Batman syndrome

I don’t own a gun and I don’t plan to. Klutzes shouldn’t have firearms, nor should a lot of other people.

Yes, I know about the second amendment.

But sometimes common sense should prevail. Not everyone is qualified to own a weapon that can take down a lot of people in a short amount of time.

This group of people includes but is not limited to: people with psychological disorders, people with criminal history and people who don’t know how to use them properly.
These people are as likely to take out an innocent bystander (or themselves) as to stop another crazed maniac. Even people who are qualified to own and use a gun shouldn’t have unlimited permission.

At least, according to me.

The Indiana state legislature seems to have a different opinion because our senators and representatives passed a law that said local government can’t regulate where people can and cannot take firearms.

There are some exceptions — people still can’t take guns into courthouses, schools and hospitals with convicts — but overall, the state has taken control.

This, among many other recent laws, is ridiculous. I get it, people can own guns.

No need to flaunt it. People don’t need to be packing heat at all times unless they have a badge.

Local governments know a lot more about their areas than the idiots up at a far away statehouse. They should be allowed to determine if there are areas where people shouldn’t have guns.

For all the cries that big government has gone crazy with power and is overbearing in its mandates, those same people are butting into peoples’ lives right here at home.
The statehouse is no different from the Capitol; it just has a smaller reach. And if there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a hypocrite.

Seriously, state legislators: what are you thinking? Just because guns are legal doesn’t mean they should be everywhere.

Have a little trust in local governments to make regulations in their towns.

Guns don’t kill people; people kill people with guns because we allow people to take their guns just about anywhere they please.

Some people say there aren’t enough public defenders on the streets so we have to go around with guns in hopes of stopping crime ourselves.

But maybe we should be spending more time on figuring out how to get more police
officers hired and trained. That seems like a much better idea than vigilantism.

We can’t all be Batman.

And for those who feel the need to always have a gun: why? Is it because you really think you’ll be able to stop a crime?

Chances are slim a crime would happen in front of you; and given regulations on gun ownership.

And the chances are even slimmer that you’ve had proper training and are a good enough shot to hit the right person.

Or is it because you feel since you can carry it that you need to?

That’s just silly logic, and I doubt the judicial system will put an injunction on this one.

­— hanns@indiana.edu