Should Government Subsidize Guns For Everyone? [Video]
NRA News Commentator Billy Johnson has a dream. And he has shared this dream through a video on the NRA News website, which is basically a news and commentary site for the National Rifle Association. Johnson’s video is called “Everyone Gets a Gun.” According to Slate, in his video, Johnson is pondering about a world in which its government would literally promote gun ownership. For some, this would be a dream come true, while others would argue this would be a nightmare.
Let’s be clear that the NRA clearly states they do not necessarily endorse Johnson’s thoughts or opinions on this video. This is clearly Johnson’s musings and personal opinions of what would be an ideal world if guns were made available to everyone.
But, before you choke on your morning coffee or your lunch latte, let’s dig a little deeper as to exactly what Billy Johnson means by “Everyone Gets a Gun.”
In a nutshell, according the Raw Story, Johnson is proposing that children be forced to learn shooting skills in order to graduate as part of a plan to enact “gun-required” zones in the United States and use taxpayer money to subsidize firearms purchases.
Johnson complains that our U.S. policy mainly focuses on limiting access to firearms. The Raw Story reveals Johnson stating in the video:
“We don’t have a U.S. gun policy. We have a U.S. anti-gun policy. Gun policy driven by people’s need for guns would seek to encourage people to keep and bear arms at all times. Maybe it would even reward those who do so. What if instead of gun-free zones we had gun-required zones?”
But, ideally, in order for this to work, Johnson believes children would need to be introduced to guns early on. And they would be given the skills and taught how to safely use firearms.
“Just like we teach them reading and writing, necessary skills. We would teach shooting and firearm competency. It wouldn’t matter if a child’s parents weren’t good at it. We’d find them a mentor. It wouldn’t matter if they didn’t want to learn. We would make it necessary to advance to the next grade,” Johnson says per Slate.
But aren’t firearms expensive? Johnson has that figured out, too. He says the government would subsidize the firearms just like it does with food, education and healthcare.
“I mean, perhaps we would have government ranges where you could shoot for free or a yearly allotment for free ammunition. Gun policy, driven by our need for guns would protect equal access to guns, just like we protect equal access to voting, and due process and free speech,” per NRA News.
Johnson says even our forefathers believed we should have the right to carry and bear arms or we wouldn’t have the Second Amendment.
While some may agree with Johnson that his dream would be a wonderful reality, others speculate the purpose behind the video. Slate reminds everyone that “while the NRA considers themselves to be a ‘rights’ organization, it has ties to the gun industry.” In fact, in 2013, the New York Times conducted a major investigation regarding the campaign where “the firearms industry has poured millions of dollars into a broad campaign to ensure its future by getting guns into the hands of more, and younger, children.”
After watching the video, let us know your thoughts. Do you agree with Johnson that “Everyone Gets a Gun”? Or do you stand for firmer gun control?
[Photo Credit: RawStory.com]
