During a recent weekend in Philadelphia, thirty-two people were shot (with guns). It's not nearly as bad as it sounds because only six of them were killed. The good news is that if countries such as Mexico, Cuba, or even Canada choose to attack us, they won't stand a chance. I have to believe this is precisely what our founding fathers had in mind when they wrote the infamous "Right to Bear Arms" amendment.
Even though most of the guns in our City are in the "illegal category", and even though in a typical Philadelphia home, there are probably more guns than television sets, we don't have to be too concerned about the aforementioned invasions.
For a somewhat obvious reason, a significant number of shootings take place in bars and even restaurants. It's probably that lethal combination of guns and alcohol that continues to cause the problems. It really calls for a very simple solution - if you plan to drink, be sure to check your gun when you enter the establishment. Better yet, don't drink and shoot your gun at the same time.
On occasion, accidents do happen and certainly the gun itself is not to blame. A gentleman accidentally shot himself while dining at a local Ruby Tuesday restaurant. The gun was legal and he even had a permit to carry his gun. Again, it was no fault of his own when he placed his hand in his pocket to secure some cash (to pay the bill) and somehow squeezed the trigger. He had to be rushed to a nearby hospital, but it was an accident and certainly it could have been a lot worse. He could have shot his waitress.
All of this is to suggest that it's possible that we have a problem with guns. However, let us not forget our right to bear arms, and more importantly, it's not really the gun that kills and wounds so many people. I would suggest that the real problem is that we actually have too many television sets.
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