Mr. Tracy Mayhew

Communication is vital when conducting specific research on subject matter experts. In this case, I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Tracy Mayhew (USAF SGT Retired). Listening and transposing our conversation accurately, directly correlates with effective communication.

Gun Control Through the Eyes of a Professional

 

           Gun control is a very controversial topic where numerous resources can be found to advocate for both perspectives. One of the best things about such a controversial topic is just that. Gathering information is not only easy because of the abundance but since opposing viewpoints are so large it makes it easier to write about the topic completely. However the problem with so many resources is many time information gathered is not accurate and highly opinionated.  This focal piece on Tracy Mayhew highlights some very specifics thoughts, ideas, and facts from a certified creditable source. 

Many people pushing for stricter gun control laws forget that it is a constitutional right to bear arms. Theoretical speaking, no one should have “have permission” to own a gun. Tracy Mayhew has been around weapons his entire life. He was born and raised in North Carolina where he grew up hunting and fishing. As a young man Mr. Mayhew enlisted into the United States Airforce he went on to become a very skilled marksman and many times out shot his fellow airmen to win achievements and awards.

Following Mr. Mayhew’s career in the United States Air Force he began to shoot competitively. He continued on winning multiple awards for his marksmanship capabilities. His love for guns combined with his post Air force career of teaching Soldiers led him to become a firearms instructor. Mr. Mayhew is a certified National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor and his course meets the education requirement for someone to obtain their conceal carry permit. Not only is Tracy Mayhew certified to teach the course in North Carolina but also in Virginia and Tennessee.

He currently resides in Virginia which is what led him to get is certification here, but he first got it in North Carolina. His daughter and twin grandchildren live in Tennessee which prompted him to obtain is certification there since he frequents Tennessee to visit his family. He now can not only see family as he travels but also engage in is passion for guns and teaching but conducting the NRA firearm safety class.

“Adam Winkler, a professor of constitutional law at UCLA, documents the actual history in Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America. Guns were regulated in the U.S. from the earliest years of the Republic. Laws that banned the carrying of concealed weapons were passed in Kentucky and Louisiana in 1813. Other states soon followed: Indiana in 1820, Tennessee and Virginia in 1838, Alabama in 1839 and Ohio in 1859. Similar laws were passed in Texas, Florida and Oklahoma. As the governor of Texas (Texas!) explained in 1893, the "mission of the concealed deadly weapon is murder. To check it is the duty of every self-respecting, law-abiding man."(Zakaira, 2012)

            Mr. Mayhew states:

“It is everyone’s constitutional right to own and carry weapons. Why do I need permission from someone to own a carry a gun when the constitution authorizes me to do so. Yes, I agree with background checks and that everyone should be properly trained but the government has no authority to try and take or ban my guns.”

Mr. Mayhew feels especially since he fought for the constitutional freedoms we enjoy today that he should be allowed to own and carry weapons along with all legal American citizens.  Mr. Mayhew says “The biggest issue with gun control is education of laws and rights. Many citizens who don’t conceal carry for example do not know the laws and therefore assume everyone is wrong.” Many people are not raised around guns and do not know how to handle them. For this reason; Mr. Mayhew actually requires his students to go to the range and shoot before he will certify them as completing his course. This requirement is above and beyond what the NRA and the states require for weapon training.

Mr. Mayhew says we not only have to empower the citizens of our great country but that also means we must educate them as well.  I read that “Families were being notified one by one. And I could hear them screaming in the other room.— Representative Elizabeth Esty” (Zornick, 2014) regarding tragedy at Newtown to Mr. Mayhew. He said” This is exactly what is wrong with the media and political viewpoints on gun control. This statement is only to pull at the heartstrings of the American Public with the intent to get them to view guns as being bad rather than the person behind the trigger.”

When I asked Tracy what were the best way to implement gun control and safety laws he paused for what seemed like forever. He stated “There will never be a law or measure they will prevent someone from doing the unthinkable and hurting someone. However, does the government try to take away everyone’s two ton vehicle every time someone commits vehicular homicide or do they ban alcohol when someone kills someone from drinking and driving?” As I paused trying to determine if he was asking me or in thought he continued on.

“The way to properly implement gun control starts at home. The parents must teach children what not to do when it comes to guns and that will eliminate reduce the accidents. The second part is what seems to be hard for everyone to grasp. If a malicious person has intent to shoot up a venue that intent will be highly refuted it he or she knows that citizens are carrying weapons and know how to properly use them. Would you go into a school to shoot it up if you knew all the teachers had guns; I wouldn’t. This puts a huge responsibility onto teachers to maintain their weapons and they would have to be trained. It also ties into my first point of parents teaching their kids about guns.”

This particular he used, I feel; also would stop the abuse that many teachers receive from students as in the case where the elderly man was slammed to the ground because the young got his cell phone taken away. In the end, gun control is everyone’s responsibility and we must work together to get it accomplished. It is not a catch all that our nation’s leaders try to incorporate it into. 

            There are many sayings and slogans that people on both sides of gun control love to throw around. As you make your decision and determine your standpoint on gun control I will leave everyone with the final words from Mr. Mayhew that he stated during our interview. “Everyone always says “Guns don’t kill people, people do” but, guns don’t raise children to become productive citizens, people do.”

 

                                                References

Mayhew, Tracy (November 17, 2015). Gun Control Issues. Interview by T. Dorsey.

Zakaria, F. (2012, August 20). The Case for Gun Control - TIME. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2121660,00.html

Zornick, G. (2014, October 6). Ashford University Library. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxylibrary.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=3707c891-1305-43a5-81f4-b1e534988613%40sessionmgr120&vid=2&hid=104