At this point, pigmies living in the forests of central Africa have probably heard about the sad case of Oscar Pistorius. For this blogger, I think there are more important lessons to be learnt from this allegation of premeditated murder — other than just going about the possible downfall of such a prodigy.

Read the full story of Oscar Pistorius on CNN here

The old Yoruba saying goes that:

Éyin ti ájà bá kọkọ ni, ónilè ẹ lò fi n gè jẹ

Roughly translated, the saying means that the first set of teeth grown by the guard dog usually ends up being used to bite members of its owner’s household. This saying seems particularly well suited to the role of guns in society today. As a person who is still considering whether to own a handgun at home or not some time in the future, while living in America during this era of intense gun ownership debate, I am keenly aware of several pros and cons that have been put forward by many regarding gun ownership.

This Yoruba saying and the story of Oscar Pistorius adds one more factor to be considered, using the wisdom of Yoruba ancestors. It almost sounds like the ancestors had the issue of hand guns in mind when the saying was first used. Oscar Pistorius most likely had not premeditated the murder of his girlfriend when he bought the handgun. If anything, those that know anything about South Africa and the insecurity from armed robberies in that society will be almost certain that the gun was probably purchased as a sort of guard dog. Just another security item alongside the 12 feet tall barbed wire electric fence and the armed guards in the neighborhood.

If anything at all, I sympathize with Oscar Pistorius up to the point he purchased the hand gun and took it home. My guess is that he bought some sort of semi automatic 9mm pistol. The type of weapon I have considered keeping at home. At this point in time, Mr. Pistorius is probably wishing he had heeded the Yoruba saying. Wishing he could foretell the fact that the guard dog he had bought was only going to bite his valentine’s date.

The correct issue to be focused on in the case of Oscar Pistorius, is the role of pistols and other type of guns in the home. This Yoruba saying was just as relevant in the all too recent New Town Connecticut shootings.  As there also, a gun owner had also felt the first brunt of the guns bite. I for one, a gun lover as I might be, I am thinking more of the Yoruba saying about éyin ti ájà ba kọkọ ni. I will be thinking about it if I ever get a gun to keep at home.

I think the right issue to focus on in this whole mess is the state of insecurity in South Africa, and the additional safety that can be put in place for gun owners — such as required training for all home gun owners. Maybe if Oscar had followed standard police procedure this particular incident would not have happened — assuming of course he was innocent. Sadly, he’s only witness is a gun, which like the dog from the Yoruba saying will most likely not speak in his defense.