Both sides of gun control debate worth considering

This column is probably going to get me shot seeing as I live in Montana, but I think I support gun control.

When I watched President Obama answer questions from audience members a couple weeks ago during the town hall meeting he held in Belgrade to discuss health care, there was one man whose first words to him were that he’s a “proud NRA member” “ utterly ridiculous.

Then there was the following day in Grand Junction, Colo., where NRA members proudly but quietly demonstrated, showing off their guns. Nothing screams red neck more than waving weapons to show the president how much they deserve their right to bear them. Funny how gun control has nothing to do with health care “ oh wait, except, when someone gets shot. Then I guess it has a lot to do with it.

But the incidents made me think about my own opinions on gun control. I support it because in large urban areas, there is gun violence every day. I wish I could’ve found more up-to-date statistics, but according to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, in a survey conducted in 2005, 477,040 victims of violent crimes stated that they faced an offender with a firearm. And in 2004, an estimated 66 percent of the 16,137 murders were committed with firearms.

Now, I realize there will always be murders and accidental injuries even without taking all guns away, but perhaps instituting heavy gun control would mean one less weapon to use in killing or injuring someone. I also wonder about that Second Amendment’s right to bear arms. While I believe the argument’s outdated, there’s always the possibility of “what if?” What if this country is invaded? There are always people crazy enough to try it. And what about the responsible hunters? There’s got to be a way to allow people to hunt without getting guns into the wrong hands.

But as it currently stands, gun shops require background checks before a customer can purchase a firearm. However, that isn’t stopping gang members or offenders from getting their hands on them. It’s estimated that 80 percent of those with criminal history get guns from family, friends, a street buy or an illegal source (again from the department of justice).

Perhaps most eye-opening in the debate is Michael Moore’s movie “Bowling for Columbine,” which explores gun violence in the United States. As much as I dislike him, Moore makes some compelling statements. At one point, he compares the United States, which is by far the highest, to several major countries in the number of deaths by firearms. There are those who believe that Obama, in all his liberal glory, is out to take all guns away. However, clearly something must be done, and if it was up to me there would definitely be heavy restrictions.

Louisa Barber is a reporter for the Sidney Herald. She can be reached at 406-433-2403 | reporter@sidneyherald.com