By Bob Witzler
In today’s deeply divided America, guns and gun safety consistently appear close to the top of the list of issues that separate us.
As a veteran and hunter, I’ve often pondered the root of this division and how it has evolved seemingly over just a few generations. While my experiences are unique, I do worry about a broader cultural acceptance that has occurred, which may contribute to many headline-grabbing issues regarding firearms.
Family Traditions
We are all a product of our life experiences viewed through the lens of a unique personality.
I grew up in a gun-owning family, which shaped my actions and attitudes regarding guns and gun ownership, but I understand that this is my life experience alone and not necessarily the societal norm.
Others have had their own experiences and formed their own perspectives, which I fully embrace and welcome. Respecting the views, values, and traditions of our friends and neighbors regardless of how closely they align with our own is what makes us Americans.
That we all don’t agree is not what keeps me up at night. What concerns me is that despite the division among adults, many of our youth may be receiving the wrong kind of firearms experiences right under our noses, often with our implicit, if not explicit, authorization as parents.
Because it’s important to my point, not because I’m trying to influence how you feel about guns, let me provide some background on my own experiences.
My firearm safety education came from various sources: my father, youth training at local civic organizations, a high school-sanctioned shooting team, and other experiences that prepared me for responsible adult gun ownership. Paired with my father’s love of hunting, this led to preparation for harvesting wild animals in the sport of hunting.
The Weight of Responsibility
Those who have made the transition from controlled range shooting to hunting may find my experiences familiar. But I write primarily for those who haven’t had the same opportunities to offer a window into them.
My next point is a touchy subject, but an important one to address when exploring the gravity of responsible gun ownership. Taking an animal’s life has always evoked a profound sense of responsibility for me. It’s a feeling that is closely bordered on each side by sadness and respect. It makes the act of the harvest one that requires measured, deliberate intention. In a completely unjustified way, my personal experience is that the larger the animal harvested, the deeper this emotional connection becomes.
I cannot explain that, nor why the emotion does not fade completely with time or experience. Perhaps this explains why seasoned hunters are equally committed to their sport and to wildlife conservation, habitat preservation, and environmental protection.
A Generational Shift
As I raised my five children and now watch my six grandchildren grow, I’ve developed an unfortunate hypothesis. What if the emotion, connection, and responsibility I felt about taking an animal’s life were, in some small way, enabled by the training and preparation I received? What if I hadn’t been given those opportunities? Would my experience be the same? Would I feel the same gravity from my decisions?
During my children’s upbringing, we witnessed a landslide of technological advancements. Video games evolved from simple, two-dimensional experiences to deeply immersive simulations. Today, children can don virtual reality headsets that drop them into sensory-rich experiences with startlingly realistic weapons.
The Gaming Dilemma
While these games may seem harmless, some even removing graphic violence to maintain kid-friendly ratings, we must ask ourselves: are they appropriate for all ages?
Reflecting on my own experience, I can’t imagine my father handing over a machine gun and waving us off into a field, saying, “Go see what she can do.”
Even worse, I shudder to think of training children with lifelike human targets and realistic battlefield effects in these highly immersive weapons simulations.
When I read about young individuals capable of committing acts of mass murder with little regard for human life, it’s impossible for me not to consider the role of gaming technology. While my children also received training to be responsible adult gun owners, they developed an affinity for modern gaming technology.
As parents, we controlled access when we felt it wasn’t age-appropriate, but the increasing ubiquity of these games makes access easier than ever.
A Veteran’s Perspective
As a veteran, I can assure you that combat was nothing like hunting or a video game for me. While maintaining a clear head in combat may get you through the moment, it doesn’t insulate you from the weight of taking a life, whether you are directly responsible or not. If you witness it, you eventually feel it.
I wonder how my experience and emotions would have differed with early exposure to gaming violence at a stage of development where my brain and body weren’t ready to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Would I have been prepared to make the hard decisions necessary to leave combat with my morals intact? I also wonder if the same could be true for our youth population when violent gaming is normalized as play and entertainment by our society.
One Simple Question
My purpose is not to change your mind about gun ownership. To those who support firearm restrictions, I respect your opinions, fought to defend your right to express them, and would willingly do it again. To gun owners, I urge you to store your firearms safely, respect the traditions your families have passed down, and lead as a role model for responsible ownership.
My purpose boils down to just one simple question: Would you hand your child a machine gun and wave them into a field filled with human targets to experience firearms by themselves?
Whether we support guns or not, I think we might be able to agree that we have a responsibility to be more involved than that. As we navigate these complex issues, I hope we can remember the importance of responsible parenting and education, emotional connection, and the importance of feeling the weight of our actions.
Maybe then we can address this divide by respectfully acknowledging it and creating a safer, more understanding society for all.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Bob Witzler is a retired Black Hawk helicopter pilot and a business development consultant for the military and private corporations. He is also one heck of a good sailor!