Is Our National Tolerance of Annunciation Tragedies
Why You Don't Need an Assault Rifle
Seriously, I’m amazed that we still talk about this stuff at all.
But we must.
Sadly, this national psychosis is nothing new for us (after all we are a notoriously violent people.) The first recorded school shooting in America was 1840 and then one every few years thereafter with one or two kids killed - until 1966 when Charles Whitman killed 18 people at the Univ. Of Texas. There were several more, of course, until the next big one, Columbine High School in 1999 where 16 people died. It wasn’t until the 21st century that the deaths really kicked in. Every year but two has had double digit deaths including Sandy Hook in 2012 with 28 dead, 17 killed in 2018 at a Parkland Fl school, and 22 dead in Uvalde TX in 2022.
Yes, I know, other countries have mass shootings but school shootings are very rare and typically with far fewer victims e.g. 2000-2022 there were 6 events in France, 5 in Germany, 2 UK . . . and 109 in the US - American Exceptionalism on display! (Apparently, they also have lots of mentally ill folks.)
Sadly, this national psychosis is nothing new for us (after all we are a notoriously violent people.) The first recorded school shooting in America was 1840 and then one every few years thereafter with one or two kids killed - until 1966 when Charles Whitman killed 18 people at the Univ. Of Texas. There were several more, of course, until the next big one, Columbine High School in 1999 where 16 people died. It wasn’t until the 21st century that the deaths really kicked in. Every year but two has had double digit deaths including Sandy Hook in 2012 with 28 dead, 17 killed in 2018 at a Parkland Fl school, and 22 dead in Uvalde TX in 2022.
A rational country would have done something about this long before
all that. But not here, almost weekly or monthly school shootings are now the norm in the US.
Yes, I know, other countries have mass shootings but school shootings are very rare and typically with far fewer victims e.g. 2000-2022 there were 6 events in France, 5 in Germany, 2 UK . . . and 109 in the US - American Exceptionalism on display! (Apparently, they also have lots of mentally ill folks.)
By the way, the vast majority of shooters in America are young, white males. Obviously troubled but killers nonetheless.
Why have these horrible occurrences increased in frequency and violence in the past 30 years or so? That’s the question, isn’t it? Much smarter people than me haven’t been able to crack the code but here are some possibilities.
Perhaps it's just a coincidence but starting in the mid-70’s the National Rifle Association (NRA), which had been a sportsman organization, became a powerful anti-gun control lobby ($$$.) Then beginning in the 80’s and through the 2000's, many of the same things occurred that have brought us to this place politically, huge changes socially and economically, an opioid epidemic and, social media helping us retreat to our own little worlds and distrust of anyone outside of them. Not coincidently, we also decided to close most mental institutions (too expensive to treat all those folks?) leaving troubled people to get by on their own.
Then in 2004 the ban on assault weapons that had been in effect for 10 years expired. (It hadn't reduced the number of attacks by much but it did reduce the body count each time.) Perhaps the final push was the Supreme Court Heller decision in 2007 that said the anyone could have guns – without any conditions. Boy, did that open flood gates! (Of course, the NRA and gun owners immediately forgot – or ignored - what noted “liberal’ Justice Scalia said then, that "dangerous and unusual weapons" were not covered by the ruling.) Apparently, most assault rifles are not dangerous or unusual.
We’ve all heard the two main reasons we need guns: 1) to protect ourselves and family and, 2) to defend against tyranny (whatever that means.) I can only say that I would think you could protect our family with a shotgun, handgun, or a hunting rifle. As far as fighting tyranny, is that even germane? Unlike when the Constitution was written, we now have a standing military, the best in the world. If the government comes for your guns it is not going to be a fair fight - and you will not keep them e.g. Google Ruby Ridge or Branch Davidians. (Or, sadly, watch what is going on in DC and other cities today.)
So what about assault weapons and large capacity magazines? It seems to me that the actual reason for owners' “passion” for these weapons - that were solely intended for killing the maximum number of people in war in the shortest time - is some vicarious thrill. It's nothing more than a reckless hobby with dangerous side effects. Not illegal but certainly unnecessary.
So is it rational? Is that philosophical (not God-given) “right” worth accepting the death of innocent children - or a right-wing influencer - as the "price of freedom" to own such an unnecessary, deadly weapon? That is simply a mind numbingly stupid proposition in my opinion. Reality has met a philosophical belief - and reality is losing. It’s time for some reconsideration or recalibration; there is no logical reason to have a hobby with such deadly side effects.
Why have these horrible occurrences increased in frequency and violence in the past 30 years or so? That’s the question, isn’t it? Much smarter people than me haven’t been able to crack the code but here are some possibilities.
Perhaps it's just a coincidence but starting in the mid-70’s the National Rifle Association (NRA), which had been a sportsman organization, became a powerful anti-gun control lobby ($$$.) Then beginning in the 80’s and through the 2000's, many of the same things occurred that have brought us to this place politically, huge changes socially and economically, an opioid epidemic and, social media helping us retreat to our own little worlds and distrust of anyone outside of them. Not coincidently, we also decided to close most mental institutions (too expensive to treat all those folks?) leaving troubled people to get by on their own.
Then in 2004 the ban on assault weapons that had been in effect for 10 years expired. (It hadn't reduced the number of attacks by much but it did reduce the body count each time.) Perhaps the final push was the Supreme Court Heller decision in 2007 that said the anyone could have guns – without any conditions. Boy, did that open flood gates! (Of course, the NRA and gun owners immediately forgot – or ignored - what noted “liberal’ Justice Scalia said then, that "dangerous and unusual weapons" were not covered by the ruling.) Apparently, most assault rifles are not dangerous or unusual.
We’ve all heard the two main reasons we need guns: 1) to protect ourselves and family and, 2) to defend against tyranny (whatever that means.) I can only say that I would think you could protect our family with a shotgun, handgun, or a hunting rifle. As far as fighting tyranny, is that even germane? Unlike when the Constitution was written, we now have a standing military, the best in the world. If the government comes for your guns it is not going to be a fair fight - and you will not keep them e.g. Google Ruby Ridge or Branch Davidians. (Or, sadly, watch what is going on in DC and other cities today.)
So what about assault weapons and large capacity magazines? It seems to me that the actual reason for owners' “passion” for these weapons - that were solely intended for killing the maximum number of people in war in the shortest time - is some vicarious thrill. It's nothing more than a reckless hobby with dangerous side effects. Not illegal but certainly unnecessary.
Ultimately any hope of controlling any guns is stymied by (an interpretation of) the Second Amendment. Yes, owning an assault-type rifle is a right (a philosophical right based in the 18th century) but should we treat that right like freedom of speech or self-incrimination? Maybe the better question: is it the right thing to do?
Was the late right-wing influencer, Charlie Kirk, correct (somewhat ironically as it turns out) when he said: 'I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational."
So is it rational? Is that philosophical (not God-given) “right” worth accepting the death of innocent children - or a right-wing influencer - as the "price of freedom" to own such an unnecessary, deadly weapon? That is simply a mind numbingly stupid proposition in my opinion. Reality has met a philosophical belief - and reality is losing. It’s time for some reconsideration or recalibration; there is no logical reason to have a hobby with such deadly side effects.
No, an assault weapon ban is not a cure all, and yes, much else must be done including better mental health care and several other things. But it's a start.
One way or the other something must be done for the preposterous and pitiful goal of reducing the number of kids killed per shooting by crazed murderers. (I'm ashamed even writing that.)
In any event, I won't be writing about it again.
