English: Multi-shot Accessory Underbarrel Launcher, or MAUL, is a modular 12-gauge shotgun. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Well, so far I’ve been able to avoid political commentary on this blog. My rationale has been that I write fiction not political commentary so I’ll just stay mum on all that. BUT this topic does find its way into my writing (one of my characters is a weapons savant) so I’ll make an exception in this case.

In light of the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting and the recent debate about gun control, I’ve spent more time thinking about guns than I used to.

I’m a complicated liberal. I love guns. There, I said it. I abhor hunting and believe in protecting the environment but I don’t have a problem with being prepared to shoot people who pose a danger to me or my family. So, that’s the love part of this love-hate relationship.

Here comes the hate.

I am a mother. The idea of dropping my daughter off (someday since she’s only 4 months old) at school or a movie theater and then hearing that she was shot to death … there are no words. No one should feel that pain. And my response would be to take a 12 gauge shotgun and blow the mothafucka’s head off. Now, I know that’s not the ideal way to handle it but I’m just being honest. I’m not the sit-quietly-in-the-courtroom-and-pray-for-the-gunman type. The asshole would have to die.

Here is the problem.

As you can see I can’t advocate a ban on all guns. Because … well, I need mine.

And I don’t believe that one guard with a standard issue revolver is going to win in a shoot-out with a maniac and his semi-automatic with a huge clip.

And I don’t want my kid around a bunch of armed people who I don’t know or trust. Actually, I don’t want to have my gun around her …

So, what’s the solution?

I recently had a Twitter conversation on this very subject.

@johnbutrus Ok, so u just really like guns. Me too. I just don’t like when they kill innocent people.

— D. Bryant Simmons (@DBryantSimmons) December 22, 2012

@dbryantsimmons More like I don’t the government (or anyone) trying to control our lives.If bad guys have guns, good guys need them too.

— John Butrus (@JohnButrus) December 22, 2012

@johnbutrus I’d prefer it if only good guys had guns. Think we can make that happen?

— D. Bryant Simmons (@DBryantSimmons) December 22, 2012

@dbryantsimmons Me too. I don’t. If we have guns, some will fall into the wrong hands. There’s a tradeoff between liberty and safety.

— John Butrus (@JohnButrus) December 22, 2012

Here are the conclusions that I came to.

If one innocent has to die for me to have my gun, I’m not okay with that.

I’m also not okay with the possibility that one day my daughter might get a hold of my (or someone else’s) gun and accidentally shoot herself or someone else. Yes, that does happen. I heard on the news that it happens more often than people using guns to defend themselves.

Do I want to give up the right to own a gun? No. Can I bear the weight of the consequences of its unintentional use? Nope.

So, here’s my two cents.

No child should be collateral damage in an adult’s pursuit of personal liberty. Save our kids. Give up the guns.