by Shane Hylton
Columnist

On both sides you have people that are adamant about their point. My experience has shown that most people on the gun control side have had no training are scared because of ignorance. The other side of the coin can have some wackos as well. What we need to ask ourselves is this: Would more gun control really help? I do not think so. I say this because the research actually proves otherwise. When you start legislating something like guns, the problem is not usually addressed. Many times I have heard the argument that 34 people every day die due to gun violence. Yet, they offer no other statistic to back this up. There are approximately 2466 people that die every day from illegal drug abuse, and 36 people that die every day due to drunk drivers, both of which are heavily legislated and illegal.

How is it that every November, thousands of people get into trucks and cars drive out to the country and hunt Bambi, with very little adverse effect happening? The problem with legislation like this is that it punishes the law abiding everyday person. The hobby shooter and the avid outdoorsman that pay a lot toward conservation of natural resources are the ones that get punished, not the criminals.

Actor Samuel Jackson recently said in a LA Times interview: “I don’t think it’s about more gun control. I grew up in the South with guns everywhere and we never shot anyone. This [shooting] is about people who aren’t taught the value of life.” I completely agree with this comment. Did you know that according to the NRA, “guns are used 2.5 million times every year to stop or deter crimes”? Including in the recent mall shooting in Oregon, where a concealed carry person had an impact on that shooting ending faster than it would have. In Mexico, where there is only one gun shop in the entire country, more gun violence happens there from illegal gun use than anywhere in the world. Look at Juarez, Mexico, murder capital of the world. The drug cartels control almost everything that happens in that city and there are more assassinations there than anywhere else in the world despite the strict gun laws.

So what can we do to stem these acts, well we can train teachers and arm a few of them. Have a few safety officers in every school. I even know of one gun training school that offers to train these teachers for free, and this school is run by former Navy Seals and Army Rangers (Front Sight). Many programs like this already exist in countries like Israel and Switzerland. The Swiss actually issue a gun to every household and require gun safety training for every citizen; they also have virtually no gun violence. Which brings me back to Sam Jackson’s comment, guns are not the issue. Maturity and responsibility are the issue. We have a generation of self-centered kids growing up. I call it the ME generation; it is all about me and me alone. These kids have been brought so far from John F. Kennedy’s “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” And this is all of our faults, we have raised and been raised that adversity is a bad thing and that everyone should get a trophy. I am guilty of this as well. For years I did this in my martial arts tournament. Well, I have changed that policy. I am becoming part of the solution; be an upstanding person that kids look up to and follow what I teach, don’t just preach. I think if we all resolved to do just that, we would have an amazing and awesome country again. Not that our country is not great, it is. Our society though is moving too far away from the principles it was founded on.

Around Town

Jason Stadstad Hockey Classic

The fifth annual Herald Jason Stadstad Hockey Classic is set for Dec. 27-29 in Grand Forks. The charity boys high school hockey tournament benefits Altru Hospice and local youth hockey.

Tournament passes are $25 for adults and $10 for students.

For more information and schedule go to: http://jasonstadstad.areavoices.com/

Winter Wanders

Turtle River State Park will host the Winter Wanders event the will showcase snow quilts, suncatchers, and snacks starting at 2:00pm Saturday December 29th for an outdoor exploration. You can help create a giant quilt in the snow, find materials to construct ice suncatchers, and make tracks for snack. All North Dakota State Parks require the purchase and display of a daily ($5) or annual ($25) vehicle permit. 2013 annual passes, on sale now, are good until May 2014 for all North Dakota State Parks. Turtle River is 22 miles west of Grand Forks on Highway 2. For more information contact: Laci Prucinsky at 701-594-4445.

Grand Forks Public Library Closes at 5:00 PM

The Grand Forks Public Library will close at 5:00 PM on December 31 for New Year’s Eve. And will remain closed on New Year’s Day. The library will return to normal operating hours on January 2nd, 2013.

Celebrate the Night

Ring in 2013 at this fun, family-friendly, non-alcholic celebration! Enjoy a variety of live entertainment, games, delicious food and more. Then at midnight, an amazing fireworks display will light up the winter sky on December 31st from 6 PM to midnight at the Alerus Center on 42nd St. in Grand Forks.

For more information go to: www.Aleruscenter.com