Nuclear Arms Don’t Kill People, People Pushing Buttons Do

For a very long time so-called “gun advocates” in America adopted the phrase “Guns don’t kill people, people do.”  That phrase was pointed at the idea that banning firearms was silly and ineffective because the availability of firearms was not the problem—the problem was with people. Make that, a few undeserving criminal people.

Defining those people?  Well, we never quite got that far.

And controlling access to firearms in your own home—that is a personal matter, correct? 

I got to thinking about that phrase, “guns don’t kill people,” in light of the renewed action by some to initiate “gun control” following a spate of mass murders committed with assault weapons.  What if we, as a nation adopted that phrase more broadly?

We shall go with this: “Nuclear arms don’t kill people, people pushing buttons do.”

By default, every nation should then have the right to nuclear arms.  If things get a little messy with that, we can sort out the details later. Everyone has the right to self-defense.  This is a particularly interesting thought given the present negotiations over nuclear capability with Iran and the wobbling threats from Kim Jong Un of North Korea.

Should forms of control be placed ahead of the right to nuclear arms?  Is this an infringement of rights?  Do rights of self-defense exist only in America?

Background checks anyone?

And my new favorite bumper-sticker: “Guns don’t kill people.  People with mustaches kill people.”

--Mitchell Hegman