I always enjoy Steve Meyer's columns on shooting and hunting and couldn't agree more with his recent piece, which argues that now is the time to have an honest dialogue on just what "common-sense" gun laws look like and how we move forward. With that in mind, I have some ideas.
I've heard it said many times that "guns are a right, not a privilege." Well, like many, I grew up in a household where gun ownership and shooting sports were a way of life. I looked forward to the day I turned 12 (which, I admit, seems pretty young now) and was allowed to head afield with my father and finally try my hand at shooting. We fired all kinds of firearms, from handguns to military rifles. Even to this day, the bite of the autumn air, the change in season and a slight whiff of gunpowder bring back fond memories of those days and that rite of passage.
Yet there were no "rights" involved. Never in my household was the use of a firearm anything but a privilege. I was only permitted to shoot under the strictest supervision. And long before I was ever allowed to take aim, my father did his best to literally scare the crap out of me. I have to say, he succeeded, impressing upon me just how dangerous a tool a firearm is, how much of a responsibility, and that if mishandled, it might not only do harm to me but could end the lives of my friends, whom I would later go shooting and hunting with.
I was told in no uncertain terms that even the slightest accident or misuse of a weapon might not only ruin their lives but the lives of their loved ones, and in turn my own. "You will never be the same," he said. This was a harsh lesson, but it is one I never forgot, and one I am eternally thankful for. It not only instilled in me a healthy respect for the firearms I handled, but also for the sanctity of human life. It was a lesson later reinforced when I was first allowed to hunt, that taking another life, any life, should not be approached lightly. This is mentoring that, unfortunately, in many segments of our society is no longer practiced. Today the only knowledge of firearms for many comes from movies or playing "Call of Duty," neither of which teaches respect for firearms or human life.
So what constitutes "common-sense" gun laws? For me, that doesn't include banning certain rifles. I really have no problem if someone wants to go to the range and fire an AR-15. Also, anyone who knows about rifles knows that the only thing that really differentiates these "assault" weapons is the way they look. They may be a little lighter and in some instances easier to carry, but there are plenty of "hunting rifles" that are semi-automatic and can discharge a bullet just as fast. And as for large-capacity clips, banning them won't accomplish much, as someone with a little practice can become adept at switching much smaller clips. What might be more likely to curb the problem are the kinds of laws that will eventually get illegal guns off the street and, more importantly, will eventually bring about a change in attitude.
Granted, attitudes are difficult to transform, and government and schools can never take the place of good parenting. But what of those gun owners who never got the lessons I learned (which I believe is now the majority)? Why would we not require training for anyone who wants to own a firearm? When I was young, before the NRA became so mired in right-wing politics, they were all about safety, marksmanship and hunting. Why not go back to that? Why would we not require field training, where safe handling practices are promoted, where respect for the firearm and what it is capable of is instilled, in classes taught by those who might fulfill the role of mentors or at least provide a good role model and an example to follow?
These classes could even be facilitated by the NRA. Afterward, the prospective gun owners would go to the local DMV, take a written test and receive a stamp on their license or state ID. Without this, you would have to forfeit your weapons. While I know this would be a pain for those of us who are responsible gun owners, we should be willing to put up with this small inconvenience at the very least. And with this training and licensing in effect, only the law-abiding gun owners would be allowed to carry weapons, while all others, likely criminals and gang members, would have to give theirs up. This, along with possible buybacks, would eventually get most illegal guns off the streets. The other component would be comprehensive background checks and registration of all firearms.
Most gun owners agree this is a responsible step. We register our cars, we take safe driving classes and we are licensed. Why would we not take the same sensible precautions when it comes to guns? Sure, the argument will be made that people continue to misuse automobiles. They use them illegally, drive recklessly, drive drunk and even occasionally use an automobile to purposely kill. But who in their right mind would claim we should not have laws governing them and requiring citizens to learn how to properly use them?
We will have to do something at some point to shift our society's attitude toward firearms. The only question is: how many more innocent lives will be sacrificed before we do?
Dave Atcheson is an Alaska-based author. His most recent book is "Dead Reckoning: Navigating a Life on the Last Frontier, Courting Tragedy on its High Seas." He is also the author of National Geographic's "Hidden Alaska: Bristol Bay and Beyond."