My brother took this picture in a local grocery store.
I just about got sick when I saw it. I felt panic, fear and confusion. Why is this man in the produce section of a grocery store with an assault rifle thrown over his back? Why is my brother not running away? Seeking safety? Notifying an employee? Then I learned something remarkably sad... this man is not doing anything illegal. There's no law against what he is doing. There is no sign on this establishment that prohibits this.
This sparked a discussion between my hubby and me. My husband I have very different opinions on gun laws. I respect that we agree to disagree on this. He's entitled to his own opinions, as am I. Where we had to come to a compromise is how we expose our daughter to guns.
Stephen was raised up learning about guns and gun safety. His family has a long history of military service. I trust that the men in his family have given him a responsible knowledge of guns (when to use them, how to use them, etc).
On the flip side of his experience, I've never fired a gun, never held a gun nor do I have any interest in them. They scare the bajeezus out of me. I don't buy the argument that the best way to avoid accidents with guns is to familiarize young people with them. I never got familiar with them, and I can tell you with confidence that I'm not going to go playing with them because I never got educated on them as a child.
I've had to hold my ground on how our child gets exposed to guns. I'm not going to be sending Evie to gun camp. I'm not going to be buying her a gun. I'm not going to be taking her to the gun range. I've conceded that if, and ONLY if, Evie wants to familiarize herself with guns it will be at an age where she is legally an adult. I'm holding my ground on this, and though hubby isn't too excited about it, he's agreed to respect it.
Now back to that crazy man in the produce section in the grocery store...
What. The. Heck. Man?! I understand that it's legal, but legal doesn't excuse stupid. He has to know that by "exercising his rights" he is hurting people by scaring them. I'm at a loss here. He may be within the law, but I'm questioning his sanity. He certainly sees the news. He knows that armed men/women walk into public places and open fire on innocent people. Why would he want to look like one of them? I'm just so, so concerned for our world.
There's an infinite list of things that are legal, but stupid, although this is pretty darn high on the list. Here are some other examples I could think of:
- Westboro church protests
- Flag burning
- Hate
I understand that some people have guns. Most people do. I just sincerely hope that they are responsible and considerate of others. This picture just makes me sad that some people take their rights and use them to spit in the face of others. Have some respect.
"Our Founding Fathers gave us the Constitution with its Bill of Rights
which has provided us with the most wonderful freedoms any people have
ever enjoyed in the history of mankind. But with those freedoms, comes
responsibility and self-discipline." Leona Salazar
Our
Founding Fathers gave us the Constitution with its Bill of Rights which
has provided us with the most wonderful freedoms any people have ever
enjoyed in the history of mankind. But with those freedoms, comes
responsibility and self-discipline. - See more at:
http://www.bernardgoldberg.com/just-because-it%E2%80%99s-legal-doesn%E2%80%99t-make-it-right/#sthash.xxhycaXS.dpuf
Our
Founding Fathers gave us the Constitution with its Bill of Rights which
has provided us with the most wonderful freedoms any people have ever
enjoyed in the history of mankind. But with those freedoms, comes
responsibility and self-discipline. - See more at:
http://www.bernardgoldberg.com/just-because-it%E2%80%99s-legal-doesn%E2%80%99t-make-it-right/#sthash.xxhycaXS.dpuf
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