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18 Reasons to Ban Guns in America: My Response to All 18

By Gregory Kielma

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18 Reasons Why Americans Should Relinquish Their Guns
And my Reasons to the Contrary
Gregg Kielma

Guns are always a controversial issue, but there are plenty of reasons why we should consider hanging up our holsters for good. Let's look at 18 of them. Of course, this doesn't mean you have to give up your guns; we're just giving you some reasons that might make you think about things differently. 

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” After reviewing the 18 suggestions below I have given my thoughts and insights. As a responsible firearms owner one would have thought these people are really reaching for reasons to take or eliminate your Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms. As stated above of course, this doesn't mean you have to give up your guns; then why pen this article? My thoughts below each reason not to give up your firearm”. Please remember it's not the firearm.

Lower Household Risk
You never know what could happen if a gun goes off by accident at home, and it's not just a small risk. Houses with guns have seen more of these scary accidents than you might think. We'd all be a lot safer if our homes were free from those firearms, as nobody needs that kind of danger in their lives.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” Not true, firearms in a home make the home safer. Your ability to defend yourself is paramount to you and your family’s safety. As times continue worsen, have a way to protect your family safely”. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Lower Harm Rates
Places with fewer guns tend to see fewer suicides, as having immediate access to a gun allows people to make impulsive decisions that are tragically irreversible. If giving up guns could save lives from despair, then surely, it's something worth talking about. We could encourage people to talk about their mental health instead.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” drugs, knifes, baseball bats, razor blades, plastic bags, the list goes on and on. If someone wants to end their life, they’ll find a way”. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Safer Schools
Lots of guns from home end up in schools, and fewer guns around could mean schools become safer places for kids. Instead of worrying about staying safe, kids could just focus on learning and growing. Keeping schools safe helps them to just study and enjoy their school days without fearing for their lives.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” wrong, bad children or young adults  will always find a way to hurt ot kill other children. Gun free zones don’t work. A teacher trained in the use of a firearm can save life’s”. There are several ways schools can defend the campus. I have fool proof ways to make the campus safe. It's not cheap but neither is a $1,000,000.00 football field. Administrators', security of a football field? Please remember it’s not the gun.

Decreased Urban Violence
In big cities, more guns often mean more gun violence, so just think about what it would be like if city streets were safer and less intimidating for everyone. Fewer guns might just help us get there by helping everyone feel at ease. This way, the city becomes a place of fun and community and less about watching your back.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma, ”I believe this one is truly awful. Do you really think nefarious people are going to continue their criminal ways. No way. You will never rid urban areas of crime. Ever”. Please remember it’s not the gun.
 
Lower Law Enforcement Fatalities
Every traffic stop or house call could be less risky for our police officers if there were fewer guns. In places with strict gun laws, fewer officers lose their lives, so reducing the number of guns helps us respect their safety as they work to protect ours. This can help fix the relationship between communities and law enforcement by creating a sense of mutual respect.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma, ”LEO are trained to defend themselves. They know how to identify signs of criminal behavior. They take the necessary precautions. Again, this is another bad guy doing bad things.  Please remember it’s not the gun.

Reduced Gun Theft
If fewer guns are around, there's less chance that someone will steal them and use them for the wrong reasons. This would seriously help to reduce crime rates and lower the potential for criminals to have guns, as there would just be fewer of them. It's a win-win situation, really.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” lock up your gun. Don’t leave it in the car. Put them in a safe and secure spot in your home. Think.” Please remember it’s not the gun. 

Economic Benefits
The cost of gun violence is emotional, but it also hits our wallets. For example, medical bills and lost work can get expensive, and cutting down on gun violence could really help us. We could save some serious cash and spend it on improving our communities with better parks, schools, or even roads. Less violence means we have more funds for those.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” not true the current administration (Biden) will just come up with more reasons to tax you and take your money and give you less.  They don't care about you, me or the municipalities they serve. This reason is truly bad and false. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Improved International Image
Lots of places in the world see America as being a place with constant shootings and guns everywhere. Fewer guns could help us fix our image abroad by showing other countries that we value safety and peace just as much as anyone else. This might also boost tourism and foreign investment, which could help us out even more.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” I don’t care what the international community thinks. It’s none of their business what we do in America. And don’t worry, the same countries that are complaining will still have their hands out wanting your taxed money”. Please remember it’s not the gun.

More Community Trust
In neighborhoods with fewer guns, people tend to trust each other more. After all, it's easier to bond and build friendships when you're not worried about violence. This trust can make neighborhoods happier places to live, and we all know how strong communities, the backbone of a successful society, are.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” I was at a business meeting with local community business owners. When I was introduced as an FFL, Firearms Instructor and Gunsmith the woman sitting next to me said she felt safer. Enough said”.  Oh and by the way, my community knows I'm an FFL and Instructor. They come to me with questions and for training. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Lower Mass Shooting Rates
The US has a lot of mass shootings, and there's practically one every day. If there were fewer guns, these tragic events could become a lot less common. Of course, they wouldn't disappear completely, but fewer guns could mean fewer headlines that break our hearts. That'd be a huge win for everybody.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” the last time I checked, my gun never hurt anyone. Guns don’t kill, deranged people kill”. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
When guns aren't an option, people have to find other ways to settle their arguments, which often leads to more talking and less shooting. This could force people to resolve their issues more peacefully because we'd encourage dialogue over violence. Eventually, we might even better understand each other with more lasting resolutions.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” like drugs, knifes, baseball bats, razor blades, plastic bags, the list goes on and on. People are going to kill no matter what the weapon is…Think about what just happened in New York… a CAR!” Please remember it’s not the gun.

Promotes Public Health
With fewer guns, we could start treating gun violence as a public health issue instead. This would mean healthier mental and physical communities as we start looking out for each other's well-being on a larger scale. Healthier communities lead to a stronger country, and who doesn't want that?

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” so removing firearms from the community is going to make my community healthier and mentally more stable. Site statics? Explain exactly how. I say guns make a community healthier just from the personal protection aspect”. Times are not getting better. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Decreased Accidental Child Deaths
No parent should ever go through the pain of losing a child to an accidental shooting. Fewer guns could mean these devastating accidents become rare stories instead of things that you hear about on the news every day. Every child deserves to grow up somewhere safe, and reducing the number of guns could help make that a reality.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” be responsible lock up your guns. It’s your duty to you and your children. Also, you and your children can take a class through the USCCA called Children’s Firearms and Safety Fundamentals. Teach your children to be safe. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Less Domestic Violence Deaths
In domestic arguments, a gun can turn a bad situation into a deadly one. If we take out guns from these equations, then we could see a huge drop in deaths from domestic violence, which would give more families a chance to heal. They could resolve their issues without any lethal consequences hanging over their heads.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” if you have domestic violence issues, you’re not permitted to own a firearm. If you had prior domestic issues background check will not permit you to own a gun. If you do own a firearm and use it to commit domestic violence you’re going to jail. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Lower Insurance Costs
Did you know that high gun ownership can drive up insurance costs? Fewer guns might mean lower premiums because there's less risk of gun-related injuries and deaths, so it'd benefit both your safety and your wallet. More money in your pocket and less worry on your mind sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” another inconsistency. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. Save a little here and increase all the other insurance we pay. It’s just a vicious cycle”. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Reduced Police Misconduct
Less fear of guns could mean the police could respond more calmly in tense situations. After all, without the added stress of facing a firearm, they don't have to escalate situations unnecessarily. This could make everyone feel a bit safer during those high-stress moments and lead to more peaceful resolutions.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” Bad LEO is bad LEO no getting around that. Thank goodness most are outstanding officers. The very few that are bad will continue to be bad. Remember, these bad LEO have guns. Do not argue with them on the side of the road, your home or place of work. You will not win. Do as they say. Deescalate the situation. If you feel you were wronged, resolve it in court. Please remember it’s not the gun.

More Effective Emergency Response
Likewise, paramedics wouldn't have to worry about running into armed individuals; they could focus purely on saving lives and helping people during crises. Faster and safer responses can make a big difference when every second counts. This could genuinely help to save people's lives during emergencies, and that's something we all can get behind.

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” Taking firearms off the street will not make this any safer for LEO or first responders. As a ERT member and First Aid Fundamentals Instructor this is just plain nonsense”. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Strengthens Democracy
If you feel safe, you're more likely to participate in democracy. Helping people feel less worried about violence would make them more likely to vote or even participate in community activities. This would create a safe environment where everyone can have their say in what's happening. 

Says FFL, Firearms Instructor, and Gunsmith Gregg Kielma,” I continue to shake my head on a lot of these. Democracy has nothing to do with firearms. Will be happy when guns are removed from society? Some will, most will not. What are we going to do next? Ban hammers, axes, knifes, cars, ect. Please remember it’s not the gun.

Last but not least and I continue to say this, please remember it’s not the gun.