On gun control, change and compromise must come

There have been two distressing trends across the country over the last month.

First, a string of high-profile killings have occurred, leading to the deaths of fifty people, from California to New York. Among the dead are police officers and children. And while that number is probably only a fraction of the gun deaths that occurred in the last month, the highly-public and premeditated way they occurred is disturbing.

Perhaps just as disconcerting is the explosion of gun sales that have occurred in the past six months. According to the FBI, more than seven million people have applied for background checks in order to buy firearms, a figure that doesn't include the sales made at gun shows in states that do not require the any checks. And according to a story in Monday's Guardian, the most popular weapons for these new buyers are not hunting rifles or handguns, but assault weapons.

Gun rights advocates, including the NRA, have said the increased sales are in response to the election of Barack Obama and his intentions to take away Americans' right to own firearms. However, beyond some campaign statements, which should always be taken with some salt, Obama has not made a definitive statement on his plans for gun control and probably won't for some time. Congress too, has been almost indifferent to the recent spate of gun violence across the country. If they do get around to crafting legislation, however, an out-right gun ban is politically impossible.

That has not stopped pro-gun groups and right-wing pundits from stirring up hysteria and urging people to buy weapons now before they're taken away, both with their claims about Obama's plans and by saying the economic climate will lead to higher crime rates. Their fear-mongering is causing Americans to distrust both their leaders and their neighbors.

Mistrust breeds fear and fear breeds violence. Gun rights advocates are right to defend their constitutional rights, but they should not spread propaganda as part of their defense. They cannot deny there is not gun violence, the recent string of killing has clearly exhibited that there is. Perhaps tougher laws could have prevented at least some of these tragedies. If the answer is not increased registration, restrictions and background checks, then other measures must be proposed.

During the campaign, Obama drew outrage by saying that some Americans clung to guns because they didn't trust the government. Running to gun shows and buying as many weapons and as much ammunition as possible doesn't do much to dispel that belief. Rational discussion and compromise does. Do that, and hopefully the violence that has plagued the country over the last month may be prevented from happening again.