What's behind the cry for US gun 'control'?

By Ron Roman

Seventeen innocent people were slaughtered by accused gunman Nikolas Cruz at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14. Since then thousands of anti-gun advocates (largely well-intentioned teenagers) have taken to the streets in marches across America, vowing “Never Again!” “No More Guns!” and “Down with the NRA!”

(The NRA stands for the National Rifle Association which is a leading organizational defender of America's Second Amendment protecting private possession of firearms).

These kids are sincere in their agitation all right. And they are idiots. Witness the great Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s own nine-year-old granddaughter at the Washington, D.C., “March for Our Lives”: “I have a dream that enough is enough. That this should be a gun-free world. Period.” Huh?

A “gun-free world”? Well, kiddo, vicious criminals don't give a rat's ass about relinquishing their own illegally attained guns for your platitudes about a chimerical “gun-free” world ― period. They're smacking their lips waiting for law-abiding adults to have their guns confiscated. And don't you forget it. It breaks my gun-owning heart to see American teens misled and manipulated by their schools' left-wing ideologues in the guise of “public safety.” When will we ever learn …

When will we ever learn that mass disarmament does not, will not and cannot make our streets safer? At least not in America.

Okay, I hear some readers howling right now. Well, what about here in Korea and next-door Japan, countries with no Second Amendment equivalent ― and comparatively safer streets? Great point. Get to that in a moment.

We have “adults” like Diane Daley, 60, attending a march and quoted by the Associated Press: “Maybe that's what it's going to take ― children leading us.” Gulp. Heaven help us. American national policy being articulated and driven by misled and manipulated kids. Peter Pan syndrome is alive and well. Scary.

Back to so-called safe countries like Korea and Japan. Safer than the U.S.? Sure. For the most part. Why? Simple: Their citizens (again, for the most part) tend to be more civilized, unlike many of those roaming around some American neighborhoods where a certain savage element simmers, where thugs will rob you of your cash, valuables, and then, that not being enough, shoot (and/or cut) you just to watch you bleed.

Other countries don't have a gang culture; America does. Take a hard look at the American Department of Justice's cold statistics on this. Unsettling? Sure ― and the truth.

Of course, tell that to hardcore left-wing ideologues, and they immediately launch into their usual kneejerk TPR (Transfer of Personal Responsibility) routine: Can't possibly blame poor trigger-happy street gang members trying to survive while pushing dope in America's back alleys.

Oh, heavens, no. Not enough decent jobs floating around. Must be President Donald Trump's fault for that! (Then, too, Limousine Liberals don't live in back alleys, do they?). Why not blame that wealthy gun manufacturer CEO instead? “Gun control”? How about some “Criminal and gang control”?

Take, for example, Switzerland: 8.3 million people own at least 2 million guns. Gun-related murder is almost non-existent. Why? Again, no gang culture. How much simpler could it be?

What we witness in America's streets with these kids is tantamount to the proverbial chicken scrambling around the farmyard squawking, “Do something! Just do something ― anything!” This is not to belittle their rightful anger and indignation. No, far from it.

What this is is a clarion call to think before we act, think about the consequences of mass disarmament, more “gun-free” zones, repeal of the Second Amendment.

Taking these misguided actions in the name of public safety is throwing gasoline on a fire to put it out. Gun-free zones? How many times must we be reminded that these zones are precisely the places where armed thugs head to first? In the Paris nightclub, 150 were gunned down at random because nobody was armed to fight back in a country with some of the strictest gun controls in the world.

You don't have to look to Europe for examples. What about closer to home? Minnesota? What has America become to demand law-abiding adults be disarmed? A nation of sniveling cowards? The Founding Fathers, framers of the Second Amendment, must be thrashing in their graves.

What to do? Space here precludes a full analysis, yet here are a few starters …. 1) Install metal detectors in all schools; 2) Rehearse/train students in what to expect/how to react to an active shooter; 3) Tighten mental health checkups for gun purchases; and 4) above all: Select and arm a few volunteer teachers after they've been firearm-trained and certified.

Parkland cops were called and initially refused to confront Nikolas Cruz. Yet the anti-gun crowd still howls gun “control” over criminal control.

A little “Idiot Control” wouldn't hurt, either.

The author has taught English and the humanities with the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) throughout the U.S. Pacific Command originally since 1996. The opinions expressed here are strictly his own. He can be reached at

ron_g_roman@hotmail.com.