Dr. Neunzig taught Dr. Epstein skeet shooting at his Bessemer City farm. Dr. Neunzig remains an avid hunter, gun sport enthusiast, and NRA member and Dr. Epstein still enjoys the occasional target practice or skeet shooting. We came together in the wake of the awful event in Florida to discuss this tragedy.
It no surprise to either that we do not completely agree on all matters; but it is also of no surprise to us that there is common ground to be found. Both authors support the Second Amendment as the firm individual right to own weapons, and it is not helpful or necessary to demonize guns or law-abiding gun owners. Both authors agree however, that no constitutional right is absolute, there are always some boundaries (yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theater is not protected free speech, as we have discussed in a previous column), and with rights come responsibilities. Regarding the Second Amendment, both authors agree that individuals should not be allowed to own M1A1 Abrams tanks or surface-to- air missiles and other weapons of war; thus the conversation is not about the right to bear arms, but merely about where the boundaries are within that constitutional right.
Both authors also agree there are complex social, psychological, and political forces that contribute to gun violence. Some of it is easily actionable with legislation, some is more difficult, other parts hardly at all. With regards to mental health for example – clearly a factor in many cases of the most horrific mass shootings - It is unfortunate that our elected representatives prefer to merely bemoan about mental illness as a contributor to tragedies like Florida and Sandy Hook, then ignore it rather than deploying the programs and resources that would begin to remedy this part of the problem.
The media does not help when it glorifies violence, sex, or worse both at the same time, and here we mean both in the news (“if it bleeds it leads”) and entertainment (TV, movies, video game) industries. We have to acknowledge that unfortunately this is a regrettable downside to free market systems, when violence sells, sex sells, more is produced and put on display, contributing to a vicious cycle of psychological and social decay and overall dehumanization.
This can not be legislated away without infringing on the First Amendment, but we wish that the media would not take the bait so easily, and be more responsible stewards of the great power they wield to not only reflect, but shape society.
Petty and gang-related crime is often related to drugs (made worse by the opioid epidemic). Domestic violence is made worse when alcohol and other drugs are involved, not to mention broken homes and poor parenting.
Extremism – racial, religious, and political – is a poison pill that too many have swallowed, leveraging our very strength (the openness of our society) against us. As a country, and as individuals, we must resist
