The Gun Debate...

With gun control such a huge topic right now, I think it’s time for me to give my opinion on the whole ordeal and here it is…  Maybe it’s me but there needs be more restrictions and laws put in place to govern privately owned firearms.  My guess is that will be too broad for both the gun nuts and conservatives that want all privately owned guns taken away.

The gun nuts will try to tell me there are already too many laws in place and I’m trying to take away their rights due to the 2^nd Amendment.  First of all the 2^nd Amendment is a bill that was created in 1791 that gives people a right to keep and bear arms.  Let me stay that again, the bill was created in 1791 when none of those Founding Fathers could even fathom a semi-automatic or fully automatic assault rifle capable of killing 100’s of people in minutes.  Guns in 1791 were single shot weapons that couldn’t be reloaded within a couple of minutes.  They were loaded through the muzzle and by means of fire through a flintlock.  So basically, it was just as dangerous loading the damn thing as it was firing it at someone.  Revolvers wouldn’t be invented until 1835, use smokeless powder until 1885 or load bullets from a clip until 1890.  Shit, the first automatic rifle wasn’t even made until 1887.  Do you see the problem here?  These ancient “arms” weren’t capable of doing the damage they can do now.  If someone fired a 1791 musket in a mall, he would be tackled or put down before he could even load the thing a second time.

Let’s also look at why that Amendment was even put in there in the first place.  Well the country was brand fucking new and only extended as far as Ohio.  Which means there was a danger from Indians, other countries invading our young asses and wild animals breathing down our necks.  With an advanced military, police and other means of protection, I don’t think you have to worry about a Native American sneaking on your property to scalp your ass.

The nuts that want to stand behind the 2^nd Amendment just aren’t being realistic.  Also, the Amendment doesn’t say that laws can’t be put in place to regulate “arms”. In fact, I think if you could go back in time and ask any of these Founding Fathers, they’d be all for restricting who gets “arms” and how they should be regulated.  Especially if you could show them how destructive they become.  For those that want to take them away entirely, that’s not fair as well.  Not only is their protection for that in the Constitution but I think people should have a right to protect themselves or own anything they damn well please.  Most of the gun owners in the country are actually pretty responsible and if you look at the recent tragedies, pretty much everyone had the person stealing the guns or obtaining them unlawfully.

Maybe it’s me, but here’s a sample of things I would do given the power to help with gun control.  First, broader background checks that include everyone in the household where a gun will be located.  If anyone in the household was criminally convicted, was/is mentally unstable or has any other socialogical problems, then the HOUSEHOLD can not have a gun.  I don’t care if Mother Teresa is the one applying.  If she’s living with a convicted criminal with a mentally bi-polar son in the house, no deal!  Second, take all fully automatic guns off the market for private citizens.  I’m sorry, but I don’t see the need for fully automatic rifles in the public.  Its fine for law enforcement and military but you shouldn’t need a fully automatic assault rifle to go hunting with your buddies or to defend yourself against an intruder.  Third, make those that abuse ANY and all gun laws subject to strict penalties.  Mandatory 5 years in jail for even the smallest gun infraction.  Maybe that’s too extreme but if the laws that abuse guns are strict more people will obey them.

Lastly, I would like to see mandatory training programs set up with skilled military and law enforcement groups teaching them before you can obtain a firearm.  I think passing a test and background check are not enough.  Setting up groups that teach the importance of safety, the importance of the laws and the proper techniques for owning and using a firearm would prevent accidents and hopefully tragedies in the future.

Maybe it’s me, but it’s time to smarten up and for both sides to start thinking logically about this situation…

Teacher Loses Job Due to Porn Past

Have you read the story of a California middle school teacher that was fired from her job because she appeared in pornographic movies before she started teaching?  A California judge recently ruled that the teacher can NOT get her job back because she was in porn because it will impede her from being an effective and respected teacher/colleague.  Here’s a link to the judge’s ruling and more on the story:

http://news.yahoo.com/judges-calif-middle-school-teacher-cant-shake-porn-094317714.html

As I researched the story more, it seems that the teacher was only in porn for about eight months and it was before she was employed by the school.  It was due to financial reasons after she separated from her boyfriend.  It also seems that she hid or lied about being in porn because she was embarrassed and humiliated and in all honesty who wouldn’t be.  I can see why you wouldn’t offer up this information and then try and hide or deny it when it does become public.  I’m sure this was an awful part of this young woman’s life that she probably regrets every moment of her life.

Maybe it’s me but if this woman is qualified to be a teacher why shouldn’t she be allowed to teach?  She didn’t do anything illegal, starring in pornographic videos is not against the law and while some may object to it, a woman (or man) can do whatever they want to do with their body within the law.  The judge’s decision stated that the teachers decision to “engage in pornography was incompatible with her responsibilities as a role model for students.” Everyday you hear about infidelity of our leaders, hell, even the former President of the United States (Bill Clinton) cheated on his wife with a young intern while in office.  Now look at him, he’s one of the most popular former Presidents and he is a sought after public speaker.  I’m sure a lot of people look to him as a role model.  There are countless others in politics, sports and other areas of life.

While she may not be everyone’s ideal role model, you could make the argument that she should be looked up to as a role model.  This woman was down financially and unfortunately had to do some terrible things I’m sure she regrets but then she got herself out of that situation and now is working as a teacher.  I’m sure it was hard road to do what she did and her story must be amazing.  Maybe her story could help young woman not make the same mistakes she made and her life experiences could be a very valuable life lesson to these woman to not only stay in school but not rely on a man to support them.

I also wonder how many of our teachers have checkered pasts but because they aren’t plastered over the internet they are allowed to keep teaching.  How many teachers did questionable things in college?  Maybe they were a part of a fraternity or sonority that hazed other people, or maybe they drank obscenely in college, perhaps they even slept around a little.  I wonder how many regret what actions they may have done when they were younger or in college.  Yet, they are the ones that get to decide the fate of this poor young woman.  Maybe it’s me but if this teacher is qualified for her job, she should be able to teach. 

Maybe, just maybe, we should try and keep minors off these porn internet sites that you have to be 18 to access.  Where are the parents or other teachers that are allowing their children to look at these sites and actually condoned trying to find her old videos?  The article makes it look like teachers and students were actively trying to find her videos, even making it seem like they tried at school.  Where is the punishment for their acts?

What do you think of this story?