An Open Letter to Advocates of Unfettered Gun Ownership

An open letter to Facebook user 2nd Amendment, and other gun advocates on Facebook and other social media who advocate unfettered gun ownership:

I appreciate the way some of you have respected the tragedy that has been visited by us by senseless gun violence after taking down your inflammatory posts such as the one about how teachers who can't handle a weapon shouldn't be trusted with our children. Honestly, that post and similar ones are some of most callous, ignorant posts I've ever seen in the face of such a national tragedy. You were wise to take those down, if only out of common decency. Before you accuse me of being some looney lefty, as many gun anarchists like to do, let me tell you that I hold a CHL in Texas and own a number of handguns, long guns, and shotguns. In my career, I've looked down the business end of high powered weapons, so I know of which I speak. I'm an advocate of responsible and trained gun ownership.

However, it's time to change the conversation. After countless tragedies, with Newtown as the latest, I can confidently say that you have lost the argument for unfettered and uncontrolled weapon ownership for all who can pony up the bucks. We, as everyday Americans, are finally ready to take our country back from gun nuts who are not happy unless they can selfishly amass huge arsenals of high powered, combat style weapons with high capacity magazines that have capability of killing dozens of people in seconds. We certainly need to address mental health issues, and the popular culture of violence; however, it's time for gun owners like you and me to take the lead in reforming our gun laws.

Perverted readings of the BIll of RIghts are now finished. 18th century language designed to protect a new country against a former tyrant's dominance can no longer be twisted into some weird interpretation of that language that somehow allows you to own a semi-automatic weapon capable of mass murder. It's time for us, as adults, to face the reality that your right to own a bazooka or high capacity weapon ends at the right of a 6 year old child in Connecticut to safely go to school and be in her Christmas play. 

I encourage each of you to join the conversation between good Americans to achieve a positive result for us as a society. I'm asking you to stop making asses of yourselves by posting false, incendiary, and distorted entries on the internet that are designed to simply inflame peoples' emotions. It's destructive, wrong, and un-American. It's time for you to help, not hurt.

Enough is enough.  Please either help, or sit down and shut up.

Bob