Discipline as a solution

A recent guest opinion observed that child-rearing has changed and a “large minority” of the population are emotionally immature and unable to control their violent impulses (“License people, not guns,” Craig Mason, Dec. 26). He observed that “many people are temperamentally incompetent to own guns.” He’s on to something. Too many adults now are temperamentally incompetent. They shouldn’t own guns, or any potential weapon. They shouldn’t cook in restaurants, handle tools, or work in health care or any field where a sudden fit of violence will put others at risk.

The author, an attorney, had a solution: License people instead of guns. Private companies would decide who is competent to own guns. If a licensed person violated the rules their certification would be revoked and law enforcement notified. Police would respond to the miscreant’s home and seize any guns found. Why stop at guns? The police should seize any dangerous items (guns, chainsaws, knives, forks, matches, etc.). The offender should receive a pink slip, if they hold a job, and be taken to a re-training center, called “Remedial Kindergarten.” Never mind that all of this is unconstitutional.

Or, we could return to insisting that parents raise responsible, temperamentally competent adults; and again allow educators to discipline unruly children.

Chan Bailey

Colbert