Our country, our cities, our neighborhoods, and our homes have again been ravaged. Distraught families, friends, and onlookers are left in the onslaught of a warzone. The cause of this destruction is gun violence.  The topic has ignited heated debate about the possible need for stricter gun control laws.

As found in the Constitution of the United States of America, the Second Amendment is as follows: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Although the right to bear arms is an amendment and therefore deemed legal, a person on the opposing side may bring up the argument that gun laws should be stricter in the prevention of mass shootings, suicides, and murder-suicides.

On December 1, 2012, Kansas City Chiefs’ linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed his 22-year-old girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, and soon after committed suicide in front of his coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli.  This left the public with questions:  “What if Jovan Belcher did not own a gun, could Kasandra Perkins still be alive, could their three-month-old daughter Zoey still have two parents to care for her?” Belcher’s weapons were legally registered; however, he did not own a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

So yet again, we are left with all these “what if’s.”

School Resource Officer Chris Townsend says he finds no problem with the Second Amendment. “Citizens are allowed to acquire guns lawfully (laws on acquisition of such weapons differs by state) as written in the Constitution.  I professionally feel that there should at least be minimum standards for a person to own a gun. Also, that person should practice self-restraint and take adequate precautions when using a gun.”

I am on the neutral side of this topic.  I believe in a person’s right to protect himself, but I also believe that there are senseless tragedies that could be prevented with stricter gun laws.

While writing this story, I thought of a scene from the movie Friday starring rapper Ice Cube who played Craig Jones. And in this scene, Craig is caught holding a gun by his father. As Craig admits that he has the gun for protection, his father scolds him and reminds him, “This is all the protection you needed (referring to his fists). You win some, and you lose some, but you live to fight another day.”

I am in no shape or form promoting fighting or other forms of violence. One thing I can say is if we followed the simple rule we learned in grade school, “One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself,” then maybe precious lives would not be cut short due to senseless acts caused by a tool.