NRA: In the American Tradition
According
to our history as presented by American and Italian film, this is a nation
built on gunfire. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Hopalong Cassidy, Lash LaRue, Tom
Mix, the Lone Ranger and a vast number of others all fought for the American
way by shooting up the bad guys. We boys (girls too?) surely identified with
such American heroes and John Wayne has reached near Iconic proportions as the
personification of American values. Self-reliance, impeccable ethics and quick
with a gun.
And,
now we have the NRA to continue the tradition. Our American heroes cleared the
land of Indians with their Colts, Winchesters and Henrys; shooting it out is
part of our heritage. So, it is no surprise that the NRA urges that we
transform our schools into mini-forts. Of course, they are not so designated. I
mean, who would wish to send their children to Fort Overland or Camp Erasmus
etc. Yet, that is what they urge. Never mind banning assault type weapons, or
large magazines, or creating background checks for would be purchasers.
According to the NRA, such laws could never work perfectly so no law is
preferable. By the standard of failed perfection, they ought to prefer school
shoot-outs; after all, school guards might not be able to do the job perfectly.
Let’s
not quibble and consider the ramifications. Each school would have either
police officers on site, or teachers, volunteers, would receive training in the
handling of hand weapons and in small arms combat so to be on a par with
murderous invaders. Would there be bulletproof glass? That would seem
reasonable. Would the doors be locked? Better that than permit shooters to
simply walk in and start their deadly fandango. And, if someone knocked at the
door asking for entrance, the armed protectors would have to gather at that
site just in case the visitor would come in shooting. But, if the shooter came
in with a thirty shot magazine, he or she could likely handle pistol-armed
defenders . . . unless the defenders also had such rifles. What a sight that
might be. The OK corral revitalized with enough heroes to go around.
The
reality is somewhat different. As experts have pointed out, in school is one of
the safest spots for children. Mass school killings are rare. That means the
protectors would become bored with their assignment and bored defenders are not
exactly what we might prefer. The cost? Millions, with thus less money for
education. And, if bad guys decided that school forts were too dangerous for
them, well, there are always the movies or the malls or buses or restaurants
where they could do their nasty work.
What
is so distressing is the sheer dumbness of the NRA’s proposal. The old saying: “If
all you have is a hammer, all problems look like a nail,” describes their
mental cul-de-sac.
NRA
experts argue that there is no evidence of reduced gun crime after assault type
weapons were banned. They don’t tell us that the congress made it illegal, that’s
right, illegal, to gather any evidence of the efficacy of such banning. So,
yes, the NRA is right, there is no evidence.
Let’s
do it, let’s contact our legislatures and urge them to pass gun-control laws
and make them work. As I’ve pointed out, there are always exceptions to
constitutional mandates, how is it that our constitution loving, gun-toting
zealots don’t go mad in their defense of them. Yes, let’s get it done.
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