Musings on Mass Shootings

It’s been a couple of weeks since the Parkland Incident, and for the most part, I’ve kept my own counsel on the gun control debate, in the hope that time and distance would enable me to express my thoughts dispassionately. I use the term debate loosely, because the postings I’ve seen from both sides of the argument have been little more than rhetorical bomb throwing. Interestingly enough, most of the vitriol is coming from the pro gun control side.

I’ve seen posts and comments calling gun owners knuckle dragging troglodytes, one step above Neanderthals, and stating that those of us who value our right of self defense are simply trying to compensate for penile inadequacy. These kinds of statements are hardly conducive to rational discussion. Personally, I’d rather deal with an honest advocate of a repeal of the Second Amendment, and an Australian-style gun ban, than a mealy-mouthed “I support the Second Amendment, but…” type. If both parties are being honest, a rational conversation can be had.

I’ve thought long and hard about this, and have come to some inescapable conclusions. People obey laws for only two reasons. Either out of an innate Moral Code, and respect for the Rule of Law, or out of fear of the negative consequences of breaking it. The former are of no threat to anyone. Leave them alone, and they’ll leave you alone. The latter will do a cost/benefit analysis, and if they think they can get away with it, The law WILL be broken. Hell, people speed all the time.

There is a third type of person; the amoral type. They don’t care about the law, they answer to no one but themselves. Western Civilization has been breeding this type of person for half a century. Through social engineering, drug therapy, participation trophies, and desensitization therapy (via violence porn in movies and video games), we’ve encouraged Narcissism, selfishness and impulsiveness. We’re reaping the whirlwind.

Americans have ALWAYS been heavily armed. The mentally ill have ALWAYS been amongst us. Yet, occurrences like Parkland are a relatively recent development. During World War II, the Japanese admiral, Yamamoto said that it would be suicide to invade the continental United States, because “There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass”.

It seems to me, that enacting more laws, and attempting to disarm the American people is treating the symptoms, rather than the disease. Here’s a bitter truth; evil will ALWAYS find a way. In all of the countries with comprehensive gun bans, gun crime may be lower, but VIOLENT crime is HIGHER! Why? Because the predators KNOW that their prey is defenseless!

We need more protectors, not more potential victims. We need more men and women who are willing to take PERSONAL responsibility for not only their own safety, but that of others. I’m training my wife in marksmanship, because I can’t be with her 24/7, and because evil exists. You can’t wish or legislate it away. The cops can’t be everywhere. In the end, we’re all responsible for our own safety, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let anyone take that right from me. My friends, the argument from my side of the aisle isn’t about guns, or suppressors, or bumpstocks. It’s not about the mentally ill, or the violent, or the predatory. It’s about Liberty. It’s about our inherent right to be self-determining individuals. To be Citizens and not Subjects. Freedom is dangerous. But, dangerous freedom beats safe slavery any day.