Charlie Helps Make the Bed

So a Gun Walks Into a Bar....

I know I'm opening a can of worms, but hey, it's a long weekend and nothing gets it off to a great start like controversy.  Everyone has an opinion about gun control, and it's like abortion--you can argue all you want, but you rarely change someones' mind.
All that being said, I want to express my opinion on this subject--it's my blog and I can do what I want to.
I've been mulling this over in my head ever since a co-worker said, in a staff meeting, that "Guns don't kill people, people kill people."  To be fair, the staff was discussing the nuances of a new Indiana law, but to express such a "loaded" opinion was unprofessional and added nothing to the discussion--that was clear by the absolute silence that followed.  It took all my self-control to bite my tongue, lest the discussion go off on an unwelcome tangent.
But now, in the privacy of my very own blog, I can say, "What the hell?  That's the stupidest argument I've heard-- repeated over and over and over again by people who should be smarter than that--regarding why they should be allowed to own a gun."  Because here's the thing--LOADED guns DO kill people.  And animals.  And road signs.  That's why guns and bullets were invented.  To kill.  Efficiently.  If a person does not have a gun, it's a much messier, more time-consuming and energy-expending process to kill something.  Granted, a gun does not walk into a bar and open fire all on its own--I will give you that.  But put a gun and some bullets into anyone's hand, and there is a great probability of destruction--accidental or otherwise.
You have every right to own a gun.  I respect that.  [As a side note, I wish all those NRA members and 2nd Amendment fanatics would also agree that women have the complete right to control over their own body.  Most of them don't agree, and some have used their guns to "argue" this at Women's Clinics.  But I digress.]  But please be aware that your gun can be stolen, used to kill bandits, used to kill that cute little kid when it's supposed to be locked away, or used to kill yourself when you're depressed.  Just so's you know what you're keeping in your house for "protection".  With great firepower comes great responsibility.
While we're on the topic, what the hell is wrong with the GOP in Arizona?  Have they really lost their minds?  Could they not come up with a better fundraiser than auctioning off a Glock?  In the same congressional district as Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was nearly fatally wounded by the same type of weapon last January?    Really?  Yup, you guessed it--the GOP are using the same "Guns don't kill people..." line to justify the auction.  I'm pretty sure Jared Loughner would have done far less damage had he only had access to his words that day instead of a loaded gun.  But he did have a gun and innocent people died.
So, the debate is now open.  As for me, I completely agree with Chris Rock--we need bullet control.  They should cost $5,000 each.