This weeks assignment

Guns Guns Guns

America has always loved it's guns. In early times, they were a necessary tools. When one thinks of early settlers, covered wagons and guns come to mind. From far abroad, they are iconic and synonymous with American liberty. When one sees Clint Eastwood on the silver-screen, they need not ask where he hails from. Now, guns scourge our cities and classrooms -- another news-story broadcasted to far away lands. We used guns to fight for America's independence -- against a Monarchy.... Still today, the gun is King in personal warfare; and everyone knows, America always wants to be the King.

Most Republicans staunchly hold our gun rights as sacred. They will invoke God alongside these rights. Backed by the dollars of gun manufactures and the NRA ($15M)*, they will uphold the rights of Americans to bear arms. Since Obama took office, "The gun industry and other large corporate and individual donors chipped in $71.1 million in 2011 to NRA coffers, compared with $46.3 million in 2004, according to a Bloomberg News review of NRA tax returns."** In a nutshell, gun manufactures have seen profits rise by spreading propaganda, filtered through SuperPAC's and the voice of the NRA, playing off the fear that the President would take all the guns away.

Many Democrats will call for tougher laws -- some even a ban. They want the world to be a friendlier place, where we can all hold hands and sing a song. They hope the world can sing -- perhaps in perfect harmony -- and discuss things over a Coke, while standing on a hill with their multicultural neighbors. In this dream, President Obama is there with them -- holding their hand -- teaching them to sing.....They want stricter gun laws, more background checks, and the outlawing of high capacity guns and clips. Above all, they want the end of useless tragedy.

Americans love guns -- and money. "In 2009, there were 310 million personal firearms in the US."*** I doubt the guns are going anywhere -- what would we do with them all? I would love to see better gun controls, tighter restrictions, better background checks, and national regulations. Also, I think the ban of high-powered weapons with the capacity to take out a small town is quite reasonable. However, with all these guns around, one must wonder: Will I be safer if I own one? Playing into the hands of the manufacturers: All the hope in the world cannot fix a bad neighbor; a gun is much faster.

* http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/nra-spent-15-million-defeat-obama-2012-article-1.1254996

 ** http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/nra-gun-control-firearms-industry-ties_n_2434142.html

 *** Borrowed from this weeks lesson!