which could be used for mass killings.
This would be a good start.
It’s pretty obvious the local populace prefers to arm everyone even though it leads to societal chaos and individual misery. My guess is that everyone must experience the pain of losing a loved one before they can recognize this evil.
godisdead, background checks are done at gun shows, and “individual sales” are regulated by the state and are legal.
Any firearm can “be used for mass killings”, and you can’t stop the legal sales of firearms.
And it is because I don’t want to “experience the pain of losing a loved one”, that I legally carry a firearm. I have been trained by the best, (US Army) and had a successful career in law enforcement, and still continue to train on a regular basis to keep up my proficiency with my firearms.
Your liberal views on guns does not trump (no pun intended) my right to keep and bear arms of my choice. Perhaps you too, should consider moving to a “gun free” state such as California or Illinois (Chicago) and see how well that works out for you.
Ron. What I stated was my opinion. Try to comprehend what you are reading.
I believe we have choices and options.
1. Arm everyone with whatever weapons people like you believe they they can have or
2. More gun regulations.
On a personal note: you being in the U.S.Army and being affiliated with a public safety dept., doesn’t “trump” my opinion.
Personal attacks (like hairstyle choices) and bullying (if you don’t like it – move) are very immature tactics.
150 – 200 MILLION people were killed by their governments in the 20th century, and they all have one thing in common: they were unarmed or disarmed, with no way to defend themselves. The Florida shooting was horrible, but it would have to happen every single day for at least 8, 213 years to kill as many people as were killed by their governments from 1900 – 2000.
The first, most fundamental purpose for the 2nd Amendment is to defend yourself against tyranny from your own government. Then comes defending against foreign invaders, criminals, etc. And a distant, distant 3rd is hunting and sport shooting.
I don’t think Ed could be further off the mark on this one. The gun was just a tool, the evil was caused by radical islamic extremism, and the liberal elites that are too afraid or complicit to say “Voldomort” are accomplices.
right on
Good and evil. God like and godisdead like. People that want to kill the infidels will always find a way. How about a little sarin gas in a subway. I think it might be a good idea to outlaw pressure cookers, propane tanks, etc. Outlaw the makings for weapons of mass destruction. Take a lesson from the way drugs are made. Outlaw making Meth. Oh wait a minute, that didn’t work.
Good and Evil? Wow, what would Jesus do ? You must believe that Jesus should have armed himself, and his disciples.
The problem with everyone being armed, as I see it, is that minor differences can soon escalate into gunplay. Major issues, like religion, politics, racism, and mental illness, have escalated into mass murder.
The gov’t lets in a bunch of muslim “refugees” with tendencies for terrorism then the gov’t wants to take away all personal arms to protect ourselves from these very same homicidal muslims they just let in. The gov’t will then tell us they can protect us by taking away more rights and personal freedoms. Figure it out…
It’s too bad none of those people had a gun to protect themselves with. No matter your opinion on the subject, you cannot deny that bad guys will always have guns no matter the law, and the only thing that can stop them right away is a good guy with a gun.
Couldn’t have said it better… Well said…
Major issues, like religion, politics, racism, and mental illness, have escalated into mass murder. I would have to agree with you on that. That is why I need to arm myself.
Ed-The responses to your opinion clearly show that you are out of touch with the beliefs and feelings of mainstream America. I can only guess that you intended to ruffle feathers, not present any credible or logical substance. You refuse to acknowledge the real problem—the reason for this mass shooting. Instead you blame the instrument used, which could have easily been an IED or other mass-killing method. The killer wanted to murder LGBT, similar to what these Islamic radicals have already been doing in the Middle East. But there, they like to push them to their deaths from tall buildings, burn them alive or drown them. Where is your anger against those horrendous acts and the methods used? Your should re-direct your efforts. We’re not buying your current attention-getting rubbish.
9,967 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2014.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2015
10,076 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in 2013 – 1 every 53 minutes.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2014
Every day in America, another 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration FARS data, 2014
Now if we want to save lives. This would be a better place to start.
Most of those who would abolish gun ownership but own a car are fairly hypocritical. To get it straight, I’m neither advocating nor trying to stop anyone from purchasing a firearm, and as a vet and ex police officer I believe people should have to go through some training before purchasing and using a fireman, but that is not for me to decide. Nor am I trying to lessen the tragedy that so many people died in Florida. It was a tragedy, but guns shouldn’t be blamed, it was an individual that did this horrendous act. And, by the way, how many gun control advocates actually believe a criminal can’t get hold of a weapon illegally if he/she wants to?
If you do some research you’ll find out that there were approximately 13,000 deaths due to guns in 2015 and a total of about 50,000 gun related incidents – which includes the approximate 13,000 deaths and 20.000 suicides by guns.
As for cars, according to the National Safety Council there were approximately 38,300 deaths (for those who don’t want to do the math themselves, that’s about 2.9 times more than gun related homicides and 1.1 times more than homicides and suicides combined. And there were about 4.4 million car accidents altogether (2.3 million of which sustained “serious injuries” – requiring medical consultation – their term, not mine). That’s 4,400,000 which is 88 times more than the 50,000 for guns. That’s why I said gun control advocates who drive cars are being hypocritical. Wether someone is intentional killed or not, they are still dead.
And according to the CDC top 10 causes of deaths, (sorry 2015 stats still unavailable so had to use 2014)
Number of deaths for leading causes of death:
Heart disease: 614,348
Cancer: 591,699
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 147,101
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 136,053
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 133,103
Alzheimer’s disease: 93,541
Diabetes: 76,488
Influenza and Pneumonia: 55,227
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis: 48,146
Intentional self-harm (suicide): 42,773 (about 20,000 gun suicides is still less than half of the people that killed themselves without a gun).
What I’m trying to point out, is before you get all fanatical about people owning guns and guns killing people, take time and find out the truth and don’t be led by sensational news stories. Without a doubt, guns are dangerous and in the wrong hands bad things happen. But more than likely, you are driving a car and have a much higher chance of being hurt, killed, hurting or even killing someone in a car than you to be from a gun.
And I’m also trying to point out that guns aren’t inherently evil or bad, it is a tool and used in the wrong hands – disastrous. But just for a moment think about what if the guy who killed so many people had stolen a tanker truck full of fuel or used a car with a car bomb and crashed it into the establishment or even went in and started a fire at or near the exits – people would have still died. Would you be blaming tanker trucks, automobiles, lighters, etc., etc., etc., calling for whatever the tool had been to be abolished like you are with guns?
Geeze. What is the point of the original article? It’s not auto safety. It’s not cancer. It’s not drugs. It’s not about religion. It was about gun violence.
I’m sure there are solutions to the problems you bring up but – the article is about GUN VIOLENCE. Trying to shift the focus from guns to auto safety doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem in our society with guns.
Calling out the author as a hypocrite is another problem. Recognizing there is a problem with guns in society, isn’t being hypocritical because all other issues in the world aren’t addressed. Name calling simply displays your lack of understanding and attempts to bully.
If you are satisfied with the status quo, simply say so. Your arguments about auto safety are irrelevant.
I thought we were talking about saving lives. A lot of the gun deaths would go away if we could get a handle on the real problems, like drugs and alcohol. So godisdead, I return to DRUG VIOLENCE. Let’s see Ed’s thoughts on that.
I’ll just leave this little education piece here. http://www.assaultweapon.info/ I hope some of you anti-gunners will actually take the time to look at it and gain some knowledge.