- 30 Days follows Pia Lalli an advocates for gun control as she spends a month with gun enthusiasts Ken and Zach Ekermeyer. Initially she is disturbed by their interest in guns, but later views it as an acceptable hobby though she does continue to believe that more must be done to stop gun-related crime.—Shatterdaymorn
- "30 Days" took aim at the issue of gun control, taking a gun control advocate and making her live with a gun-loving family.
Host Morgan Spurlock said almost 60 million Americans own guns, making the country the most armed society on the planet. He said 30,000 people die from gun violence every year, and high-profile tragedies such as 2007's shooting at Virginia Tech University only widen the gap between the gun control advocates and the gun owners.
One one side: Pia Lalli, a 39-year-old hip hop dance aerobics instructor who has taken on gun control as an issue due to gun violence in her neighborhood outside Boston. She insisted that "in this day and age, the only people that need guns are police officers and soldiers." After losing a friend to gun violence, she decided to fight for stricter gun control laws. At her going-away dinner, she said she envisioned Confederate flags outside her host family's house in Leesburg, Ohio, with them drinking moonshine on the porch.
On the other side: Ken Ekermeyer, 39, and his 15-year-old son Zach prepared to host Pia. Ken insisted that the Second Amendment gives him the right to defend himself with firearms. Ken said pretty much everything he and his son do together revolve around gun culture. He hoped to dispel some myths that a gun control advocate might have.
Day 1: Pia said her goal was to see where the other side is coming from so that she could have a firm argument. During her 30 days, Pia had to live under these three rules: she'd have to live with a gun-toting family; she'd have to work at a gun store; and she's get a crash course in gun handling. Upon her arrival, Pia and Ken had a chat that started with Ken asking, "Why don't you like firearms?" She explained the story about her friend getting shot. Ken wasn't having much of it, asking whether Pia has heard many stories about when guns have protected people from crime. Ken showed Pia his gun collection and she admitted that she didn't feel safe with so many guns around the house.
Locked and loaded: Ken showed Pia how to load a gun safely, explaining that it should always be treated as if it's loaded and that accidents won't happen if there's no finger on the trigger. He then offered up the classic "guns don't kill people, people kill people" argument for his position on firearms. Later, Ken and Zach took Pia out to a fun shoot, where several of them at a time lined up to shoot at targets. Pia said they just seemed like they were playing with toys. As she watched them all shooting, Pia realized that everyone she'd met there had grown up around guns.
Off to work: Pia went to her first day at work at a federally licensed gun store, where she was surprised to find out the background check and security systems were orderly. Pia then took a hike with young Zach who said that he was glad to have made his dad proud with his rifle shooting prowess. But he said that he rarely makes his dad proud with anything else because "he's not really interested in anything else I am." Pia said she wanted to open Zach's eyes to other things the world has to offer. Pia agreed to shoot a gun, despite her discomfort even with even hearing the sound of bullets fired. She went skeet shooting with Ken and upon pulling the trigger for the first time, she broke down in tears. Ken didn't understand her reaction and said he was caught off guard because he didn't see it as that dramatic of an experience. Even as Ken explained they were "just shooting pieces of clay," Pia said that every time she heard a gun shot go off, she thought about a child or her friend, "and they don't get it."
Strapped: On Day 7 of her experience, Ken took Pia out on errands and showed her what it's like to carry a concealed weapon, which he has a license to do. She had to carry a bee-bee gun because she doesn't have a permit. Still, she said it felt awkward. Ken insisted that citizens carrying concealed weapons helps keep their communities safe. Spurlock explained that even concealed weapons permit holders must leave their guns behind when they go to places that serve alcohol, federal buildings, and college campuses. The last of those restrictions was tossed into the debate after the Virginia Tech shooting, with some people arguing that an armed student body might have been able to prevent some of the deaths that happened on the shooter's rampage that day. Spurlock talked to some college students in Utah, the only state that allows concealed weapons on campuses. The gun owners said they felt safer with them, but others seemed less comfortable with the situation.
On with the show: Pia spent a day at a gun show, where she was confronted with the idea of private gun sales, which only require the seller to take the name and city of residence from a buyer. Spurlock explained that criminals get their guns on the black market, where 1 million to 3 million guns are bought every year; there are "straw purchases," where criminals pay someone with the legal right to buy a gun to get one for them; and there's what Spurlock called "the tiny number of corrupt gun stores that remarkably end up arming over half of the criminal world."
Pia tried to get Ken to compromise on some kind of gun law that might prevent innocent people from getting caught in crossfires, but Ken said that the only people who would follow those laws would be people like him and his friends. He said the criminals are going to find guns regardless of the laws.
The face of gun violence: Pia took Ken and Zach to meet the families of victims of gun violence, including one woman who talked about her son getting shot in a drive-by shortly after graduating from high school.
Zach goes to college: Pia convinced Zach to take a tour of Ohio State University in Columbus, but Zach said he wasn't particularly interested in school. Zach found out about the university's pistol club and that rifle shooting is a varsity sport. His dad gave him a little pep talk about the importance of higher education.
Sharpshooter? On Day 20, Pia was ready to give guns another shot at a local firing range. She said she could understand why people would become enthusiastic about shooting because it does involve a certain skill. She hit her targets on the mark. Ken praised her for making great strides. Despite her success at the range, Pia still didn't believe guns had a place outside of it, so she went to visit a man who saved his family with his gun. An intruder who had been stalking his family for 15 years, broke into the house and began shooting after having killed four people earlier the same night. The man shot the intruder in the chest and despite the assailant wearing a bullet-proof vest, the shot delayed him enough that the police could come and get him. "It didn't change my opinion of what I need to do for myself, but it definitely made me see that there are real, nice, everyday, average people that have been through these ordeals and, thank God, they were able to defend themselves," Pia said.
Fond farewell: Pia said she got to see people living a totally different lifestyle from hers and being happy living it. Ken said he agreed that criminals shouldn't have guns, and he'd support legislation that could solve that problem without completely restricting him from living his gun lifestyle. And, to prove to Pia that he does have other hobbies, Zach gave her an origami flower.
In retrospect, Pia admitted that she did think Ken was a responsible gun owner, and he said he respected her for taking on the challenge she did.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content