In a strict analysis, if a gun was left, unattended, unloaded, and locked away, no that gun particular gun would be highly unlikely to directly result in the death of another. But guns, as we all know, are the carpool lane of convenience in terms of homicide. Yes, a person can in theory kill multiple victims in a stabbing, and in some cases, this has happened. But to ignore the ease and efficiency with which a gun dispatches a life if to be completely obtuse at best, entirely misanthropic at worst..
In this country, we have been subjected to an array of gun violence that has hit every facet of life, and every background. When two high-schoolers massacred classmates and faculty in 1999, one might have thought that the country would get a grip and follow Australia's lead in removing guns from our grasp. We failed to do so. Since that time, restaurants, malls, schools, houses of worship, apartments, amusement parks, concert venues, anything you can think of has been affected by gun violence.
Oh I forgot one-movie theaters. Yes, the all-American tradition of loading up the car and bringing a date, or family for a night out of harmless fun has become in recent years, quite dangerous. But there are solutions. In fact, I had an enlightening conversation with a male ex-neighbor I can only refer to as a "gun enthusiast" as for how to handle the movie danger specifically.
First off I am informed, if movie theaters make a move to search bags, or install metal detectors "he will no longer patronize their business." He has long since vowed to not patronize any business that denies his right to carry. This means that this man, in his infinite wisdom, has decided that he has the right to sit down next to you at the burger joint armed to the teeth.
Secondly, there is an easy solution to a madman in the theater-good guys with guns. For instance, say a James Holmes comes into your theater with an intent to do lethal harm. All we need is for several good guys with guns to take him down-simple. Third this is all a giant missed point, after all a gazillion welfare blacks kill each other every day in Chicago with guns. Finally, whatever remedies we come up with, the government should be left out of it because they screw up everything.
Graced with this wisdom, I did have the audacity to offer him a few counters. First off, I said if the theaters check for weapons, nobody will have one and you will not "need" yours. Second, I pointed out that a move theater is a dark place, and in the event a gunshot rang out, in his world, a dozen or so good guys would open fire on the suspect-er, wait, in a dark room, with 13 possible shooters, who will know how to shoot at who? Hmm. Third while it is sadly true that there are episodes of African American violence (along with every other race, of course) on a nearly daily basis, I pointed out that in all my years, I have yet to hear of a drive-by knife throw.
Fourth, I said that before you castigate the government, being the strict Constitutional constructionist you are, you should know that ONLY the government can intervene, because "well-regulated" was not an option, it was a condition or self-armament.
None of this went over well. More recycled talking points spewed, and the conversation soon ended.
But how many guys like this do we know? Middle-aged, a sports car or motorcycle, sadly usually some form of youth coach, these guys are overgrown children looking for something, anything that will give them a sense of power. The right-wing sells this well, rather than give people economic empowerment, they promote the basest, most narcissistic form of empowerment-wielding weapons.
Fueled by a John Wayne society that takes his films far too literally, they pine for a return to the days of the old west where cops could be cops, and cut the messy judicial system out of the process. Often, but not always, addicted to violent video games, they create youtube channels called Raging Rob and freeradiorevolution, designed to cultivate anger and foment distrust of government. In the former's case, he and his ilk engaged in conspiratorial chatter and talk of false flags, with the most recent case in Virginia.
These people are what happens when you combine a weak educational system, with a weak mind, and mix in the shallow boost to ego swinging a gun around brings them. This isn't about gun rights or freedom-this is about the epidemic of low emotional IQ sweeping the nation encouraging men like these to act in prehistoric fashion. Be it women, gays, immigrants, or minorities, they always have something to blame, someone to critique, someone to target.
Not maturing past the point of being able to discern tears of grief from tears of joy, they hang on to their phallic manboy fantasies of being a hero, or a freedom fighter, or a patriot.
In fact, social media is a breeding ground for this. Strewn with pages called The Resistance, and Eagle Rising, and Patriot Revolution, a whole group of narcissistic would be militiamen seek to "take their country back" one bullet at a time. The stochastic terrorism engendered by the likes of Limbaugh, and Fox, and Beck has come to harvest in the form of a poisonous mix of misdirected rage, and pretty much any "ism" you can think of.
So where does this leave us? A typical politician speaks in cliches, about both sides of the aisle, about bipartisanship. But you see this is a war. This is a war to protect ourselves and our families. While the enemy is using weapons, we are using rhetoric. It isn't enough.
I never met Adam Ward or Alison Parker, but I have known many dedicated professionals like them-like many of you. Never thinking for a second that a simple feel good community fluff piece would be their last moments alive, they went about their business, as we each do everyday, looking forward to a nice lunch, or a quiet stroll with a loved one, or maybe soothing bath. But no-a maniac with breezy access to weapons of destruction ended all of those dreams of simple pleasures.
And what do we have, as Democrats, as Americans, and most importantly, as humans? We have words. We have gutless, spineless politicians who won't stand up to the lobbies, the conspiracy nutcases, the demagogues. We have lip service. For me the next election is about many things, but along with the economy, the right to fucking go to the store and come back with only my Swiss cheese having holes in it is at the top of the list.
I am tired of the excuses, the pandering, the lobbying-we fucking buried over 20 children in CT. and our response was pathetic. "If only the teachers were armed," we were told. The fuck?
If someone wants to kill multiple people, they will find a way we are told. This is a lie-how many methods other than a gun or incendiary device can one use to exterminate a group of children? A theater full of moviegoers? Sure the perpetrator might stab ONE unlucky patron, maybe even two or three. But he is simply not going to be able to within seconds, end the lives of dozens using a sword.
But after years of soul crushing, gut wrenching, heartbreaking violence, the time has come to end the careers of cowardly politicians with our votes.
And no, their animal mascot label won't buy them political loyalty from me.
My loyalty is to the welfare of our countrymen.
What is yours to?