Gun Culture

This past week, the New Mexico Justice Department decided not to file charges against police officers after they went to the wrong house and killed the homeowner.  Once again, officers killed an innocent civilian and there are no consequences for their actions.  The reality is this story highlights, for me, the real problem with the 2^nd Amendment, the current interpretation being pushed by conservatives, and the culture that it creates.

Gun rights advocates would have you believe that carrying a gun is the best way to protect yourself.  They want every American carrying a weapon so that we are all prepared to stop (read: kill) the next mass shooter before anyone dies.  If we just make sure everyone has access to quality gun safety education, then we’ll all be fine.

A brief recap of the scenario that happened.  It’s 11:30 at night and multiple unidentified individuals approach the house with high-powered flashlights.  Gun rights advocates would say this is exactly why you should carry a weapon.  They say you have a right to stand your ground and defend your castle.  That’s exactly what Robert Dotson did.  He grabbed his handgun to confront the unknown individuals approaching his house – and was shot and killed by the police.

Now this is where the gun rights people lose the argument.  They are also the first to argue that the police were entirely within their means to shoot first and ask questions later.  They saw a gun raised in a potential firing manner and shot to kill.  I watched the video and the reaction is instantaneous.  The gun is not yet fully in a position to threaten the officers, but they see the gun and immediately start shooting.  No warning, no announcement of police presence, nothing except gunfire.

The video shows officers questioning whether they are even at the right house.  It looks like an officer knocks on the door and then backs away.  No one is at the door to announce themselves when Mr. Dotson opens the storm door.  No one is standing on the porch, they’re all hiding behind their high-powered flashlights.

And the gun rights people want us to believe this is nothing more than a tragedy.  That their arguments, their positions have nothing to do with this.  It’s an unfortunate, but isolated event.  There are no broader societal implications.  Sorry for your loss, now let’s move on.

That is what I find so unbelievable.  Everyone did exactly what the gun advocates say they should do.  And yet an innocent person died.  How is that even remotely justifiable?  How can such a belief system that results in innocent deaths be good?  You cannot look at this situation and claim that everyone did the right thing.  When everyone does the right thing, innocent people do not get shot and killed.  When everyone does the right thing, we all live.

If gun advocates are going to insist on a society in which everyone is armed, then it is of the HIGHEST importance that law enforcement is trained to not immediately respond to the presence of a gun.  You cannot have it both ways.  You cannot have a society in which everyone is allowed to carry AND officers are allowed to shoot to kill at the first sign of a weapon.  It’s immoral, unjust, and a greater violation of the 2^nd Amendment than any rational, reasonable gun control legislation would try to impose.