The-Guns Are Designed to Kill People-Conversation
Are guns really designed just for killing people? It sounds like a silly question, but I hear it asked or read it in articles or posts enough that I think it's worth taking a moment to understand why someone might think that way, and challenge that presupposition in an honest, persuasive, and respectful way.
Some People Choose Not to Own a Gun—
First, I want to recognize that there are many legitimate reasons someone might not like guns, or to choose not to own one. Maybe the person experienced a traumatic incident involving a firearm, or because they never learned how to handle one safely, have a fear of guns.
Firearm ownership is an individual choice that someone should make after considering all the responsibilities that come with owning a gun.
But this post is less about someone who chooses not to own a gun, but doesn't care if you or I own one, but more about the spirit behind the idea that guns are designed to kill people.
Do Americans Love Guns?
In a recent post Do Americans Love Guns? I included the often-cited statistic of how many guns Americans own per capita, compared to other countries. (Here is the number of guns per 100 people.)
- United States – 120.5
- Falkland Islands – 62.1
- Yemen – 52.8
- New Caledonia – 42.5
- Serbia – 39.1 (tie)
- Montenegro – 39.1 (tie)
- Uruguay – 34.7 (tie)
- Canada – 34.7 (tie)
- Cyprus – 34
- Finland – 32.4
The statistics show that in America, there are more guns than people. The exact number is unknown, but let's say Americans own far more guns per capita than other countries. With so many gun owners and diverse opinions on guns, it's a natural point of contention.
I Blame the Gun—
I think one problem is that the there are people who blame guns, or access to guns, for crime and murder in our country. The influencers in popular culture who see guns this way are highly influential and vocal.
This world view means they see guns, and not the corruption of morals as the problem. So logically, all guns are bad. If all guns are bad, why would any good person own a gun? So, those who own guns are at least morally questionable.
If I blame guns for the ills of society, I see more guns in America than people as a bad thing. I am not surprised when someone murders innocent people in a school, because I believe people only use guns to kill.
I Blame Culture and Society—
If I blame corrupt morality for the ills of society, I see more guns in America than people as a necessary thing. I am not surprised that gun sales are at historic highs, because most people use guns to defend themselves or others against criminals.
So corrupt society, with rampant evil and crime, gives me more reason to own a gun.
Truth is not Relative—
See the issue here?
Both statements can't be true. However, if you come to the topic with one of the two viewpoints, the statistics only further confirm your presupposition. And if you're neutral, whoever is more authoritative or convincing is likely to persuade you. From then on, you're likely to view the topic that way.
But we can't do that, we have to look at the topic more broadly.
Are Guns Designed to Kill People?
Guns themselves are neither good nor bad. Some people who love guns are pretty good, and some are evil. Some people who hate guns are pretty good, and others are rotten to the core.
Is Oxycodone designed to kill people? No, like many pharmaceuticals, there is benefit when used appropriately. When used irresponsibly or with bad motives, the results are catastrophic.
Like guns, solutions come from looking at why people turn to drugs for relief and solutions to life's certain struggles. Rarely is it the object that causes the problem, but how we use it.
A gun is a tool. Shane had it right.
I think the recent active shooter incident in an Indiana mall is a perfect picture of this principle.
To summarize the incident, two men carried guns one Sunday in July. Both men went to the mall. Each man ignored the mall's “no weapons” policy. One of the men brought the gun to the mall with a desire to murder innocent people, and he did. The other carried a gun to protect his and others' lives, and he did.
To Answer the Question—
Are guns designed to kill people? Well, guns are certainly used to kill people, but not everyone uses them to kill people. Plenty of people use them for sport, hunting, or collecting. And sometimes, using a gun to defend innocent life results in the killing of an evil psychopath.
Even if someone designed a gun for the killing of humans, the gun has no will of its own. The gun can't persuade someone to use it for evil, just as much as it could persuade someone to risk their life to save others. Let's stop absolving ourselves from responsibility and blaming things like guns, drugs, and smart phones for crime, depression and division.
Would laws preventing Eli Dicken from possessing a firearm, kept the murderer from getting one? If not, isn't it a good thing Eli had one?
Not everything permissible is profitable, and many of us would do well to remember that life isn't just about making ourselves happy. There is more at stake. Self-control, compassion and sacrificial love changes hearts, not legislation.
Tell us what you think and leave a comment below. If you enjoy this content, consider sharing it with others. Also, check out our Concealed Carry Podcast where we tackle all the issues related to responsible gun ownership and self-defense.
Good article. First, I believe in the Constitution. I’m pro 2A with NO compromises. I’ve learned to not waste my time trying to convince gun grabbers they are wrong. It will never happen. I used to email gun grabbing senators, etc with my argument. You know what they say about the definition of insanity. Anyhow, I now try to talk with people who are on the fence and not sure how they feel about guns. Education is the key to these people understanding the pro 2A side. No raising of voices, name calling, etc. Just a calm coherent conversation and, most of all, listening to them and addressing their concerns.
Just think all the rhetoric about gun control and changing the age for gun ownership. It is saying the military HEROS are not old enough to handle a semi automatic rifle when they trained to handle full automatic rifles at 17. As a Vietnam Marine H34 helicopter pilot I flew into many hot landing zones trusting my life and my crew’s life to MEN 17 and 18 years old. Many I had to take to the hospital. I will never forget one Marine, at the hospital, with his leg totally separated from his body in the strecher smiled and gave me an OK sign.
I personally know the feelings of all that have lost their children. I have lost two of my three and one was to a 9mm. My girl at 21 and my boy at 55. My wife lost one of her four children that was 30. With my two both would be alive today if alcohol wasn’t a culprit. My belief is the effort to control guns does not deserve the attention when the following is recognized:
Death Statistics in the US
2020 Fire arms: 45,222
2020 Drug Overdose / Drug Poisoning: 91,799
2020 Alcohol Related: 99,017
2019 Volunteered Abortions Reported: 619,898
If I had my way every vetran that wanted to volenter, without compensation but maybe receiving annual training, should be given national concealed carry. Any bad intended individual would not know we were at his back and side.
John Bowen
The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is for there to be good guys with guns. The bad guy may then stop himself with a self-inflicted shot, or be subdued somehow by the good guys. There need to be an equal or superior opposite force, and it needs to be used courageously and wisely, and with restraint. A well train and qualified populace self equipped with the firearm of their choice, can go a long way toward the supplementation of sworn police officers. At a time of purposeful limitation of police numbers and policies, an armed citizenry may be the only barrier to anarchy. The second Amendment was foresight by the writers of the constitution.
Cemal Knight
I am ex-military USAF para-rescue. Served under Former President Bill Clinton. Guns are necessary for the evils of the world. The Criminals, the Psychopaths. I have responsibly owned my firearms for 5 years and I regular go to the gun range and occasionally hunting in my state of Texas. I stand by the 2nd Amendment but I also stand by testing and Education. Semi – Auto should NOT be banned but screened Nationwide for those under the age of 25 -30. Anyone younger trying to possess such a weapon should be enrolled in the military or law enforcement. If not, screen them, test them for mental capacity, and be the owner of a LTC for their prospective state of Residence. If none of these apply , then sale, purchase, inquiry, of such a weapon.. should be prohibited , period. These sad tragic shootings were not from Good Gun Owning Law abiding citizens. They were from troubled teens looking to even the score from name calling, bullying, teased, etc. If Church and God were never taken out of the schools , we would never have been succumb to this issue. Children need their focus to be on Education and not What I look like or What I’m wearing today.
Trust in God, Trust in my Piece –
I like to ask anti-gunners if they use knives while eating. After all, knives are designed to stab people, correct?
As a Navy Veteran myself, those of us in the Military community have all formed a certain attitude towards people in the other Services. I think I share a special admiration for those Chair Force Personnel who are the best of the Best, and that is the “PJs” or the Para-Rescue Teams! You more than make up for all the Chair Born Rangers, and PX Commandos. You people really do go into “Very Scary” Places.
With respect to Mr. Clark Kent, your post is somewhat prophetic. After guns were banned and destroyed in most of the British Commonwealth nations, the violent criminals who found it hard to find a gun on the black market began using edged weapons like knives and swords to commit assaults. So now the Commonwealth nations are trying to ban knives and other edged weapons. Having done that, the next step is for violent criminals and terrorists is to use rental vehicles to run over people.
I say this because it seems that the same thing will happen here if the gun-grabbers succeed in taking away our firearms. If that happens, then they’ll come after my collection of knives and swords. These liberal ideologues want us all to have no real means of self defense. Most of them seem to regards criminals more highly than the criminal’s victims.
I urge you to plan now for how you will retain the means of self-defense if these ideologues try to seize weapons from law-abiding citizens.
Cannot figure what is wrong with All My guns.
NONE of them have EVER gotten up, walked out the door, and shot anyone ??
Remember one thing. The Second Amendment is not there to protect us from criminals. It’s there to protect us from a tyrannical government.
When a madman blows up a federal office building and kills hundreds of people, we blame the perpetrator, not the bomb. When a drunk driver plows into a crowd of people, we blame the driver of the car, not the car. When someone shoots up a mall and kills several people, do we blame the shooter? Hell, no! We blame the gun. It’s absurd, but there are lots of people who think with their hearts and not with their brains.
I hold a sharply unpopular belief when it comes to these matters. I look at gun-related problems at their root cause through careful analysis and imaginative solutions. Yes, guns are cool in movies or in demonstrative teachings to better understand their intended uses and effects, however, it is compelling to see that in the real world, random persons that both carry guns and discharge them at will in public environments, even in the name of self-defense, all reflect Ill-considered intentions, ethically impermissible actions, and plain thoughtlessness to begin with. Instead, what I am objecting to, is a change in human development where guns no longer remain problematic in modern day. Actions dictate reactions and gun violence should not necessarily solve everyday violence. I also personally believe that safety and freedom come hand in hand and neither one should trump one another. The sanctity to life is something you can never undo. There is no easy answer to whether owning guns is good or bad, but one should be asking themselves if it is effectively practical in the long run, and of course beneficial for the sake of humankind.
I think qualitative police presence and on-site guardsmanship are better-resulting prospects than letting random people own guns and defending themselves, with the exception of professional gun owners. This creates a neutral sense of security without compromising freedom and safety. This is backed by countries like Switzerland and Japan.
I think random people should own more non lethal weapons as a means to deter immediate dangers. This reduces unintentional risks and quells public fear. Tasers can be just as useful as a firearm.
I think we should be collectively finding ways to prevent gun deaths and unneeded ownership, these are a few reasons to consider.
Guns are bad in public