Control

Control is an ugly word to many people.  Who wants someone else to control him?  Children yearn to be adults so they have control over their own lives.

Each of us believes that we know what is best, that we can control ourselves and if others would just behave we wouldn't have to control them.

As top predators we have taken control to a whole new level in this world.  We don't even have to look into the eyes of another creature to kill it if it doesn't do what we want.

We have a million reasons that make us feel we are entitled to use violence, beginning with the toddlers excuse, "He hit me first."

It has always been this way.  We are a violent species.

And the best of us are not infallible.

In the middle of the night there is an intruder and we are glad we have our gun handy.  The normal human being trying to protect his or her family will rise, heart pounding, and look for the terrifying shadow of the monster invading their home.  It appears, the gun goes off, it drops!  Minutes later the mind numbing shock that a beloved child has been shot becomes apparent and the grief is inconsolable.

First of all, everyone is somebody's beloved child.  Secondly, a gunshot is often fatal.  There are no second chances.  Thirdly guns are fast.  They can fire several times doing so much more damage than the arrows and swords of old.

Everyone has their own story to protect their views, but I wonder if anyone has done a study of how many people have successfully defended their home with a gun as opposed to how many innocent people have died because someone had access to a gun in the past fifty years.