To the Editor:
It is no secret that firearms regulations are a “hot-button” political issue in this particularly contentious election year. And sadly, a series of attempts to strategically place gun stores near educational institutions, and the densely populated residential neighborhoods around them, have turned Arlington County communities into microcosms of this national debate.
All the players are already here. You have the defensive, conservative gun store owner who believes, falsely I would add, that the Second Amendment somehow gives him the right to sell firearms wherever he pleases; you have threatened local taxpayers who don’t want weapons being sold near their homes, schools and playgrounds; and you have the NRA, looming over the whole thing with hands in every cookie jar from Richmond to D.C. With all this national drama magnified onto a local arena, it is no wonder that some obvious truths get lost.
Here is an obvious truth: The purpose of a gun is to threaten, injure or kill. This is one of the only indisputable facts in an otherwise emotional, illogical and profit-driven debate. Whether you love guns or hate guns, whether it’s a high-end gun or a low-end gun, whether it is used for protection or hunting or homicide or suicide — guns threaten, injure or kill. This is a black and white statement. There is no nuance.
So, in an era of mass shootings, with more child casualties than ever before and lock down procedures practiced in kindergarten, why place this controversial and dangerous product near schools? Why force young children to grapple with such inconsistent environmental messages? Why force an unwilling community to encounter firearms when taking the dog out for a walk? Why not show some empathy and social responsibility when choosing a location for a gun dealership?
Oh I know…. because they can. Because the laws of Virginia sanction the bullying of an entire region by a special interest group and its allies. History has shown us time and again that egregious abuse of power spawns activism. And so is the case here. This is not a quarrel over the Second Amendment. This is about education, safety, the local economy and Arlington’s cultural and legislative autonomy.
Medha Shah
Arlington