A couple of weeks ago, I schlepped to a gun shop to see a man about a pistol (wink). I happened upon the cozy little shop after tending to some other business, the gory details of which I will withhold for as long as feasibly possible…maybe forever. I expected my experience to be uninteresting and yet another chore I would rather put off until the next day–or forever.
Although a devout tomboy, my girlish ways crept in that day and the thought of gun grease under my unpolished fingernails was far more than I could bear. To my surprise, I found myself shopping for a gun as though shopping for a decent pair of shoes that fit well–not too big, not too small. ‘Will this fit in my purse?’ I thought. It was an interesting spectacle and far more entertaining than I had imagined.
The customer service in the quaint shop, located in the Pocono Peddler’s Village plaza, was excellent. I felt as though I was in a classroom receiving a Weapons 101 course, replete with hands on training and full class participation. I was given insight into the various brands of weapons, 9mm, shotguns, rifles, revolvers; Smith & Wesson, Glock and Winchester. Purchasing a gun in Monroe County is easier than I had anticipated. As a newcomer to the area, I was amazed at how smooth and efficient the process was.
There are many states, like New York, which do not allow citizens the right to own a handgun in their home without a license. Florida, one of the most liberal states I have seen, honors the licenses of more than a dozen states and has reciprocity in another two dozen, whereas New York does not allow non-residents to obtain a license and honors very few states’ licenses. Much discussion and debate has been regurgitated on the White House lawn, but in the end, Florida’s record is an example of how few people misuse their right to bear arms.
According to the NRA’s America’s 1st Freedom magazine’s July 2005 issue, studies show that less than 1% of Florida’s licensed residents have misused their weapons. What does this say about the way American’s handle their right to bear arms? Based on the studies, things aren’t looking as bad as many would believe. However, that is only one state out of all of the United States.
Personally, I believe all guns should be flung into the sea, never to be seen again. However, in a world that is dominated by a weapon that has destroyed empires and changed the way many people view self-defense, I opt to be an equal among men who are toting their six shooters. What good is a knife against a gun?
But the question still remains. Have guns served to help or hurt us as a species? How have civilizations advanced intellectually since the advent of guns? Or are we still the grunting apes of ages past, now carrying a new found toy–a toy that only serves to make us beat our chests like the kings of the jungles we believe ourselves to be.
From the looks of things, either the tower falls, or we, the King Kongs, fall from the tower–weapons in tow.
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