Missing the point...
Ted Nugent has gotten his say in regarding the VA Tech shootings, and CNN has linked an opposing viewpoint by Tom Plate. Read both articles (and - just for fun - try to figure out which of them looks more ridiculous in their photos...)
They - and way, way too much of America - are missing the point.
Unfortunately, it's hard to have a rational discourse about the role of firearms in America after 32 people have been shot to death. But the blood has been cleaned up now. It's time to be rational.
Since the MSM likes to run headlines dripping in blood, the gun discussion tends to be started by one thing - crime. Crime - especially crime involving guns - makes headlines. Why wouldn't it? News orgainizations have ad space and time to sell - they want you to read and/or watch. Shocking headlines ensure that you and I pay attention (and pay their sponsors, or so they hope.)
Look, we all internalize what we see and hear from the MSM - we're conditioned to do it. It's understandable. But when the discussion turns to guns, the MSM doesn't seem to know how to frame the discussion in any way but one. To them, guns = crime. America buys into that mindset, and we end up chasing our tails in this "guns = crime" versus "guns = Constitutional right" debate.
The issue is much bigger than that, folks.
Read your history. Think about why it was that the founding fathers of this country allowed the Second Amendment to be added to the Constitution. Think about why so many state constitutions still contain language like ... well, like that of the VA State Consitution:
Think about what that's saying: Power is easily abused. Give as much power as possible to the people, instead of the government - including the power for the people to defend themselves, their state and their country. Why? Because standing armies have - thoughout history - been used to oppress the people they were theoretically supposed to be protecting. Our founding fathers knew that. That's why we have guns.
For those of you who would see guns banned - Do you really think that the argument in favor of individual citizens owning guns is anachronistic? Do you really think our modern armed forces and police are adequate to protect us, and that guns are now only good for crime?
Think about that - do you really want all the guns to be in the hands of forces controlled by George W. Which-Country-Shall-I-Invade-Next Bush and Dick I-Shot-My-Hunting-Partner-In-The-Face Cheney? Do you really want that? Do you really have faith in your local police - especially those of you "protected" by the New Orleans The-City-Is-Flooded-To-Hell-With-Serve-And-Protect-I'm-Outta-Here P.D.?
Our forefathers got it, but we seem to have misplaced the memo. They understood that our country wasn't created out of peace or love or treaties or understanding or tolerance. It was created from armed rebellion. Our forefathers said - in effect - "You know what? I've had it with King George. Let's do this governing thing ourselves." And their individually owned guns backed that assertion up.
Sick of King George. Sound familiar?
Think about that.
Remember Florida? "Hanging chads?" The rule of law makes guns in the hands of citizens unnecessary, eh? How'd that work out for 'ya in Florida not so long ago?
Ordinary citizen ownership of guns is unnecessary. Laws will protect us. President Bush will protect us. Our armed forces will protect us. FEMA will protect us. The N.O.P.D. will protect us. The Virginia Tech no-guns-on-campus rule will protect us. Security cameras will protect us.
Not.
Guns are used in crime. Granted. Congratulations - you can read the headlines. (Who says our education system is broken?!?!?)
But just having a discussion about guns only in the context of crime totally ignores the larger history of why citizens of our nation have the right to own guns.
Guns are about far, far more than crime. Whether you like it or not, guns are a part of who we are as Americans. Guns are about liberty, and about having the power to keep that liberty. Liberty doesn't typically end up being synonymous with safety, and sometimes I wonder if our country still has the spine to accept that.
Let's not get caught up in the furvor and forget why we have - and why we should have - the guns.
They - and way, way too much of America - are missing the point.
Unfortunately, it's hard to have a rational discourse about the role of firearms in America after 32 people have been shot to death. But the blood has been cleaned up now. It's time to be rational.
Since the MSM likes to run headlines dripping in blood, the gun discussion tends to be started by one thing - crime. Crime - especially crime involving guns - makes headlines. Why wouldn't it? News orgainizations have ad space and time to sell - they want you to read and/or watch. Shocking headlines ensure that you and I pay attention (and pay their sponsors, or so they hope.)
Look, we all internalize what we see and hear from the MSM - we're conditioned to do it. It's understandable. But when the discussion turns to guns, the MSM doesn't seem to know how to frame the discussion in any way but one. To them, guns = crime. America buys into that mindset, and we end up chasing our tails in this "guns = crime" versus "guns = Constitutional right" debate.
The issue is much bigger than that, folks.
Read your history. Think about why it was that the founding fathers of this country allowed the Second Amendment to be added to the Constitution. Think about why so many state constitutions still contain language like ... well, like that of the VA State Consitution:
That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
Think about what that's saying: Power is easily abused. Give as much power as possible to the people, instead of the government - including the power for the people to defend themselves, their state and their country. Why? Because standing armies have - thoughout history - been used to oppress the people they were theoretically supposed to be protecting. Our founding fathers knew that. That's why we have guns.
For those of you who would see guns banned - Do you really think that the argument in favor of individual citizens owning guns is anachronistic? Do you really think our modern armed forces and police are adequate to protect us, and that guns are now only good for crime?
Think about that - do you really want all the guns to be in the hands of forces controlled by George W. Which-Country-Shall-I-Invade-Next Bush and Dick I-Shot-My-Hunting-Partner-In-The-Face Cheney? Do you really want that? Do you really have faith in your local police - especially those of you "protected" by the New Orleans The-City-Is-Flooded-To-Hell-With-Serve-And-Protect-I'm-Outta-Here P.D.?
Our forefathers got it, but we seem to have misplaced the memo. They understood that our country wasn't created out of peace or love or treaties or understanding or tolerance. It was created from armed rebellion. Our forefathers said - in effect - "You know what? I've had it with King George. Let's do this governing thing ourselves." And their individually owned guns backed that assertion up.
Sick of King George. Sound familiar?
Think about that.
Remember Florida? "Hanging chads?" The rule of law makes guns in the hands of citizens unnecessary, eh? How'd that work out for 'ya in Florida not so long ago?
Ordinary citizen ownership of guns is unnecessary. Laws will protect us. President Bush will protect us. Our armed forces will protect us. FEMA will protect us. The N.O.P.D. will protect us. The Virginia Tech no-guns-on-campus rule will protect us. Security cameras will protect us.
Not.
Guns are used in crime. Granted. Congratulations - you can read the headlines. (Who says our education system is broken?!?!?)
But just having a discussion about guns only in the context of crime totally ignores the larger history of why citizens of our nation have the right to own guns.
Guns are about far, far more than crime. Whether you like it or not, guns are a part of who we are as Americans. Guns are about liberty, and about having the power to keep that liberty. Liberty doesn't typically end up being synonymous with safety, and sometimes I wonder if our country still has the spine to accept that.
Let's not get caught up in the furvor and forget why we have - and why we should have - the guns.
posted by Alpineman, RN at 11:06 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home