Distraction by Insanity

Distraction by Insanity

Of six top factors contributing to gun violence in this country, FIVE of these factors are regarded by many politicians as demanding of expensive handouts, not worthy of serious investment or government consideration.

MENTAL ILLNESS

PTSD

UNEMPLOYMENT

POVERTY

ADDICTION

GUN AVAILABILITY

But the sixth has assumed enormous importance as a highly successful distraction.  It is more and more apparent that the issue of regulation of weapons of mass destruction will be yet another division in what amounts to the political abyss separating the rational from the political in America.

The culture of violence that is drowning us is exemplified by men in the congress who have refused more than once to renew the Violence Against Women Act, the huge increase in gun sales since the Sandy Hook massacre, the pathetic demand to arm teachers against interlopers, and serious men all over the country that are issuing fierce pronouncements about "any moves to take their constitutional right to self protection away".  Liberals (translation: President Obama) are scheming to remove from men that dark hard serious stiff thing that protrudes from the body and lets the whole world know that here is a REAL man.  You can construct your own translation of that last part.

Forget that serious and law-abiding sportsmen with gun and dog managed just fine when we did have a ban on assault weapons.  Forget the testimony from the wounded, from survivors and those that grieve. Forget the honest efforts by panels commissioned to include the NRA.  Forget the legalisms, and the false statistics about the uselessness of gun control: "Crime up.  Invasions up." (Somehow there's no mention that murder and suicide by gun IS dramatically lower in countries with fewer guns). “Enforce the law we already have".  "Control the assault weapons and soon the criminals will all have them and the honest householder will be helpless".  

Forget the tiny 6 year olds with their bodies blown to pieces by rapid fire.

We should remember instead all the sexy cowboys and monster-whacking games, the “patriotism” of the NRA, the muzzle-loader sentence in the Constitution and the culture that cannot seem to either negotiate or change for the better.  That's the final answer?   Are we all crazy?

Ann Melby Shenkle