Learned last night via twitter that someone I know was killed, seemingly randomly, in what usually is a peaceful community, Marin County in California. I believe this is the first victim of a homicide that I know personally. I am shocked and saddened about the senseless loss of very special, peaceful loving man that travelled the country, maybe the globe to teach us on how to open our hearts. Steven and his wife, Lokita, had been long time residents and therapists of the community at Harbin Hot Springs, but had left the community to follow their own dream before it had burned down last month. They had come back to Marin for treatment of Lokita's cancer, so the loss of Lokita's husband and main support will be all the harder. I was not friends with the couple, but I had shared the same waters, we had soaked in the same pool for countless times. I knew them, liked them and know of no one holding a grudge toward them.
If it was up to me, yes, we would amend the second amendment, originally designed to resist a government gone rogue.
If it was up to me, we would update our constitution to reflect our modern times.
The muskets used in the days of the creation of the second amendment were cumbersome. They took time to load and made for a very different mode of engagement from what is possible these days.
If it was up to me, since no guns of any kind will be able to resist a government that has the potential to use targeted drones from a serious distance, not to mention nuclear weapons, we would no longer allow the endangerment of civilians by other civilians carrying assault style weapons, who are we kidding!
If it was up to me, I would ban all assault weapons from possessions of civilians.
If it was up to me, I would impose very strict background checks with a suitable waiting periods on any purchase of guns.
If it was up to me, I would demand extensive and expensive training, certification and recertification for the ability to possess a gun.
If it was up to me, I would impose liability insurance on gun owners just as we are required to have for owning (not even driving) vehicles.
If it was up to me, guns would not be allowed in public places, except for extensively trained police and security force.
If it was up to me, every gun owner would be required to have martial arts training and non-violent conflict resolution training under their (black) belts.
If it was up to me, the possession of guns would be made so expensive and troublesome that like in Japan barely anyone would want to bother with it.
If it was up to me, finally, I would find it only appropriate for gun owners to pass through a crowd of protesters, kinda like pregnant women have to when they visit clinics that provide abortions.
If it was up to me, we would do everything possible to stop this madness of deaths by gun violence, by civilians (adults and children) as well as due to police brutality.
Mark Manson amplifies a seeming lack of compassion and interaction with mass shooters prior to their heinous acts, when they expressed troubling ideas no body cared to take seriously, something that has been on my mind too.
Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times argues with his usual eloquence and intelligence that we are all crazy for not at the very least take modest steps toward curbing the carnage that leaves America resembling a battlefield.
Jim Jefferies, the Australian stand up comedian says it best still, check him out for much needed laughs around this damn issue of gun control.
Sign this Move On petition or this petition of an attempt to ban assault weapons or any other you can support and contact your representatives and take whatever steps you can to prevent more violence.
Check on Nicholas Kristof's a lot more balanced Inconvenient Gun Facts in the New York Times on January 16th, 2016.
Check on Nicholas Kristof's a lot more balanced Inconvenient Gun Facts in the New York Times on January 16th, 2016.
