Guns in America: I have a lot of questions.

I’ve never taken much time to formulate any kind of political standing when it comes to the interpretation and implementation of our beloved second amendment. When my brother took me to a shooting range a few years ago, I was disturbed and humbled by the power of the gun in my hand. One trip  was enough for me; I did not like guns. As for the promise of protecting myself, I suppose I refuse to live in enough fear to feel the need to house or carry such a deadly piece of equipment; maybe a stun gun or even a small blade should I find myself in a rough part of town, but never a gun.

I also know that I detest the culture of guns as toys: stockpiling handguns to show off to your buddies, bragging about your new piece, playing with guns whether loaded or unloaded, shooting for fun. I don’t understand the appeal, and in a world where guns are so often used in the name of hatred and violence, or for genuine, necessary defense, I don’t respect the toy gun culture. Although, to be honest, my indifference to guns in movies becomes a harder stance to explain.

And there’s plenty more that I’m not so sure about. I can’t understand why the Aurora, CO shooter was able to legally and easily acquire his multiple weapons of mass murder. I also wonder if someone skilled and sane had been carrying a gun of their own in that theater, if we’d have a lot less dead and injured. And, I wonder, if gun control in America was stricter, would the shooter still have been able to pull off his massacre?

I have a lot of questions.

Here is a list of some of those questions. I’ll try to keep them less hypothetical and more practical for the sake of productive conversation. I want to hear your answers and comments, but I’ll also do my own research and try to share what I find out in a future follow-up post.

1. Does a person have to have a license to legally purchase a gun, or do on-the-spot background checks cover the bases?
2. Can you legally purchase a gun without any kind of background check at all?
3. Is it true you can buy a gun at Walmart?
4. Why would anyone ever need to possess an automatic or semi-automatic gun?
5. Are automatic guns legal?
6. What are the steps to obtaining a conceal and carry license?
7. On average, how many guns are sold illegally each year?
8. How many law-abiding gun carriers or owners have used their gun to successfully defend themselves from harm?
9. How many law-abiding gun carrier or owners have irresponsibly or illegally used their gun?
10. Is it true that active military cannot obtain a conceal and carry? If so, why not?
11. What kind of guns can you legally purchase for the purposes of hunting?
12. When the second amendment was written, how long did it take to reload a gun?
13. What do proponents of the second amendment have against gun control?
14. What are gun laws and statistics like in other countries?
15. In what ways is gun ownership currently regulated?
16. If a person buys four guns, tear gas, and heavy ballistic gear in the period of a few months, is it not reasonable that these purchases come up on someone’s radar? Aren’t these red flags in any scenario?
17. Do you own a gun? Why or why not?

Comment below (anonymously if you’d like), email me at elizabeth@depompei.com, or tweet your comment with the hashtag #GunsInAmerica (if answering a specific question from this list, begin your tweet with “A” and the number of the question).