by Kirk McConnell in collaboration with ChatGPT
When I was growing up as a boy in the 70s, I never thought much about guns or gun violence. The most I ever saw was what they talked about on the news, particularly Vietnam, though I didn’t understand much about it then. I wasn’t old enough to realize how dangerous guns could be. For me, it was about squirt guns or a Nerf dart gun. My mother would never allow real guns in the house.
It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I bought my first rifle. It sat for years in my room. I also inherited my grandfather’s Winchester 12-gauge shotgun, which I cherish, but I would never fire because it’s old and I don’t want to damage it. I’ll be honest—I like guns. I enjoy rifles, though I’m less fond of pistols.
I learned to use a rifle responsibly when I was in the Boy Scouts, and I’ve always enjoyed using rifles. Firearm safety was drilled into me from a young age. I was taught that a gun is not a toy but a tool that requires responsibility and respect. Locally, stores like Turner’s Outdoorsman offer full training on how to use a firearm safely, and I think such training is invaluable for anyone who owns a gun. I also believe in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” ^1
Recently, there have been two assassination attempts on former President Trump, and school shootings where children have brought guns to class, shooting teachers and students. I don’t believe young children should have access to firearms. Parents should lock their guns away, ensuring they are not easily available to children. Firearm purchasers should be scrutinized, including mental health assessments, to make sure they aren’t individuals who might use the weapon irresponsibly. I don’t think an AR-15 (Armalite) ^2 should be readily available to untrained individuals. There should be licensing and permits required before purchasing such a firearm, and those buyers should be over a certain age.
However, I don’t think the solution is to take firearms away from law-abiding citizens. Criminals will still find ways to access guns, and we should not punish responsible citizens who want to protect themselves. We need to crack down harder on those who misuse firearms, especially criminals who keep large arsenals. In 1981, when President Reagan was shot, I saw it live on TV. That image has stayed with me all these years.
Then, when I was 19 or 20, a friend of mine, strung out on drugs, held a loaded .44 Smith & Wesson to my forehead. He thought I was the police. Luckily, I was able to talk him down and separate the bullets from the gun. I forgave him, and while what happened wasn’t right, I’ve moved on from it. But I think this experience is part of why I feel so strongly about gun responsibility and the dangers of misuse.
Tonight, I watched an episode of The Conners titled “Triggered,” ^7 which depicted the aftermath of a police shooting involving a young man who was armed at a mall. The episode explored how gun violence affects the young and the innocent. Watching it stirred up emotions in me because gun violence in the United States has become an ever-growing issue.
This is not a rant against gun ownership; it’s a plea for responsible gun ownership. Guns can protect lives, but they can also take them. Education is key. We need to strike a balance—protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens while addressing the rampant misuse of firearms. A gun is just a tool, like a knife, and how we wield it depends on us.
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1. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution, ratified on December 15, 1791, protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
2. The AR-15 (Armalite Rifle) is a lightweight, magazine-fed, gas-operated, air-cooled rifle. It was designed in the 1950s by ArmaLite and is now one of the most popular civilian rifles in the U.S. More on the AR-15: https://armalite.com/about-us/
3. President Reagan was shot on March 30, 1981, in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. James Brady, Reagan’s Press Secretary, was also injured and later became an advocate for gun control, leading to the Brady Bill. For more on the Brady Bill and Reagan’s assassination attempt, visit: https://www.clintonlibrary.gov/education/timeline-brady-bill https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/permanent-exhibits/assassination-attempt
4. The Brady Bill, signed into law in 1993, requires background checks for firearm purchasers and a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases.
5. On September 4, 2024, in Winder, Georgia, 14-year-old Colt Gray shot and killed two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School. Nine others were injured, eight of whom were students. See more here: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/apalachee-high-school-shooting-georgia-09-04-24/index.html 6. The Conners, “Triggered,” aired January 5, 2022. IMDb link: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt18250936/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk