Passions clouding gun policy

There are times when being too close to an issue can cause contextual blindness. Despite the best of intentions, caring too much about something can often leave someone vulnerable to rash decisions with unintended consequences. It is for this reason that physicians cannot treat their immediate family members.

I believe the same applies to the current gun control debate and the passionate students leading the charge. They have been through something horrific and demand a swift remedy. For this reason some of them are willing to bypass civility and demonize anyone who questions the efficacy of the types of gun controls being proposed.

Due to the age group of these survivors, coupled with the tragedy they were a part of, it is easy to dismiss critics of their proposals as picking on children. Such dismissals may be appropriate for those critics who employ personal attacks on these kids, but for those critical of their proposals no such dismissal is warranted or fair. When discussing a new interpretation of a constitutional right, it is appropriate and necessary to see the forest through the trees.

Passion tends to cloud the vital objectivity and efficacy necessary in this discussion.

Jeremy Johnston

Spokane