Survivor Stories: Jennifer Longdon

The United States has an epidemic of gun violence.  Each year, more than 30,000 people are killed by firearms.  More than half of those are the result of firearm related suicides.  Discussions about gun control often center on reducing the numbers of firearm related deaths.  Lost in that discussion, however, is that many people have had their lives irrevocably altered by firearms.  They may not have died, but they have been affected by the gun violence in the US.  Here is the story of one such survivor, Jennifer Longdon:

In 2004, Longdon, 54, and her then-fiancé, David, were in the parking lot of a local taco shop near their home in Phoenix, when they were sideswiped by a pickup truck. Someone inside the truck opened fire. The assailant was never found and no motive has been established.

As we pulled into that parking lot, we’re still in that “best-vacation-ever, we’re-getting-married” romantic bliss. Life couldn’t have been any more perfect in that moment. And then there was this really loud sound.

The irony was that we were armed, but David didn’t have the opportunity to fire. And he’s a four-time world champion in tae kwon do, a fifth-degree black belt. There is not a human being with faster reflexes.

That’s the most arrogant fallacy the gun lobby perpetuates: Maybe you’re armed, but you’re not ready to be shot at, and it’s that split second that makes all the difference. People don’t realize, even if they’re carrying, just how unprepared they are if they’re ambushed and shot in a public place.

I own a handgun, and a hunting rifle — legacy guns from my family — and I own a Glock .45. I’m going to be first in line to protest when we start doing gun grabs, but there need to be universal background checks. It’s reasonable and prudent to know who is owning the firearms. Certain machines don’t belong in civilian hands. AK-47s were designed to kill, to sweep streets in military conflict — I don’t think that belongs in the hands of civilians. We prevent tyranny at the ballot box, not at muzzle point.

(the story of Jennifer Longdon is part of a series entitled America’s Gun Violence Epidemic by Rolling Stone)

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I’ve been involved in many gun control discussions.  Every single time, at least one gundamentalist (a term I coined to describe those people who revere guns and the 2nd Amendment to such a degree that they are reminiscent of religious fundamentalists) points out the necessity of guns for protection, whether for oneself or one’s family.  Often, this person describes the need of individuals to be safe, and that their feelings of safety trump the needs of society to live without the fear of gun violence. Gundamentalists appear immune to the statistics that show that owning a gun in the home increases the risk of firearm related deaths of those who live in the home. When describing hypothetical situations where the need for a gun would arise, they often act as if they’ll be cool, calm, and collected…able to make the perfect shot, as if real life is anything like a movie.  This same attitude is present in 2nd Amendment loons in the media. Often, you’ll hear Right Wing politicians talk about the need for a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun. They act as if the presence of the right gun owner will be sufficient to stop the wrong gun owner. Unfortunately, as seen in Longdon’s story, merely having a gun is insufficient protection if you’re ambushed and caught unaware.  If the bad guy with a gun gets the drop on you, having a gun isn’t going to afford much protection.  Sadly, in this country, many gun owners have a false sense of security when carrying their weapons, as well as an inflated sense of their abilities.

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Survivor Stories: Jennifer Longdon
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