In a recent Facebook post, Roseanne Cash talked to her followers and ‘likers’ about her views on the Second Amendment. She has the courage to stand up to them in a surprisingly cool fashion even though they had some pretty negative comments.

She goes on to talk about her personal experience with guns and the reasons for her beliefs, outlining her work for PAX and how her own daughter’s life was threatened at gunpoint.

“Several years later, my precious daughter, Chelsea, was held up at gunpoint in the jewelry store where she worked. The gunmen held her for twenty minutes. I’m so grateful she was not killed and I’m also so acutely aware that the difference between me and the moms carrying the photos on the march is a split second. Do NOT tell me that Chelsea ‘should have had a gun.’ If she had, she’d be dead. She is not physically or mentally able to coolly aim a gun at someone who is already pointing a gun at HER, and fire sharp-shooter style at another human being while terror-stricken. Nor am I. Nor are millions of other people.

The logic that ‘if more law-abiding citizens had guns, there would be fewer mass shootings’ is confounding to the point of nihilism. What’s the end game? Every first grade teacher should have a gun in her desk to prevent another massacre like Newtown? Every pastor in his pulpit? Every movie-goer, mall shopper, night club patron and mom pushing a stroller, until we are reduced to anarchy and violence in every social venue of this country?”

Roseanne makes a great point here, and continues on with her logical thinking.

“If you can make a compelling argument why we have laws requiring safety locks on medicines to protect children, but no law requiring a safety lock on a gun, I’d like to hear it. If you can make a compelling argument why a mentally disturbed youth should be able to easily stockpile military-grade weapons because of loopholes in the law and no background checks, please– go ahead. I’d like to hear an articulate and reasoned logic behind that thought.

The Constitution is a living document– if it hadn’t changed since its inception, I personally would not be allowed to vote. The language ‘well-regulated militia’ doesn’t equal ‘mentally ill person with stockpile of automatic weapons’ in my interpretation, but if you believe the amendment extends to that, then I believe Congress needs to amend the amendment, as it has done before in other cases.”

Roseanne linked an article in her essay that was posted by another user. The essay outlines the ideas behind gun control (control NOT elimination, fellas. This has nothing to do with your hunting.) and the ways that the sales of firearms could be constructed in a way that would benefit all parties. The author, Chris Henson, says,

“So, here’s what I think in a nutshell:

1. I think it should be much harder to own a firearm, whether a purchase, gift or inheritance.

2. There should be a permanent national registry of every firearm in the country. Just like there is for cars.

3. There should be far deeper background checks before anyone purchases a firearm, and these background checks should be kept on file. Anyone wanting to purchase a firearm should forfeit any privacy regarding diagnosis and treatment of any mental illness, history of domestic or workplace violence, etc.

4. There should be stricter limits on the type and capacity of firearms an individual can possess.

5. There should be stricter limitations on open and concealed carrying of firearms.

6. Everyone who owns a firearm should be licensed to do so, just like car ownership is. That license should require training and a qualifying exam.

7. Basically, potential gun owners should have to prove they are not dangerous to themselves or others before they are allowed to purchase a gun. Not the other way around.

8. There should be a single, robust federal agency dedicated to guns, gun sales, and gun safety. They shouldn’t have to spend their time worrying about tobacco or alcohol.”

Chris also talks about the reasons for which these rules need to be enforced and he talks about America’s traditions and the progression of the country. (Or lack thereof.)

“Maybe we Americans need to get a better grip on what exactly our “traditions” are. We have a tradition of marginalizing non-white people. We have a tradition of ignoring facts. We have a tradition of trying desperately not to offend the most offensive people in our culture. We have a tradition of celebrating white losers and demonizing black leaders. We have a tradition of making excuses for hatred.

We are a nation that “prays for the victims” over and over and over and over again, and then conveniently ignores everything that made them victims in the first place. We fight guns with more guns. Drugs with more drugs. Racism with more racism. We fight poor schools by taking money away from them. We fight poverty by screwing the impoverished. We fight inequality by reminding people that equality isn’t for most people.”

Chris made a lot of really good points, so you should really read his essay. The worst it could do is make sense, and, believe me, it does.

Roseanne isn’t the only musician who has spoken up about gun laws and gun control. After Columbine, Marilyn Manson was the target of media accusation; they maintained the idea that the kids listened to Marilyn Manson, so his music must have lead to their actions.

It’s not the accusations against Manson I want to bring light to, but his comments about gun control and fear. The idea that Manson was blamed for the crimes is another argument for a different day, but he does make some really good points.