A Month of Mays: May We Question Our Logic
Here in the U.S., we’re reeling from yet another devastating mass shooting at an elementary school. And the more we learn about what happened, the more the story defies common logic. It just doesn’t make sense that an 18-year-old with a troubled past was able to purchase 2 rifles legally. Not only that, he was able to purchase hundreds of hollow point bullets that are designed to kill big game in just one shot. Many questions are being raised about the police response and the timeline of events as well.
Yet, the most absurd thing of all is that the gun control debate among the very people who can change the laws has barely budged, even with the loud outcry from the public. Both sides are aware that something needs to change, but has no intention of changing themselves. Both sides are crying out, “Why did this happen?” yet they won’t take the first step towards the other. “We’re right, you’re wrong,” is the only answer they have.
This Is Why Nothing Has Changed
Here’s a perspective that might make this situation a little more familiar and easier to understand. What I see is a couple on the verge of a divorce, blaming each other that their child is constantly getting into trouble. They believe they have been raising their kid right. Yet, every time they argue, they show the child that calling each other names and shouting over the other is the way to solve problems. To use force if that doesn’t work. When their child gets into trouble, they make excuses, blame it on others, or ignore it completely. To everyone around them, the answer is clear. Both parents need to clean up their act for the sake of their child. But for the parents, the only answer they can see is for the other parent to change. Ultimately the child is the one that loses out.
This same exact situation is happening in our government right now. It’s just more complex and muddled because there are more people involved. But in general, one side is insisting on sticking to a rule created over 200 years ago without even bothering to ask, “Is it still relevant?” The other has been a doormat, preferring to play the role of a victim and hoping that someone somewhere will swoop in and save them.
How did we get here? Because we all made excuses for them or ignored their lack of action. No one’s swooping in to save us. We the people have to step up and save our own kids.
Time to Question Our Logic
So what can we do? What can you do as an individual? Question your beliefs. Question your logic. Try to see if there are holes there that you never noticed before. Try to listen to the other side and find common ground. Talk to people with different beliefs without passing judgement. Ask yourself questions that get you really uncomfortable.
Here are some questions we can ask ourselves:
- If we put in more armed guards in and around the schools, are the kids really safer?
- What if a student tries to grab a weapon from the guards?
- Can you guarantee that a disgruntled teacher or a guard wouldn’t turn on the kids?
- What if the gunman comes into the school with armored gear?
- How many guards are we going to need? A whole SWAT team at each school?
- What happens when the children go outside for gym and recess?
- What about dismissal? School buses? Bus stops? Field trips?
- How much extra taxes are necessary to turn all schools into fortresses?
- If a gun control law does pass, would that end all attacks?
- If all guns are removed from the country, would that end all attacks? What about knife attacks and chemical weapon attacks?
- What makes people want to attack another person anyway?
- Would it help to require a thorough mental health screening before purchasing a weapon?
- How about having more mental health professionals in schools so that each child is assigned to one and can talk to them on a regular basis?
- Have we given the lobbyists too much power by saying that they are too powerful to defeat?
- Are we going to allow threats of violence to control our decision making process?
There are many more questions we can ask ourselves to challenge our logic.
Finding Common Ground
The meanings we attach to labels like “Democrat” and “Republican” often stop us from seeing each other as fellow human beings. But can you see that both sides of the debate are acting from the desire for safety and peace of mind? The difference only lies in the approach they wish to take to attain that. If we can allow ourselves to come to the table without preconceived notions about the other side, we’re capable of making a real difference together. If enough of us band together, we can convince the more reasonable lawmakers to meet us in the middle. We may even come up with completely new solutions that hadn’t been considered before.
As someone who came from a country with virtually no gun ownership, the need for reduced access to firearms is obvious. People are clearly safer with fewer guns around. But even in that country, a mentally ill person still walked into my apartment with a kitchen knife when I was a child. Unfortunately, you can’t ever bring the threat of harm down to zero. But we can’t use that as an excuse not to take action. Questioning my own logic after the Uvalde shooting has sparked new ideas in me. I’m thinking about a modern update to the democratic system that serves us better in this technologically more advanced world. I hope to share it with you in a few days, but in the mean time, I hope you too will try to come up with new solutions to this long-standing gun control debate.