Seeing how we are on the eastern side of the state, I know there are a lot of gun rights activists and supporters out there. Realistically, it is probably the majority of

people, so I know I’m treading some rough waters with this article. However, since it is a touchy topic, I feel that the conversation has to start somewhere.

I know that gun laws have been a big issue lately,

especially with the recent school shootings. Some people want to ban guns completely, while others think that having guns will keep us safe. The argument goes back and forth with compromise seemingly out of the question.

So what’s my stance on guns? I honestly couldn’t tell you. I don’t think that guns are bad, however if the world were completely gunless I wouldn’t see that as being a bad thing either.

It is impossible to get rid of all the guns in the world; if we somehow managed to remove them from the country there would still be people making guns and smuggling them in. So getting rid of them is simply out of the question.

With that being said, I feel that people need to learn how to deal with guns being legal, and I’m speaking to both parties. Those who don’t want guns need to realize that they are now a part of society whether they like it or not. And those who are for guns need to realize how they choose to use those guns affects people.

What I mean by this is that we can’t call the police every time we see someone with a holster on their belt, and people carrying guns shouldn’t use them as intimidation.

This is my main point: I don’t think that guns should be illegal, but I feel that the people wielding them should be a little more respectful when it comes to the concerns of others. An example of this: protesters carrying semi-automatic rifles through the streets.

I know it is perfectly legal to do so and I understand the statement you are trying to make. I would be upset too if someone was trying to unlawfully take my possessions. However, there are better ways to protest.

Imagine an older woman turning the corner and running into a burly guy with a decent sized gun strapped around him. It would be terrifying for her, more so then a normal protester’s sign would be that is.

The point of the protest is not just to show people you want guns, but to show people that they aren’t dangerous in the right hands. By wielding your biggest gun around town you just make them seem even more unnecessary therefore contradicting the whole point of the protest.

On the other hand, I understand the desire to have guns. They definitely could keep us safe in dangerous situations, hunting is a great sport and shooting for fun is just that, fun. I have no problem if you want to carry a 9mm to protect yourself. The only problem I have is the way some gun enthusiasts choose to show their support.

With gun violence blowing up in the media right now, the reputation of gun owners is plummeting. This isn’t fair to most who have done nothing wrong. There are very few people with guns who have intentions of hurting someone, so judging owners because of a few people’s actions is incredibly unfair. However, the way some activists are handling the scrutiny is inconsiderate as well. In this situation, being extreme isn’t going to help anyone, it’ll just add fuel to the fire that has already been burning for quite some time.