How A Nashville Murder Can Lead To Gun Control

Everyone sees how a mass shooting can lead to calls for gun control. Yes, most of the time the gun control being called for would have done nothing to prevent the mass shooting in question, but when has that actually mattered to an anti-gun politician? What matters is that we can usually see the connection, even anticipate it.

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However, it doesn’t take a mass shooting to result in calls for gun control. All it takes is one murder with a high enough profile to change the opinion of enough people.

Take this example out of Nashville.

If every bullet has a story, the bullet that killed a Nashville musician may speak volumes.

An exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation traced the guns used against Kyle Yorlets – and discovered that both weapons were stolen from unlocked cars.

Critics say the Yorlets case – as well as other murders reviewed by NewsChannel 5 Investigates – reveals a story about a Broken system that lets kids get easy access to guns. Gun rights advocates oppose any effort to force gun owners to be more responsible.

“I’m all for being able to carry a gun, but there are responsibilities that go along with that,” Kyle’s father, Larry Yorlets, told NewsChannel 5 Investigates.

Of course, the “effort to force gun owners to be more responsible” is a measure that actually punishes people who have their guns stolen. It’s a measure that blames the victims of a crime for being a victim.

That said, though, stories like this can gain traction. If enough attention is shed on this, it may be enough to force the issue.

Tennessee has preemption, so Nashville can’t really do anything on its own, but it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine the scenario playing out where the state enforces mandatory storage laws to hold off the negative press.

And why? Because a small handful of people were irresponsible. I’m sorry, but leaving a gun in an unlocked car isn’t just irresponsible, it’s downright idiotic. That handful of people may well make it so the rest of the state has to deal with the fallout from their stupidity.

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And yes, I am victim-blaming to some extent. Sure, the fault lies with the turdnuggets who stole the guns in the first place, but I’m not going to pretend that there’s no responsibility for the turdnugget who left an unsecured firearm in their unlocked car, either.

Folks, don’t do that kind of thing. I get finding yourself needing to leave your gun in the car. I suspect we’ve all been there from time to time. The difference is, the rest of us lock our freaking cars. Look, if you don’t care anything about those guns being used to take innocent life, at least lock the car up so you don’t lose your gun. Those things aren’t exactly cheap.

The problem, though, is that I shouldn’t have to say this. No one should have to say not to leave your weapon in an unlocked car. The fact that some people do it infuriates me to no end.

It’s people like that who end up saddling us with gun control laws.

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