It's not the Wild West anymore... WOW...Discuss
From the Denver Post:
"I think we should, and I think that's where it starts," U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Democrat from Colorado, replied over the summer on CBS's "Face the Nation" when asked about reinstating the assault weapons ban following the movie theater massacre in Aurora.
On Election Day 2012, for the second time in four years, Colorado made its mark on the map as a solidly blue state. As such, it seems there's no moment like the present for the Centennial State to stop acting quite so yellow and do nothing more than chat about change when the cameras are rolling, and instead reflect somberly on our anachronistic gun laws and think bravely and earnestly about making significant modifications to ensure a less violent future.
The Wild West was tamed ages ago. Colorado has long since become the crown jewel of the glorious West, where we've proven through our lifestyle — and elected officials — that social, environmental and quality-of-life issues are close to our hearts.
As such, it's about time we recognize that eyes on the back of our heads and a finger on the trigger at all times is not only unnecessary, but also unreasonably mistrustful. We've evolved meaningfully — although judging by the easy availability of such agents of death as a Smith and Wesson .223-caliber assault rifle outfitted with a 100-round magazine, it's hard to really blame those who fear a high-noon shootout outside the swinging doors of the saloon.
It's a deadly cycle, though: We're scared of others wielding weapons, so we go out and buy them for ourselves as a means of self-defense. It's safe to say, however, that most members of Colorado's imaginary militia are arming themselves out of paranoia instead of a threat-based in reality.
While students on college campuses around the country have had to run for their lives too many times to count from deranged classmates firing guns, Colorado colleges and universities are forced to welcome many brandishing them thanks to a recent state Supreme Court ruling upholding a ghastly law allowing students with concealed-weapons permits on campus.
A Sept. 22 article in The New York Times about the unease of faculty members at the University of Colorado regarding the law said one particular CU-Colorado Springs student carries a Ruger p90 pistol on campus "for protection" when he leaves school in the dark.
It's hard to argue against someone who needs legitimate defense, except CU-Colorado Springs security guards are actually state-certified police officers who meet the same qualifications as municipal law enforcement officials, plus they carry weapons and can make arrests, and readily offer to escort students at night, according to a university spokeswoman. Emergency phones are located throughout that campus, too, and other CU campuses have similar and additional protections in place.
Without diminishing students' fears of walking alone in deserted areas late in the evening, carrying a gun when armed and trained professionals are available for literal and figurative hand-holding is like showing up to squash a spider with a grenade missing its pin.
Maybe some people live in neighborhoods so unsafe they feel as if they have no choice but to keep a pistol under their pillow, but just how adept at using it will they be if awoken from a deep slumber? Can they be certain those bumps in the night weren't a raccoon knocking over a trash can or their teenage children sneaking in past curfew? Have burglar alarms been ruled out? What about working with local police departments to beef up neighborhood security? Maybe get a stronger lock on the front door?
We need to figure out how to stop laypeople from being so ready and willing to mete out punishments that aren't on par with crimes that haven't even been committed. And we need to hold our elected officials to becoming proactive instead of reactive.
It's a hopeful sign that we voted to keep Colorado's rivers and streams running blue, but we also need to make sure this cowardly yellow tint we've been harboring for so long doesn't stain them blood red.
