Guns, Food, People and Choices

In the wake of the recent school shooting tragedy, I recently got into a discussion with a good friend about the topic of guns...and food. 

Do guns kill?  Or, do people kill?  Do we need regulations to control guns or regulations to control people?  What is our right, our responsibility and the responsibility of gun manufacturers and government?  And, so the discussion continued.  So I ask...does food kill?  Or, do people kill?  Do we need regulations to control food or regulations to control people?  What is our right, our responsibility and the responsibility of food manufacturers and government?  And so the discussion continued.

Guns and Food

Guns are a right guaranteed by the Constitution.  We have a right to bear arms.  Food is sustenance:  the supporting of life and health.  Guns come in all shapes and sizes.  There are handguns, rifles, machine guns, semi-automatic, automatic and more.  There are guns for personal protection, sport, hunting, and military, to name just a few.  And, while I don't espouse to know a great deal about guns and the uses for guns, I will make the following statement:

Guns have come a long way since the 2nd Amendment was written.  I believe that guns are being used in ways in which they were not originally intended.

Foods now come with lots of variety, purely for your eating pleasure.  Proteins, vegetables, fruits and grains now come in packages, not even resembling the source (i.e. corn chips do not resemble an ear of corn).  Food comes in boxes, not from the earth.  I know a great deal about food and I will make the following statement:

Food has come a long way since the Industrial Revolution, which gave us the means of harvesting, producing and storing foods.  I believe that food is being used in ways today that do not support sustenance.

Do guns kill?  Or, do people kill?  People are the ones pulling the trigger, so, people kill.  But, put the "wrong gun" in "the wrong person's" hand, and you have a potential disaster. In the end, the individual is the one that pulls the trigger, thus should take responsibility.  And food?  Does food kill?  Or, do people kill with food?  People are the ones preparing food and consuming food, so, people kill.  People are the ones making choices to consume foods tainted with preservatives, chemicals.  Heck, the ingredients are even written on the box label!  If YOU choose to put that food in your mouth, you are pulling "the trigger".

Bring in the manufacturers of guns and foods (and even cigarette manufacturers).  Do we hold manufacturers responsible for producing items that kill?  Semi-automatic, automatic and assault rifles are being used not just for sport, but to kill, and to kill maliciously.  Clearly, there needs to be some regulations.  What about food?  Do we hold farmers responsible for planting genetically modified foods?  Do we hold manufacturers responsible for putting chemicals, preservatives and dyes in our foods that are known to cause cancers?  Do we hold food manufacturers responsible for producing processed foods that aid and abet in the obesity crisis in our country?

Is bringing in government to regulate guns and food the solution?  Do we need more regulations?  How about a regulation as follows?

Owners of a firearm are 100% responsible for any accidents, injuries, and/or deaths associated with such firearm.  Sellers of firearms are 100% responsible for selling to qualified individuals.  Manufacturers are 100% responsible for product liability only. 

 Individuals are 100% responsible for the food they serve and put into their mouth only.  People have a choice to accept or refuse food, whether good or bad.  Manufacturers of foods must state on the label what is in processed foods, including  whether or not their ingredients were sourced from farmers, who have a choice to plant genetically modified foods or to spray with pesticides.  In the end, supply and demand will dictate what the farmers plant.  And people will still be 100% responsible for their choices.