Published: September 09, 2009 08:47 am      

LION AND THE LAMB: We need to control access to firearms

“Guns don’t kill people — people kill people.” I have heard this statement justifying the prevalence of guns in our society. It implies that violence is a natural result of interpersonal hostility, and the means by which violence is perpetrated is quite secondary.

I have pondered this argument from my own experience in caring for victims of violence. In 1955 I was an intern in the city hospital in Indianapolis. Especially in July I spent much of my time in the emergency room and even riding ambulance to trauma scenes. I witnessed the results of a lot of interpersonal violence, spurred on by the summer heat.

I soon became aware of a remarkable phenomenon. At that time it was very difficult for black people to possess guns. Knives were the usual weapons. And the black people were much more likely to survive their knife wounds than the white people wounded by guns. The knife wounds were often multiple, but commonly on the arms and legs and treatable.

But another factor was apparent: wounding another individual with a knife requires close personal contact, “eyeball to eyeball,” even one human being touching another. Gun violence usually does not involve that close personal contact. It depersonalizes the violence, dehumanizes the relationship of one human to another.

This has been a significant factor in the evolution of warfare. Even in World War I the direct confrontation of combatants was a major factor. Since then the separation of foes has increased remarkably, culminating in the use of unmanned “drone” bombing planes in Afghanistan. Those responsible for controlling and directing these planes have no personal contact or even satisfactory knowledge of the results.

There are increasing numbers of reports of the mind-upsetting and destabilizing effects when people become aware of the mayhem for which they bear some degree of responsibility. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasingly recognized as a major problem in American men and women who have participated in wars. This often accompanies them back into civilian life, frequently interferes with interpersonal relationships, and all too often even results in suicide.

It may be true that interpersonal disagreements and conflicts are inevitable and part of “human nature.” Education and training in handling conflict are essential especially in the upbringing of the young. Undoubtedly this would be the most effective means of preventing violence on the level of personal, group, national, and international relations. This is a major challenge for our family life, our schools, our churches, and our governments.

However, there is still much needed in our society a significant role for finding ways to limit and control access and availability of firearms.