A Call To Unarm

A Call To Unarm

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I heard a statistic today. One that I found so hard to believe I had to look it up—and it’s true—and it put me over the edge.

There are more gun dealers in the U.S. than there are Starbucks in the ENTIRE WORLD.

Now, here is why I find that so hard to believe. I’ve traveled pretty extensively and that’s the one thing, good or bad, that you can count on seeing in a foreign country.
A Starbucks. Oh, and a KFC.

I’m at a loss here you guys.

And I’m pissed. And I don’t like to post my rants, but after talking to numerous people the past couple of days, I know I’m not alone in feeling…sad…confused and mad as hell!

After the events of this past Sunday morning, I just have to go on record as saying, how fucking sick I am of these mass shootings.

What are we to do?

Vote?

Our politicians are bogged down by partisan rhetoric. The two party system is in shambles, while fear and rage, two very dangerous bedfellows, have hijacked a cross section of our citizenry and are fanning some very scary flames.

We are assured that the background checks will stop any “bad guys” from being able to buy guns.
And just for the record, I’m sure any self-respecting bad guy gets his guns from other bad guys at the bad guy gun shop located in the back of some bad guy’s garage. He doesn’t fill out paperwork and wait the three days for the background check to clear…

Or does he?

This guy had been questioned repeatedly by the FBI and was even on some kind of terrorist watch list and yet—he was able to purchase an assault weapon a couple of weeks ago along with a regular handgun.

And in a twisted case of truth is crueler than fiction, can you guess who does the background checks?
The FBI.
They missed a guy—on a watch list—who was buying an assault rifle. I feel safe.

While we’re at it let’s talk about the AR-15, shall we?
This is a weapon of mass destruction that has killed innocent elementary children at Newtown.
Innocent movie-goers in Aurora.
Innocent student and faculty in San Bernadino.
And innocent party-goers in Orlando.

And it can be obtained legally.

Can we just all agree, once and for all, in the complete INSANITY of a private citizen being able to own a military weapon? An assault rifle?

Don’t argue with me on this. I’m not in the mood!

This time, the guy targeted gays and latinos. Then he pledged allegiance to Isis.

Not my problem! you say. (Not you guys, because I know you would never say that, but people do).

They pissed him off, somehow. You wanna know why? Because he wasn’t paying enough attention to his own life—he was judging theirs.

Which puts us ALL in the crosshairs. Who is watching you right now, hating what you stand for?

What if someone decides that blonds are fair game?
Or big mouths?
Or cat owners…because…well, cats.
What if a person decides that all bald men are evil?
Or guys who drive pick-ups.
Or people with children?

So we have to heighten out vigilance. Right?

That turns us into a nation of raging, paranoid separatists who are paying way too much attention to what the other guy is doing.

Who do we keep from immigrating? Whose records do we scrutinize? Who do we keep an eye on?

Men? These mass killers are mostly men.

Muslims?

The mentally ill?

Those with anger management issues?

Where does the list end?

When does it stop?

I’m at a loss here. I really am.

Someone explain this to me so I can be funny tomorrow.

Carry on,
xox

5 Comments
  • WordyBird says:

    I guess I’m a little flabbergasted and overwhelmed with the weight of worldwide grief and swirling emotions, too.
    I apologize for not putting my own philosophy in action and finding a perspective and sentiment a bit more uplifting. but sometimes there just are no words…not even from this old bird. 🙁

    • jbertolus says:

      Ha! I totally get it! I couldn’t find an uplifting thing to say that didn’t sound trite and cliche. I know in my heart that love wins…but some things have to change.
      Maybe, just maybe, this time we’ll be so collectively fed up that it can start now.
      Big love to you from this old bird,
      xoxJanet

  • WordyBird says:

    I saw a clip of President Obama speaking at a town hall meeting that summed up the gun problem pretty well. He said that the FBI monitors the ISIL sympathizers and has the authority to put them on a “no-fly” list, but due to the NRA blocking ANY movement on even REASONABLE gun control, their hands are tied to put these suspected terrorists on a “no-buy” list. Yes, there are background check laws, but let’s face it, there’s no law against mental illness – and sadly no law in place to keep suspected terrorists from obtaining automatic assault rifles as their weapon of choice…..

  • Dominator says:

    It is revolting that as a society we have to live with fear and anger and that we have tools/guns that facilitate violent expressions.
    But one of the dilemmas remains that laws and/or bans on guns only put limitations on good law abiding citizens not “the bad guys”. Just like the citizenry with taxes, we are creating a sub-culture of gun owners that “cheat” and hide some of their guns from a government gone awry. Are they becoming the bad guys too?
    As you mentioned, the real issue is mental illness and the lack of interest in dealing with it.
    Since Ronald Regan’s administration (and the closing of mental hospitals) we have depended heavily on the use of drugs instead of a commitment by society to manage the problem.

Hi, I’m Janet

Mentor. Pirate. Dropper of F-bombs.

This is where I write about my version of life. My stories. Told in my own words.

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