Guns in the library – a misfire

AL
RUDNITZKI

Are we really going to allow firearms in the library where our children go for Story Time, to study and do projects? Do guns in the library align with our conservative values? Hunting with friends or older children might be a family value, but morphing that into guns in the library doesn’t make any more sense than guns at work, guns in the hospital or guns in church. Where does this gun mania end?
What is the danger we face in the library? Do we plan to draw down on teens talking above a whisper? Are we standing guard over the late fees?
I don’t hate firearms. Actually, I enjoy them. During my ROTC days, I was a member of the Rifle Club. I find firearms interesting. Many are a beautiful display of visual and mechanical craftsmanship. They beg us to handle them and test our skill.
Many of my friends are gun collectors and/or hunters. They are solid citizens with families and responsible jobs. Some are community leaders. They enjoy displaying and firing their collections, but they also understand the destructive power and safety issues associated with firearms. Almost all of them are sticklers for firearm safety. They know there are places for guns and there are places where weapons don’t belong.
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” I’m good with that. But don’t we teach our children that with rights come responsibilities? Is it responsible to brandish weapons in our library? Just because we can do something doesn’t necessarily mean we should do it.
Members of our community are losing their homes. Many are without jobs and health insurance. Our schools are struggling to maintain valuable programs, yet we are expending our energy and political capital on guns in the library? Is that our priority? Is this what leadership in West Bend has come to?
We are attempting to attract industries to our city. We are competing with every other municipality in the country, and who knows how many venues outside of the U.S. Growth businesses have their pick of sites. Every community knows that these businesses will be investing millions of dollars. Consequently, cities are putting their best foot forward. They know that any black mark can drop them from consideration. So what kind of message does guns in our library send to these potential employers? Does it say, “Great place to live and work?” Or does it say, “What the heck is going on there?”
I hope we haven’t removed solidly qualified people from the Library Board, and replaced them with less able members simply because of their interpretation of the Second Amendment. Who would have thought it would come to this – Library Board members appointed because of their stand on guns? Do we choose our doctor, plumber or mechanic based on their Second Amendment ideology? Why would we choose our Library Board based on it? We need to decide if we want to make our library the best it can be or the best armed it can be.
How do we want to be viewed? Do we want to be known as Wild, Wild, West Bend? Or do we want to be seen as we have been for decades, as a community with solid values and a promising future; a community, with enviable schools and beautiful parks; a great place to raise a family?
Do you think this is what Alyce and Elmore Kraemer had in mind when they made their $5 million dollar gift for the library expansion? What do you suppose the past leaders of our community would be saying? Would they be proud of us? Would they say that we are honoring their sacrifices by building on what they started? Or would they say, “What are you thinking?”
I imagine I will be shouted down for my plea to keep guns in perspective and enjoy them in their proper place. And unless more good citizens come forward and object, I will probably lose this appeal for sanity. But isn’t it time for other reasonable community voices to step up and say, “I’m OK with changes that make West Bend a better place, but this isn’t one of them … no guns in the library. Instead, let’s use our energy to help people find jobs, keep their homes and afford insurance. And let’s make sure that today’s students are getting the same solid education their older brothers and sisters got. Let’s move West Bend forward, and let’s start with no guns in the library. It’s the wrong priority. It’s a step in the wrong direction.”
(Al Rudnitzki is a retired Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance manager, past educator and resident of the town of West Bend.)