| One of the big criticisms of Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand as she becomes the junior U.S. senator from New York is that she is pro-gun rights. Gillibrand has received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association and her pro-gun stance has already drawn criticism from Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, who is a well-known gun control activist and member of Congress who lost her husband in the Long Island Railroad massacre 15 years ago. McCarthy has even threatened to primary Gillibrand in 2010 if she is indeed the one being appointed by Governor David Paterson.
But this is an issue that is very different in rural and urban areas. In rural areas, guns aren't associated with violence. Guns are associated with sport. I hail from a very rural county where hunting is a family event for some. I can remember only two murders that occurred involving a gun during my lifetime here. So in the rural areas of this state, guns aren't used for violent purposes. Guns are used for hunting and for sport.
In urban (and even suburban) areas, the issue is much different. I live an hour away from Buffalo and Rochester - two cities that have had their share of homicides involving the use of a gun. In urban areas, guns aren't associated with hunting. Instead, guns are associated with violence.
I understand where both sides are coming from because in a rural setting, this issue is a much different one than it is in the suburbs and cities.
There are some things not to like about Gillibrand's pro-gun position. Gillibrand opposes any sort of ban on the sale of semiautomatic guns or the infamous "cop-killer" bullets, according to Village Voice reporter Wayne Barrett.
What Gillibrand needs to understand is that there are people like Rep. McCarthy out there. People who have lost loved ones and friends to gun violence. There are many people like that in New York and many throughout the United States. That's why the Brady Campaign's efforts are important.
But how do we balance those efforts with protecting hunters and their right to bear arms? That is the question. Gillibrand will need to address that question if she plans on representing the interests of all New Yorkers. In cities like New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, guns are a problem, not something that is used for leisure. Gillibrand will need to understand that and be prepared to have a much more moderate position on guns going forward.
You can still support gun rights for rural people who use guns only for hunting, but you need to understand that if there is a gun in New York City or Buffalo, chances are the owner of that gun isn't using it to nab a 12-point buck. |
