Eric Liu: Keep your guns, but take responsibility (CNN Editorial)

[petronius]

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The typical gun debate pits "gun rights" against "gun control." That frame is so ingrained that we hardly note it when the press describes those who want to reduce violence via firearms as "gun control activists" and those who oppose them as "gun rights advocates." It's an either/or: rights or control.

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That may make for compelling television, and such conflicts are satisfying to each side's core constituents. But there is a better way to talk about guns -- and, perhaps more importantly, to address the problem of gun violence. And that's to focus on "gun responsibility."

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A gun responsibility agenda respects the Second Amendment right to bear arms. It also demands that the right be exercised with the level of responsibility that a functioning society applies to any public health or safety issue.

That means first we shouldn't dismiss gun owners as an undifferentiated mass of zealots, or dismiss gun culture as simply the overcompensating fearmongering of insecure men.

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http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/11/opinion/liu-gun-responsibility/

Lot of editorials today; this one I thought was worth reading. Liu argues for universal background checks, and makes a case for a more civilized and respectful discussion. He also notes - what often gets overlooked - is that violence in the US is much more of a day-to-day process than the attention to 'headliner' events would indicate...

[Common Sense Party]

1. A MUCH better and more well-reasoned opinion piece than some of the homegrown,

emotional screeds we've seen around here lately.

Quite simply, some around here are completely incapable of discussing the issue without dismissing "gun owners as an undifferentiated mass of zealots, or dismiss[ing] gun culture as simply the overcompensating fearmongering of insecure men."

And thus the conversation goes nowhere, and the solutions ever elusive.

[Eleanors38]

2. There are some controller/banners who enjoy their culture war more.

As evidenced by the righteous spew in Guns Dogs forum. I think Liu's approach is far better, but the extreme banners don't want to give up the pleasure of hating. As with all extreme prohibitionists, their personal needs come first.

[NYC_SKP]

3. Recommended. (nt)