GUN MADNESS BY A NOTED COLUMNIST.  

In a recent article in the Denver Post Mike Rosen, in his usual attack on rationality and sanity actually made a sensible point. First, he tore to shreds the new and proposed gun control laws in Colorado suggesting, for example that they were not perfect, that criminals and the crazy could still be able to acquire guns illegally. Thus, in his usually brilliant prose, he again pointed out that the good is never acceptable. Only the perfect must be achieved or the whole idea of limiting guns must be eschewed. Because he writes clearly, it is easy to assume he knows what he talks about, but alas not except for his one flash of, dare I say it, brilliance.

Instead of those, useless, mindless, imperfect gun laws, he suggests that we should all be prepared to defend ourselves should a shooter aim at us with evil intent. We, of a certain age, have all seen John Wayne, and others of his ilk, dispense with two or three black-hatted baddies with his six-gun, his six-shooter his peacemaker. We knew his town was a safer place because of him and his crowd of merry shootists. Hurray for Wayne and hurrah for Rosen.

But, now comes the brilliant part. His Waynesque solution, getting more guns into the hands of good guys is really a disguised way to keep the mass killers under control. You see, Rosen understands that without guns, the they can attack with fists and knives, but more, they can use flame-throwers or poison gas or IEDS, or loosen packs of hungry lions or dogs or pigs into a mall where they would munch on tasty us. You see, he understands there is no limit on the second amendment; anyone can own any weapon. Your disgruntled neighbor can defend him/herself against you with an rpg or a 20mm cannon because the second can never be weakened as a bulwark against tyranny. Lawsuits are expensive and one might lose, but ammo is cheap and essentially killing is instantaneous, problem solved.

So, Rosen is on to something. Let’s give him that melodious cheer from the Bronx for his wisdom.

We all know the constitution is sacrosanct, that it offers essential commands which may not, never be violated. That is the construction placed upon it by the NRA, an organization that holds us to the strictest construction of amendment 2. According to them, there can be no deviation; anything that hints at modifying it must absolutely be rejected. Thus, they oppose gun registration, they oppose the banning of civilian assault rifles, they oppose smaller magazines and they oppose background checks.

Yet, consider that our first amendment, that which guarantees free speech has restrictions placed on it. Slander and libel are actionable. The FCC determines which words are forbidden on our public airways. Shouting fire in a crowded place is illegal. Loud preaching in schools by zealous students is forbidden. And, I am sure there are many other examples.  

Or, notice that our Supreme Court has declared abortion to be constitutional. But, a number of states have laws that regulated when it may be accomplished. After certain dates, abortion is illegal.

Where is the uproar from our constitution lovers decrying restrictions on constitutional rights? Alas, they are silent; they don’t give a damn (whoops, a proscribed word) and often demand them because they violate their moral sense. Hypocrites, all of them.

Strict construction of our constitution

Must continue lest bloody revolution

By our friends with their guns

Who have threatened to be Huns

Their madness can provide no solution.