Responsibility, Stupidity, and Gunshow's

Yesterday Roy, Zach, and I went to a gun show in Jonesboro. I originally went to my brother's to look at pawn shops. I am getting interested in hunting, and self-defense. I am going to take a concealed carry class next month. Anyways, while we were at one of the pawn shops, a guy asked if we were going to the gun show. Seeing as looking at guns was my primary purpose for my visit we decided that was the place to be. We went and were there for about 30 minutes when we heard a loud explosion about 75 feet away. Someone had discharged an "unloaded" weapon. Let me explain some of the goings on at these gun shows. Vendors bring thousands of guns and display them for sell or trade. They also bring ammo for sell. They have to "tie" something in the chamber so that the weapon is verified unloaded. Any one off the street can bring in a gun also. It is checked and tied by the gate people to ensure it is unloaded. All of these guns can be untied to show perspective customers that the actions work to their liking. This is what happened with the "unloaded" weapon that was discharged. A vendor untied a piston for a customer to look at, then as he was placing it back on the table, another gentleman asked to look at it. This second customer held the weapon, pointed it at the wall and discharged it.

A disclaimer real quick, This is the information my brother and I heard first hand, we did not see what took place, back to the story.

Somehow, between these two guys, a round was placed in the chamber and discharged. Concerning the second guy, who pulls the trigger on a weapon with no round in the chamber. Secondly, who handles a gun without first watching the bolt close on an empty chamber? Thirdly, who points at something they do not intend to shoot, with their finger on the trigger? All three actions are completely irresponsible, and frankly, Stupid. Maybe it comes from being in the Marine Corp. Maybe it comes from growing up around people who always had guns, but this individual did something totally retarded.

The first gentleman, believing what the vendor said, has committed attempted murder in my view. This is someone who places a round in a weapon that thousands of people will handle throughout the weekend believing it is unloaded. This is someone who hates guns, and is willing to go to extremes to get rid of them, or at least get them regulated into extinction. If someone had been shot, what would the city have done? How much outcry would we have heard over the harm guns do, and in extension, gun shows. It's not unreasonable to believe there would have been strict ordinances placed on this town. I believe that was the individual's intention.

Being stupid is not a crime, having harmful intent and taking action to carry it out is. It would be impossible to place that weapon in the first individuals hand. I hardly believe in eye witness testimony by one individual. The room was full of policemen, what better place for a person who carries a gun everyday to be. The first individual was not even looked for. The bigger this incident is the worse it is for gun owners. If someone had been shot, with no doubt, I believe the first individual would have been found, and an investigation done.

It doesn't scare me off of gun shows, it does make me even more cautious around people I do not know handling guns. For those who may not think about it, stupidity is curable. I do not call every one who would make this mistake stupid. I think a 50 year old man who goes to gun shows, and pulls triggers on "unloaded" weapons stupid. If you are around guns, trust no one, treat every weapon as though it was loaded, do not pull the trigger no matter what, do not aim at anything you do not intend to shoot.

Lastly, no individuals cause is worth another individuals death. If you have a passion good, express it peacefully good. Others have causes they are equally passionate about, don't cut their lives short for your expression.

thoughts on blogging......thoughts

I have not been blogging long, and certainly not often during that time. Our church likes people to write in a journal. I believe that this is a good start to my doing that, with some censuring. I have written in my journal before, not very much, but I did write my deepest feelings. I suspect that someday, someone may read them and be less than surprised. Even in my journal I do not believe I had the ability to write openly. I am very self critical, not that that criticism leads to improvement. It is really not constructive criticism, maybe a bit overly self-conscience. Either way, I am hoping that this is an outlet that will help me more fully recognize those emotions I fear, and work at correcting the destructive ones. My wish is that putting thoughts to paper, openly, will lead to open discussions. I seem to hold my tongue more that I would like to. I know this comes from not holding it enough as a youth, and as an adult fearing the repercussions of poor judgment when it pertains to tact. I do not believe a person should hold in their thoughts, I do however, believe that they should voice them in a manner that is constructive, not offensive. Now with no real link, moving on.

We had a baptism tonight at our branch. It was nice. A 10 year old girl and an 8 year old boy (siblings) were baptized. It was by no means an empty meeting, but not as many people as should have showed. Truly it was only our family, their family, and one other family, plus the branch president. I think people are missing out in our area by not attending spiritual events. I think this is a good chance for people to feel the spirit they may be missing, or have forgotten, without having to really participate. Just being there can be enough.

This leads to a point that digs at me. We in this area, have been given a facility that is not being used enough, by anyone. It is frustrating to know how much could be going on that is not. I am not throwing stones, just voicing frustration at a communal lack of interest.

Maybe an odd stopping point but, "it is what it is"