On who needs to change

Gun owners need to change

People don’t like change. Even if their current state is a hellscape. They deny that they live in that hellscape or that they might even be the reason they live in that hellscape.

The people that own guns in the U.S. don’t want change. 19 kids. 190 kids. Doesn’t matter. The sacrifice of others does not outweigh the gun owner’s life without guns.

The second amendment is antiquated. It, like many originalist Constitutional positions, supports people’s general proclivity against change.

Do we have issues with mental health in the U.S.? Sure we do. Is our mass murder crisis in the U.S. a mental health problem? In part. But take away the guns and the person struggling doesn’t default to the profoundly horrific act of killing lots of people.

Take away the guns and schools don’t need cops with guns standing at the doors (or single door) with metal detectors and other anti-learning mechanisms.

Take away the guns and security and communities can educate. Communities can focus on learning and growing their youth, their families, their towns.

Take away the guns and focus on being better humans. We all need to be better to each other. Guns are an expression of marginalization. If you have them you can marginalize others. If you’re the marginalized, easy access creates the opportunity to do something horrific.

We all need to be better. We all need to find our place in the solution. Otherwise, this society, this country is doomed. But, I’m not convinced we’re doomed. People can change. But right now, the people that need to change are the people with the guns.