MADER'S RANTSGun Control
April 23, 2004 -
Lots happening this week. Bob Woodward released a book stating Bush planned the war with Iraq after 911 - “Gasp.” The 14-billion dollar porn industry went into a self imposed, two month hiatus after an actor was diagnosed with AIDS. Finally, this week is the anniversary of Columbine.
I don’t give a flying fig about scandals in the White House right now. Porn and gun control are two topics close to my heart, though. I could talk porn all day. So lets stick with the shorter topic of the two.
For those that don’t remember what happened five years ago - in 1999, two boys that had repeatedly been abused by their classmates, without attracting attention from their parents or local police, assembled a small arsenal of explosives and firearms. They then, on April 20th, walked into their school early in the morning and proceeded to shoot 13 of their fellow classmates and one teacher.
A lot has been said about this event. Some of it rational, and some of it not. My personal favorite was when Jessie Jackson, on a Sunday morning news show, claimed it was all the fault of the Republicans. Give Jess credit, while he’s been a poor substitute for Martin Luther King, he does a fair impersonation of a carnival barker. It’s sad when one with such potential reduces himself to little more than a second rate circus act.
The events that occurred are a tragedy and the people that used them to their own ends where even more so. What I don’t understand is the argument that it’s the guns fault.
A gun is:
Main Entry: [1]gun
Pronunciation: 'g&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English gonne, gunne
Date: 14th century
1 a : a piece of ordnance usually with high muzzle velocity and comparatively flat trajectory b : a portable firearm (as a rifle or handgun) c : a device that throws a projectile
© 2001 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
At no point in the definition is a gun given emotional qualities. It doesn’t walk, talk, eat, sleep or shit. It’s nothing but a machine. A lump of wood and steel and plastic.
Until someone touches it.
It really could be anything, from a doorstop to a paperweight or an oddly shaped sex toy. It’s when a person picks it up and defines a use for it that the gun takes on a role.
I’m leery of people who scream that guns are evil every time a tragedy occurs. It’s convenient and in many ways childish. I know people that have an irrational fear of firearms. When they see one they get sweaty and nervous.
These are the people that would throw out a priceless antique, after cursing it of course, because they stubbed their toe on it. Never mind the fact the furniture had sat alone and unoffending for years until someone walked into it. They stubbed their toe. It must be satanically possessed. Burn it!!!.
Bob, where’s the couch?
That fucker broke my toe, man! I knew it had it in for me! The bastard! Watch out for the ottoman. It looked at me funny yesterday. I’m writing Congress to get them outlawed.
Bob, you’re paranoid.
I’m not! I’m not! Did you just hear something from the Lay-Z-Boy? Quick! Call Father Merrin.
On the other hand…
A lot of blame does fall to the gun manufacturers. Not for producing the guns, but for showing a total lack of discretion for what they make for public consumption. When they make an assault rifle for the military, they already make a hefty profit. Do they really need to release a civilian version?
There are only two possible explanations for this;
1. Profit: The mark up for firearms for private use is huge.
2. Fear: If you’re concerned that anti-gun nuts will outlaw revolvers, sell grenade launchers. Then they will ignore the revolver. Anti-gun people are simple that way (as are anti-furniture people).
No one that knows guns would call a Mac 10, Uzi or the “civi” version of the M16 a good gun. They are poorly constructed and cost a fortune to load. They are rarely accurate at any range and jam up. They are glitzy, but pretty much shit. They do attract the eye however.
So on one side we have people that can’t take responsibility for their own actions. People who are willing to blame an inanimate object for their lack of parenting skills. Barring that, they blame God. As if he gives a rats ass.
On the other? An industry too stupid to realize that they are making their own problems by their own lack of sophistication on how they deal with the public.
But cheer up. I hear that Jesse Jackson will fix it.
Later,
Mader
