World on Fire
Our entire world is on fire and people are so focused on what they perceive as the problem that, they're ignoring the fire, itself. Everyone has an idea of what’s important to them and what they think government should spend our money on; usually something that benefits them in some way. Everyone has an ‘opinion’ of what decisions should be made; based on their own perceptions. This is true, also for me in a way, I suppose. I mean, I try not to share my opinion unless I have some semblance of knowledge, education or experience in the area of discussion/debate, and even then, I usually add a disclaimer that it’s my ‘humble opinion’ on the matter.
The greatest and most prevalent issue in Canada right now, it seems; unrelated to the current pandemic, being the issue of the gun ban. Everyone, who has chimed in on this issue has their own perception of why these guns are either necessary or unnecessary; and why it’s okay for our government to spend millions of dollars to do away with these weapons. First, millions on buying back the weapons, but the cost to destroy them is yet uncounted and hasn’t even been discussed; but that’s an entirely different argument.
Either way, as I said, everyone who has put forth their two cents worth, in regard to this issue seems to be either on one side of the fence; educated in the matter, experienced handling guns, and well-versed in our laws and the real causes of criminality. Or, on the other side of the fence; believing guns serve no purpose other than to kill or maim, and that they are scary objects that have no use in a civilized society. Each ‘opinion’, a representation of that person’s beliefs; based on their perceptions, that are based on their experiences.
Now, let me just say this; I don’t own a gun, as I don’t engage in sport shooting, I am no longer serving in the military, or as a police officer so, don’t need regular range practice, I’m not a farmer or a hunter, and have no need for meat because I am a vegetarian; hence, I am not ‘pro-gun’, but nor am I pro ban. I’m not anti-gun, either; I see the need for guns and their usefulness in various areas of a civilized society, and because of my knowledge, education and experience, I am anti ban.
I am also, anti-uneducated decision-making. I am anti money wasting; particularly money that could be better spent on dealing with the real issue behind crimes such as the Nova Scotia massacre; that apparently was the crux of the reasoning behind this gun ban, in the first place. I am anti ‘sneaking’ legislation through a loophole, and ignoring the normal, democratic process, to suit a pre-existing political agenda; particularly in a time of plague, where the governments resources should be better spent.
Some of this is fact-based; with an education, and experience base that given me the knowledge and expertise that is required for true understanding of the issue. Some of this is my ‘humble opinion’. I believe that opinion truly is the lowest form of knowledge; particularly when it has no real basis in the reality of a situation, because it often lacks education or experience to illuminate the truth of the matter. So, I try, as I said, not to chime in on any debate with my ‘opinion’ unless I do have some kind of knowledge or experience, or understanding of the real issue at hand.
Wherein, I am stating opinion, I am going to give you a background on the reasoning behind my ‘opinion’. Here it goes;
Everyone has an idea of what causes crime and violence. Everyone has an opinion on why things like guns are dangerous and should be banned. But I want to tell you, from my experience, guns are not dangerous; people are. Guns don’t kill people, people do. I know it’s an overused cliché, especially throughout debates such as these but until you’ve actually dealt with criminals and victims, and seen the result of the truly dangerous element within our world; until you’ve sat with some of these people and heard their stories, seen what they’ve done, or been through; some, both, you don’t know the truth of what is really dangerous or scary.
I have. I do. I’ve had to look at someone so badly beaten that they’re face was nearly unrecognizable. Their face was so swollen and bruised that there was no definition to their facial features. I have sat with more than one person who’s been through this, and both, were beaten with fists. Fists were the weapon used in these crimes, in these instances. But it was the perpetrator of these crimes that were dangerous, not his fists.
I have dealt with the aftermath, with another person who had unspeakable violence done to them, with a toilet plunger. I’ve seen cigarettes used to scar and maim. I’ve had to comfort and assist people whose life was forever altered because of a vehicle and alcohol; lost loved ones, or they, themselves were injured. One, killed his own sister because he got behind the wheel of a vehicle, drunk. The weapon in this case, alcohol AND the vehicle. I’ve intervened countless times in suicide attempts; pills, belts, ropes razor blades, bridges, vehicles, knives all being the intended weapons, in these instances. Some, were later “successful”, as they say in reports. Only one, used a gun.
I have seen the damage fists can do; the unrelenting trauma human sex organs can cause. I’ve seen, the power of the tongue, to take life. I’ve watched (and tried to intervene) as people bullied and harassed one another; especially online, and on social media, without knowing the persons background or what they are capable of handling before they, themselves folded. I’ve seen people subjected to arrogance, gas lighting, ignorance, bullying and other forms of psychological abuse; because they disagreed with someone’s, ‘opinion’. I’ve seen the result of addictions, mental health issues, unmet needs, poverty, trauma, abuse, grief, isolation and so many other factors, send people over the edge. The underlying issue being the cause of either the criminality, or the vulnerability of the victims they choose.
I’ve seen knives, ropes, belts, vases, hands, fists, feet, boots, cars, plungers, lamps, pills, razors, chairs, dog leashes, and so many other inanimate objects be used to harm others. Weapons of convenience; often used well before weapons of choice, because most crimes aren’t as industriously planned and insidiously executed as the NS massacre; as most mass shootings are.
As I said, guns don’t kill people, people do. And the people that kill people kill for a variety of reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with access to or the kind of weapon that they use in their crimes. People who kill people, do so because of; mental health issues or mental illness, mental and/or physical trauma, unmet needs, rejection, abuse, addiction, power and control, poverty, jealousy and rage, substance use, brain chemistry, unhealthy lifestyles, lack of supports, lack of access to resources to help, isolation, etc. They do not kill because there was a gun available to them. Most don’t even use guns because they don’t have access to them. Particularly in a place like Canada, where you have to be thoroughly vetted; screened, tested, assessed and reassessed, and then, monitored to even possess a gun here.
If they had red-flagged mental health diagnoses they wouldn’t have access to a gun. If they had a criminal background or history of violence, they wouldn’t be permitted a license to possess a gun, here. No, guns are not dangerous; people are. And the vast majority of people, in Canada who have these underlying issues that have the potential to make them dangerous, don’t own guns; because they are screened and are not allowed a license. So, those who do find their way to possessing a gun, are either industrious and have found a way to do so, illegally, or are good at pretending and convincing others that they are not dangerous. Those, are the kind of people that can, and will find ways to access whatever tools they need for their crimes, however. They are the mass shooters; and they are few and far between.
The average person, requires a trauma or unmet need to turn to crime. Criminal behaviour is usually the result of some form of trigger. And, it’s usually a long and arduous process before they get there. Very few people just, ‘snap’, out of the blue. There are so many ways of preventing crime; by dealing with the root causes. So many ways in which government spending could be re-directed, and appropriately allocated, however, it’s so much easier to blame the big, scary gun. A ‘quick fix’ or knee-jerk reaction, if you will. To understand the fullness of criminality, you need to have some education, training and experience. I have.
I personally have a violent past; one of being victimized, fraught with, abuse, poverty and other unmet needs, violence and trauma. I sought help and accessed resources, and ended up on the opposite end of the spectrum; as a cop, versus criminal. I’ve worked with people who have the same, or worse experiences. These are the truly dangerous things in our world; these are what are at the real root of crime and violence. It’s not the weapons used in these crimes that is dangerous; it’s the people wielding them. I know this, because I’ve lived it, and I’ve seen it; as law enforcement, as a victim/survivor, myself, as a victim advocate, as a crisis responder and as a counsellor. I’ve seen the result of these truly dangerous things. I’ve arrested people who’ve committed crimes because of them, I’ve supported and assisted victims who’ve been victimized because of them and I’ve intervened when people tried to take their lives because of them.
I am going to say it one more time; guns don’t kill people, people do. Weapons are only as dangerous as their operator. Guns are not the truly dangerous thing, people are. And, the majority of crimes that are committed, with or without guns as the weapon involved in the crime, are not spontaneous. Most are the result of these trauma and unmet needs. Most could have been prevented, if these needs were somehow met, and the trauma, somehow processed. But that has a much lesser chance of actually happening if we keep reacting without educating ourselves. We need to take a proactive approach to crime, in that, we need to prevent the criminal behaviour from being born in the criminal, in the first place. We need to start looking at crime from a grass roots approach, and help the people while they still have a chance at not crossing that line, and becoming as dangerous as they have the potential to be. Before they, themselves, become the weapon.