Guns Aren't A Magic Self-Defense Cure

About two months ago, Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was shot and killed as he walked from his car to the Courthouse in Kaufman County, Texas (which borders Dallas County to the east). His killers have not yet been caught, but are believed to be white racist members of the Aryan Brotherhood (or a similar organization).

Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland (pictured above) swore he would find and prosecute the killers of his Assistant D.A., but last Saturday he and his wife were discovered dead in their home -- and both had been shot dead. Police said the front door looked as though it had been kicked in and the house was littered with numerous shell casings. So far, the killers are not known, but many in law enforcement consider it to be the same killer(s) of Assistant D.A. Hasse (or members of the same organization).

These are the kind of murders that many gun lovers say could be prevented by arming more people with a gun. But they probably won't tell you this -- both of these men were armed. The Assistant D.A. had a concealed carry permit and was armed at the time he was killed. The D.A. had told the media that he always carried a gun (even when just walking his dogs in his neighborhood). And he was no novice to gun use, having spent 23 years in the military. But carrying a firearm (and knowing how to use that firearm) did neither of these men any good at all.

The idea promoted by gun lovers that a gun is the answer to prevent violence against yourself is an appealing idea, and most gun owners believe they would be able to react in time to save their lives -- but the awful truth is that is very unlikely. Like the two men discussed above (who knew their lives were in danger), the chance of recognizing the danger and reacting in time is pretty slim.

Many have told us that if there had been armed persons at the Arizona shooting of Rep. Gabby Giffords (where several people were killed and many wounded), they would have been able to prevent much of the mayhem by taking out the shooter. But we now know that there were those in the crowd that were armed, but the shooting was over and the subject apprehended before they were able to react.

I am not in favor of disarming law-abiding Americans or taking their guns away. But it is time we recognize that laws that keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people (convicted felons, dangerous psychotics, domestic abusers, etc.) can do far more toward reducing gun deaths than arming more people. A step in the right direction would be to close the loopholes in the background check law. Every person trying to purchase a gun in this country should have to undergo a background check (even when buying or receiving a gun from a private citizen).

I would also be in favor of making our laws more stringent on those found to be illegally carrying a weapon (without a permit). That should result in serious jail time, even for someone without a police record (and probation should not be an option). While private citizens have the right to own a firearm in this country, they should not have the right to purchase one without a background check, or carry one around without a permit (requiring a background check, training in use of the weapon, and a class on state and federal laws relating to guns).

The truth is that keeping guns out of the hands of those who should not have one will do far more to reduce gun deaths in this country than arming more people. The right-wingers in Congress and the NRA leadership don't want to admit that, but it is still the truth. And that is why about 90% of Americans want the loopholes closed in the background checks done for gun purchases.