I had already been planning on cartooning the National Rifle Association's ridiculous annual meeting when my nephew's unarmed friend got killed in what is shaping up to be another "Stand Your Ground" case. The circumstances surrounding this shooting may make things a little more difficult for the shooter, who was basically laying in wait to murder someone. The shooter's defense attorney has already said his client is going to use a Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground defense.
Regardless of what the circumstances are in this particular case that happened to strike close to my family, it is perfectly clear that the NRA is stoking the fires of paranoia and fear in order to pass legislation, sell more guns and make more money. All you have to do is listen to the apocalyptic, conspiratorial speech made by the NRA's Wayne LaPierre to get so scared you probably will rush right out and buy a couple AR-15s. (Which were conveniently available at the time of the speech in an adjoining gun showroom that covered nine (9) acres.)
It is baffling to me that members of Congress speak at the NRA's annual gun fest, an orgy of military hardware marketed to civilians, while the head of the gun lobby group essentially trumpets the need for armed revolt. (Join now, buy now!) As a bonus, the NRA held a "Youth Day" last Sunday, which coincidentally was the day my nephew's unarmed 17-year-old friend was killed. Ugh. While you're watching the cartoon, see if you can pick out which lines are direct quotes from Wayne LaPierre, and which are my interpretation.
[soothing, deep, hypnotist's voice]
Listen to the sound of my voice. Nothing else matters.
You have no one. You are alone.
Except for me. And guns.
You are surrounded.
By terrorists, haters, killers . . . liars.
Feel them closing in. Closer. Closer.
Everyone is lying. Lying to you.
Except you. And me.
We're the good guys. Not them.
They're the bad guys. The Others, those kids, the IRS, the United Nations, Bloomberg, Obama, the Media, the Elite.
They will tell you "facts."
You do not need facts, you need guns. Sweet, sweet guns.
Your only friends. Not them.
They are bad guys. They're coming to take your guns, your ammunition, your family. To steal your car, punch your head, invade your home.
You are alone. Except for me. And guns.
You will stand. You will fight. For us. For our values.
We are good. The Others are bad. Stand your ground.
Everywhere you look, something has gone wrong.
You will fix it. WIth our guns. Our guns everywhere.
Madmen are famous. You should be famous. You can be famous.
You have a special kind of backbone to reject the world that surrounds you.
Stand. Fight.
You are alone. Except for me. And guns.
When I snap my fingers you will give me money. You will buy more guns from manufacturers who will in turn give me more money.
Guns. Good.
[snap!]
Wayne LaPierre: Thank you very much, and let's save this country together!