Guns, fear being stockpiled

Recent reports indicate gun sales are going through the roof. According to the Web site Tactical-life.com, April requests for the FBI to perform background checks of gun purchasers is up 10 percent over the same period in 2007.

“Since the November elections we’ve seen an increase in firearm ownership coupled with an unprecedented level of attendance at firearm safety courses nationwide,” National Shooting Sports Foundation President Steve Sanetti says.

“Americans are buying firearms, and they’re taking the proper precautions to ensure that they exercise the individual Second Amendment rights safely and responsibly.”

This trend of increased sales of guns and ammunition says a lot about white Americans’ psyche. Evidently, with the election of America’s first black president, they feel they must protect their homes and property from roving bands of lawbreaking African-Americans, welfare-wanting Hispanics and Arab terrorists.

I’ve no doubt “who” the weapons will be used on but what I can’t figure is the “what or why”? Do recent purchasers expect groups of minorities to invade their neighborhoods? Do they expect to be abandoned by local law enforcement while the anticipated lawbreaking is taking place?

The central Shenandoah Valley and its conservative residents, I’m afraid, are part of this growing trend. Perhaps one of them can enlighten us.

A couple of weeks ago I heard a conversation between two men boasting about their private armaments. They were describing and comparing the types of weapons they owned and the ammunition needed for the weapons. Speaking back and forth across the room, their conversation wasn’t private. After initially drawing my attention, I purposely tuned them out.

I’ve said before and will again, I’m not opposed to private citizens owning guns for sports shooting – target, skeet or hunting – or just collecting them. In fact, some of my relatives are avid hunters. My concern, though, is the proliferation and stockpiling of arsenals by supposedly ordinary citizens.

If professionals make mistakes where guns are concerned, you can imagine what will happen with all these firearms in the hands of non-professionals.

If you doubt my belief look at what occurred recently in an accidental shooting in New York. A black, off-duty plainclothes policeman noticed his vehicle being broken into. He drew his weapon and chased the suspect.

Three other plainclothes officers happened on the scene. They yelled for the break-in suspect and the officer chasing him to halt. Responding to the command, both men stopped.

However, as the black officer turned, gun in hand, one of the three white officers shot him twice, killing him. There’s no doubt that the shooting was accidental but it re-enforces my point. When ordinary citizens stockpile weapons, the danger of accidental killings increase.

So, when will the arming of ordinary citizens end? It won’t. Where will it lead?

I can see two scenarios developing. There’ll be more accidental killings, and a beginning of a domestic arms race.

Thanks to the National Rifle Association and its supporters, all American citizens may bear arms. But unlike a hundred years ago, when blacks and Native Americans were barred from owning guns, now all citizens may do so.

Be mindful of what you wish for.

Nelson Graves, of Augusta County, is a columnist for The News Virginian. E-mail him at .