I wrote a diary yesterday about guns. Guns on college campuses and guns in our national parks. The results were, in my perception, disappointing and frightening especially since the comments came from a "progressive" blogosphere.
My diary generated, with my responses, 218 comments. Not bad as these things go. But there were only 7 recs. OK. I'm a big boy and don't need the mojo to survive. What was most surprising was the number of responses that favored guns on campus and guns in national parks. The writers trotted out every cliche about guns and the second amendment that had ever been written. This response made my angst even more profound.
The most vitriol came from someone who said he/she was all about the Constitution and individual rights. Sadly, this person was not aware of the Supreme Court interpretations of the second Amendment that called for a "Well regulated Militia". The readings of the court say that it is OK to have private firearms, and when the country needs you, you will be called upon to defend the Republic. Indeed, the Congress created the National Guard to serve as that "well regulated militia". I know. I was a member of the guard. I served proudly and helped citizens to keep from killing each other with out of control guns. Is anybody still listening?
It became clear to my tired old brain that guns and violence have been so laminated into every layer of our American culture that even compassion and reason cannot extricate it for the sake of preserving life. Pro-lifers rail on about abortion, but support guns in every corner of our society. Maybe a new title needs to be applied to these folks... something like: PRO-LIFE, when it suits us.
So, here we go. Here we go marching into the second tenth of the 21st century with a Glock strapped to one hip and our ever-loving cell phone to the other. I guess we need to call somebody the second we shoot somebody as we search for ways to justify our homicidal ways.
I know I'll get crap for this diary, but I'm old enough and experienced enough to roll with it. My point is that if we continue to worship guns as an instrument of social structure and control in this country, we are looking into the abyss of our own demise. How can we condone a happy life for our children when all we do is prepare for death in the name of security and our Constitutional rights?
I'm done with this.