Students’ Anti-Gun Protests-- Much Passion, Little Logic

Encouraged by teachers and outside activists after the Florida tragedy, demonstrators talk long and loud, but their arguments aren't constructive

An ideological crackup between Left and Right has been apparent as thousands of students have marched against guns since 17 people died in the February 14 violence that would awaken passion in even the most cold-blooded.

What it means, however, is seemingly less significant than the symbolism. Educators and politicians who should know better encouraged students to engage in protests. Mayor Bill de Blasio in New York City said public school students would not be punished if they left their desks to participate in the rallies.

Surely press notices and most spokesmen congratulated the students on their public consciousness. Yet for anyone observing this event without an ideological lens, you might ask what was going on. Students were demonstrating against guns, and the NRA was generally the target — but what was the legislative goal, a modification in the Second Amendment?

Guns can kill, but so can knives. A gun in the hands of St. Francis is not a weapon. Therefore, the gun owner is the critical factor in this equation. All parties agree that a person with mental illness should not have a gun. All parties agree that criminals should not be able to obtain guns. Surely on those matters alone consensus can be achieved. But this is not the real issue..

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