The Right Questions

The United States is definitely a country that has a love affair with the firearm. As you can see from the chart above, other countries don't even come close to the number of guns available in this country.

But even after the tragedy in Arizona, where one nut with a gun was able to kill six innocent people and seriously wound 13 others, there is still very little debate about restricting the availability of firearms (or the type of firearms available). Both political parties act like they're running scared of the power of the National Rifle Association -- an organization that opposes any kind of restrictions on any kind of guns.

Although the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution does grant American citizens the right to own firearms, it does not guarantee unrestricted access for everyone. The Supreme Court has found that the right to firearm ownership can be restricted for public safety -- for instance, convicted felons and those with mental problems don't have the right to own a gun in most places.

One of my favorite young bloggers, Cassie of Cassie @ College, has a few questions that she thinks Americans should be asking themselves (in light of the recent Arizona tragedy). I think she's right, so I'm reposting her questions here. They are:

1. Would you rather live next to a mentally ill person with a gun, or a mentally ill person with an appointment at the community mental health clinic?

2. Think about the "craziest" person in your family.   Do you want them in your house overnight with a gun in their hands?

3. Think about the "stupidist" person in your family.   Do you want them in your house overnight with a gun in their hands?   What about the most violent person in your family?

4. Is there anyone in your family who has ever gone senile?   Do you want them in your house overnight with a gun in their hands?

5. How much money could we save by paying for mental health care instead of building more and more prisons?

6. When is the right time to ask these questions?