Gun control. It is a subject that comes up every time there is gun violence in America. It is usually brought up by people who believe that the human being has no right to decide anything for themselves. They believe that people are children who must be denied and granted certain things, told what to do, and told what to think. It is a system of belief that rejects the basic American value: freedom. Recently, NFL star Steve McNair was killed by his girlfriend, Saleh Kazemi, apparently because she thought he was cheating on her and was distraught over her financial situation. She shot him several times. On cue, the reactionary anti-second amendment crowd start hinting at more gun control laws and restrictions. The problem was that Kazemi was under the legal age to buy a gun, but she was able to buy it anyways from “an undisclosed private source.”

The idea is that, somehow, it was the ability to buy the gun and not the person who murdered McNair. This makes no sense… which brings me to the story of my former best-friend.

My former best-friend was killed by his girlfriend years ago for the same reasons described above. Even the circumstances were similar since my friend was also killed in his sleep. Well, here in Florida, where gun laws are not as strict as other places, this girl decided that she would kill my friend… only she would not use a gun. Instead, she used a heavy electric guitar and a knife. She ended up smashing his head in with the guitar and then immediately afterward stabbed him more than a dozen times in the face and chest. Blood was everywhere. Guns were nowhere. My friend died regardless. Now, do we write to Congress to outlaw electric guitars? Or knives? Or crazy girlfriends? Of course we don’t. The reality is that this girl, who shall remain nameless, killed my friend, just like Kazemi killed McNair… it was not the weapon, but the wielder.

Attacking the second amendment simply because some people abuse it would leave other such freedoms defenseless before government power. Using tragedy to further this political agenda is despicable. Using the illogical assertion that weapons, not people, kill people is just as bad. It is under the guise of security and well-meaning legislation the we most quickly will lose our rights.

-AG