pride...

I read about a country western music star, a grammy award winner, who backed out of the NRA convention. He said, however, that he was a "proud gun owner." What is there about gun ownership that could make a man feel proud? A young man, 18years or or in some cases younger, can own an assault rifle giving him the potential of taking lives from innocent folks. Would it be more fitting to state one's embarrassment instead? And yet the world seems to be full of "proud gun owners." We've far too many of them, and far too many guns. 

Gun manufacturers have used advertising to attempt to associate their products with military bravery, but should guns not be seen as an expression of cowardice instead? Would it not be a better world if we would walk in it unarmed, placing our fears aside and our faith in each other? And if instead of training kids and cops to face mass shooting incidents we were to return schooling and shopping to a kindlier foundation?

Since politicians seem unwilling to solve our nation's gun problems, I challenge all gun owners to think more critically of themselves and about the rationality of their own fears. What is it they fear so much that they think guns are required in order to feel safe? This, my friends is a world of our own making, but guns won't make things safe. If you are a coward, no number of guns will make you safe. But if you're brave, no gun is required. Owning the same kind of weapon used to rapidly kill children or old folks at the grocery store should never be justification for feeling proud. Perhaps shame instead, for cowardice in the face of life, should be acknowledged by those who hold their guns so dear.

Let's be brave. Let's be strong. Let's feel pride in having put instruments of destruction aside and begin the arduous process of healing others.