NEWS BLOG (WSAU)   Carolyn Bronston, a private citizen, has written an incredible letter to Wausau Daily Herald.

She writes in support of stricter gun control. She says, "a gun is a land mine. It explodes when exposed to agitation." http://tinyurl.com/9wtaqef

She goes on to write about any number of situations when someone who has a gun might become agitated, from parking lot disputes, to domestic violence, to where someone's machismo is threatened. She writes, " When any one land mine will be agitated is unpredictable. The more land mines there are around, the more likely you’ll be hurt by one." She offers the "solution" of minimizing the quantity and firepower of guns, additional gun licensing, and strict penalties when someone's "land mine" is lost or stolen.

This is how much hyperbole there is surrounding the debate over guns. Of course, Ms. Bronston neglects to tell us that gun rights are enshrined in our Constitution. That alone makes them different. Our Founding Fathers specifically allotted for an armed citizenry. If someone wishes to advance the argument that guns are so dangerous that they are likened to land mines, they should advocate repealing the Second Amendment. That's too heavy a load for them to carry.

Truth is, a gun is nothing like a land mine. The former operates with active intent -- a thinking, sentient being must pull the trigger. The latter sits passively, buried under the earth and out of view, until some poor someone comes along and steps on it.

My thinking is that a gun is more like your kitchen stove than a land mine. When used properly, it's entirely practical and functional. The stove cooks food for you to eat. The gun can be used for hunting, personal protection, or military combat. When misused, they are both incredibly destructive. The gun can take innocent life. The stove can start a fire that burns your house down. In the proper hands and with proper training, neither should be feared.

Chris Conley
3/12/13