Although I tend to doubt that anyone reads this column, I would imagine that if you are reading this article you probably have uttered an impetuous word or two in your life that you regret. You might even have taken a few actions that you would rescind if possible. My apologies for the inane rhetorical commentary, but my point is that human beings tend to get caught up. Sometimes, we lose control. In those instances, our emotions overwhelm our rational thinking.
Plato might say that when reason is subdued to our passions, injustice takes charge of the soul. More important (and relevant), from at least the time of Plato, human beings have been aware of our inclination toward rash or impetuous words and actions. It is why we so often prioritize balance in our lives. Some of us are better at finding this balance than others. However, it is the very rare person that exorcises outbursts from his or her life altogether; and to be honest, that person is probably pretty damn dull.
At Bowdoin, most all of us are privy to the difficulty of emotional development. We struggle to forge friendships and relationships that satisfy what we think we need; and in the process, we suffer through some misery, some doubt, and a whole bunch of frustration. We make connections with others and occasionally break them. At such times, we are often overwhelmed by emotion and general irrationality. To be honest, I don't think any of us should be facing the arduousness of life at Bowdoin with a gun under our pillow. And honestly, the lives we lead are pretty damn easy.
As you might have noticed, this article just took a turn for the political...as a diatribe against guns. More specifically, guns like GLOCK 9s (non-hunting weapons). Interestingly enough, a GLOCK 9 was the weapon used recently to murder six at a meet-and-greet with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona.
I simply do not see how one might view natural human behavior as compatible with the power afforded by guns in any context outside of hunting or the military. I have my own problems with hunting, and I'm sure that Dick Cheney's hunting partner would agree that guns used for hunting are also dangerous; however, I will not address my hunting grievances now.
As I have already mentioned, we all face situations that threaten to subjugate our reason in favor of baser instincts. At those times, our words and deeds give us tremendous power over our friends and acquaintances and all too often we abuse that power. It seems to be a huge mistake to grant an individual the power over another's life when we consider the flaws that are so innately embedded into the shelf of our humanity.
Simply, I see guns as somewhat unnatural as a tool for humans. They trivialize life insofar as they make it so much easier to end. Moreover, they allow us to undertake actions that we would otherwise threaten but ultimately abstain from. Along with its share of good, the world offers a lot of nastiness to contend with. Children are bullied, spouses cheated on, and employees fired.
Instead of using time and rationalization to contend with the awful consequences of such events, many Americans have taken to guns and caused some great tragedies. Although I would certainly argue for more gun control, no amount of registration laws could prevent the otherwise sane man from using a gun when life turns sour for him.
At its essence, my argument against gun possession is one that lobbies for an accurate assessment of human limitation. Therefore, the argument that advocates for gun ownership as a means of protection does nothing for me. On occasion we need protection from others, but more importantly, we need protection from ourselves. We must refuse to arm our worst passions with the capacity for destruction. Every one of us can become a Jared Loughner for a few minutes or a few hours.
I certainly do not mean to say that if given a gun, many Bowdoin students would commit violent crimes. I do mean to say that at Bowdoin College, many of us take courses in which we are challenged to think profoundly about human nature and the human condition. As I see it, a close look at the wiring of a human should leave us excited about what we can be, but also afraid of what we often become.
The leniency of Arizona's gun laws made it incredibly easy for Jared Loughner to acquire a firearm and end the life of a nine-year-old. Some would argue (and perhaps correctly) that more severe control would not have impeded him from buying a gun illegally and embarking on a rampage.
However, such lenient gun laws do put guns into the homes of people who would not otherwise purchase them illegally. As even Family Guy has noticed, no one actually has a clue about what is intended by the Second Amendment. Frankly, I don't know myself. On the other hand, I do know that we all lose ourselves sometimes.
We shouldn't be staring at a gun when we do. And even if he would have gotten it regardless, the man who shot Congresswoman Giffords should not have been sold a gun. We should honor the lives of those horrifyingly murdered, respect the right to life of those around us, and commit to recognizing our own limitations. We should stay away from guns.