What lessons can be drawn from the
tragic shooting in Aurora, Colorado that would make such an incident less
likely to occur in the future?
Following the hi-jacking of the first two flights on September 11, 2001,
word got to the passengers on Flight 93 and the passengers heroically made a
stand. Knowing the likely fate that
would ensue with inaction, they chose to attack the terrorists and though they
perished in the attempt likely saved the lives of their fellow Americans in
Washington, as well as an historic landmark.
Going forward from that day, it is highly unlikely that another
passenger jet will be hi-jacked as long as there are a number of passengers
alive on it. The attempted underwear
bomber was initially subdued by passengers in his attempt on Christmas Day in
2009. Even more recently, passengers on
a Chinese airliner attacked a group of Uighur would-be hijackers earlier this
month, beating two of them to death and subduing the rest.
So what is the solution to attacks
such as the cinema shooting? Although the solution causes hysteria and outrage every
time it is mentioned it is still the most viable deterrent: armed
citizens. The anti-gunners would
instantly picture the Wild West with shootouts over parking spots at every
Walmart on a daily basis. Hyperbolic
reactionaries aside, most reasonable people do not believe that scenario is
likely.
The percentage of American households owning
firearms is hard to actually pinpoint due to, in part, the unwillingness of
some gun owners to be identified as such, but most polls put the percentage
between 35 to 50%. One, or preferably
more concealed carry permit holders in the cinema would have drastically cut
the death toll. A senseless massacre
such as this takes only seconds or minutes to occur and gives no time for a
reaction from law enforcement unless the local force is attending the event in
question. According to the site
justfacts.com.,”Based on survey data from a 2000 study published in the Journal
of Quantitative Criminology, U.S. civilians use guns to defend themselves
and others from crime at least 989,883 times per year.” This figure is rarely if ever reported but
the over 10,000 murdered by firearms every year is proclaimed constantly. Clearly, not every gun owner would wish to
take on the added responsibility of being a concealed carry holder. But for those who would, the process should
be streamlined and nationwide state reciprocity, much like our driver’s license
should be encouraged. The establishment
of “gun free” zones and the bureaucratic discouragement or outright outlawing
of concealed carry by responsible citizens ensures that criminals who will not
obey any law or ordinance can continue to wreak havoc on helpless citizens.
