Claudius Ptolemy was a mathematician and astronomer (among other things), and is a significant reason that the Catholic Church believed (and enforced the belief) that the earth was the center of the universe. To make this concept work, Ptolemy described a series of nested spheres in the universe. Ptolemy created a system of celestial mechanics that governed the motions of the sun, moon, planets and stars.
Problem is, this view of the universe was incorrect. No amount of mathematical pretzels or astronomical chicanery can ‘fix’ the fact that – not only is the earth NOT the center of the universe – the earth, sun, other planets are rotating around the Milky Way, which in turn is moving at about 130 miles per second towards the Andromeda Galaxy. Sad for those on the earth in, say, 5 billion years or so.
Galileo posited the idea that no, the earth circles the sun, not vice versa (“heliocentrism”). Boy, did that land him in hot water with the Holy See. He was convicted in 1633 of “a strong suspicion of heresy”.
Finally in 1822, the College of Cardinals basically said that, well, yeah, maybe the Earth actually revolves around the sun. And left it at that until 1835 when Galileo’s “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” (that heliocentric idea) was removed from the Vatican’s list of banned books.
And then ultimately, in 1992 the Vatican formally and publicly cleared Galileo of any wrongdoing.
As a matter of fact, by 1835 it was obvious to anyone that paid attention, that the earth was not the center of the universe, Catholic dictums notwithstanding.
Why am I saying all this?
Because guns. AR-15s. Other assault rifles. Bump stocks. No regulations. Private seller loopholes. The gymnastics, the pretzels, the backflips, the rank stupidity exhibited by, well, most of the conservatives who are beholden to the NRA and the rabid right-wing base.
All this reminds me of the stuff the Church had to do to prop up the ridiculous idea that the earth was the center of the universe.
Once you get past the thoughts and prayers, you get the Ted Cruz types suggesting there should be one door to schools, and there should be armed guards, and the teachers should be carrying heat. (BTW, what do you call a school with one door? “A fire trap.”) Not suggesting “guns are the problem” is tantamount to saying “the earth is the center of the universe”.
It's not guns, it’s mental health issues. (This being said after Texas gutted the budget for mental health programs, go figure.)
It’s not guns, it’s [FILL IN THE BLANK].
No, it’s guns. Every other nation on earth (the one circling the sun), once there was a mass murder event, created and passed gun legislation to stop the carnage. And it worked. Every nation except the USA. No, we’re still busy trying to force people to believe the sun revolves around the earth.
