It’s been over a year since I wrote in here. I’m taking on a big problem here and these are just my thoughts on it, but don’t push them aside. I’m here to help. Side note : I’m not anti-gun. I hunt on occasion. I have a license to own and purchase guns here in Canada. I do not own more than are necessary for what I need them for. There is no reason to.

“There’s nothing we can do”.

That line is spewed out every time a mass shooting occurs in the US. Every time. Did y’all get dropped on your head? There is so, so much you can do. Look around the world. No first world nation has the problem with gun violence that you do. None of them. I’m from Canada. You know, that lovely place sitting on top of you guys? We have guns here too. Quite a lot of them. But we don’t have military grade weapons you have down there in the hands of regular civilians. That’s kind of what the military is for. We also force anyone who wants to own gun to go through a very stringent process and background check before we allow anyone to buy them. And they have to renew them every five years.

I know you have more people than we do and to get it all done will take time, but you CAN do it. I believe in you. There’s going to be many steps to get it done. First of all, you need to get the NRA and all their money out of your politicians hands. That is going to be the actual hardest part. People are greedy and money makes people forget all the bad things, if only for long enough to allow their morals to be let go of.

A few of the arguments…”I need to protect myself and my family.” – Yes. I understand that need. I have a family too, but I don’t feel the need to be strapped 24/7. You shouldn’t either. Less guns will mean less crime and less guns you need to protect your family from. “The criminals will have all the guns. What stops them from getting guns?” – First : They have so many guns because you all have so many out there already. illegal guns were most likely legal at some point. If you have less legal guns, you will end with less illegal guns. The less guns on the street to sell means the black market price goes up. Your average criminal will not be able to afford them anymore. Again, this will take time.

Last one – “Its my 2nd Amendment right.” – Yeah, I know. I don’t even live in your country, but I’ve heard this said so many times I probably know your rights better than I know my own right here at home. That was written when it took over 20 seconds to try and reload your musket. They didn’t take into account the type of weapons that would be available today. It was also written in regards to your “well regulated militia”, which is another argument altogether. You do realize you are a first world country and are in a democracy and this is no longer the 1800s, right? There is zero reason to fear your government the way some of you do. Zero. Get over yourself. I’m more scared of those guys than anyone. Militias of any kind should not be allowed. It’s violence waiting to happen.

So here is my method of ridding yourselves of so many weapons that do not to be in the hands of anyone who isn’t in the military or for now, law enforcement.

1 – STOP SELLING SO MANY GUNS!! Seriously. You want to stop the influx of guns on the street, in the hands of these people you feel you need to fear and protect your family from? STOP SELLING SO MANY. STOP selling them at department stores. Stop giving them away as free gifts at banks. (WTF?!). STOP having gun shows period. So ridiculous. STOP allowing the hand to hand sales between your citizens. Make that illegal without a middle man to verify both parties are legally allowed to own a gun. STOP selling any gun that isn’t legitimately used for hunting. Limit clip/load sizes to three. Yes, three. If you can’t kill the beast by then, go hunt at your local grocery store. Also, limit the amount of guns any household or individual are allowed to own. No one needs their own personal arsenal. That’s just stupid. I have a personal issue with handguns. I don’t think regular Joes should own them for any reason. If you like to go to a gun range, rent the guns from them and when you’re done, you go home without them. Hell, buy one from them and have a locker there that keeps them that only you can open. Limit the places you can buy guns. It shouldn’t be as easy to find a place to buy a gun as it is to find milk. I mean come on. That’s absurd. Lastly, STOP SELLING SO MANY GUNS.

2 – Ammunition. There are a lot of guns everywhere. There is also a lot of ammunition. Guns are useless without ammunition. Limit the amount that can be sold to anyone. And raise the price of ammo. A lot. The less that gets sold, the less that gets on the street. Stop selling ALL ammo that isn’t made for basic hunting shotguns and long rifles. Just stop. No ammo means no shooting.

3 – OK. so we are limiting the amount of guns and ammo that get out there into people’s hands. Now, let’s start taking care of the guns that are on the streets. I believe that no one actually wants to be involved in gang violence or end up a criminal of any kind. Especially kids. But yet, they find themselves forced into because that’s the life they grew up with and around. We can help change that. I hear some people say, “No one cares about the inner city violence and black on black crime.” That’s an outright lie. I care. YOU care. Everyone actually cares. And they care because no one wants to witness, hear about or be a part of it, whether by accident or on purpose. Some people may care more selfishly than others, but they do care enough to not want to be afraid. It’s a start. How do we start to stop it or limit it? We go there. We shows these kids, both in and outside the gangs that we care. We offer them an education and an opportunity. We offer them money to turn in guns and ammo. And when they do, we help them use that money to make something different for themselves. Opportunity for a better life is all anyone wants. No one wants to have to steal or kill for food. No one. We also have to show them that regardless of age, race, religion, sexuality or employment, people will be held accountable for their actions. And the punishment will actually fit the crime.

4 – Make metal health both a priority in aide and in forbidding the sale to people who apply for a license to sell. It’s common sense that if someone has mental health issues, they shouldn’t be able to purchase a gun. Its not discriminatory. You’re protecting them and others when you do this. You wouldn’t give a blind person a driver’s license. It’s common sense.

5 – Education and regulations – Nobody should be allowed to purchase or own a gun without a minimum two day course. Mental evaluation and complete background check. Background checks should include professional witnesses who vouch for the individual and have known them for a minimum of 5 years. A doctor who can vouch for their physical and mental capacity and a clean criminal record. ANY sign or report of domestic violence should automatically disqualify an individual from passing.

If you want to stop the violence, you have to start somewhere. Let go of your past and move forward. I understand your amendment. I also understand it CAN be amended. I love the US. I love visiting and travelling there. I have friends there. I don’t ever want to fear going there so much, I stop going. You’re a leader in the world. Please, start showing you can follow others as well when it makes sense.