My Own Cowardice in BookThree: Flight Log 2016

An attorney friend of mine just posted something to Facebook that I would absolutely LOVE to re-post.
I’ve not shied away from reposting controversial statements. I reposted the following:

“The argument that the second amendment was intended for muskets not auto rifles uses the same logic as claiming that the 14th Amendment (incorporation doctrine) was intended for states pre 1868 and should not apply to Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, or Hawaii.”

I shared the comment about “Hillary Clinton says those under investigation by the FBI should not be allowed to buy guns. But they should be allowed to run for president?”

I shared the comment about “Donald Trump makes me nervous as a potential president. Not ‘Lex Luthor for President’ nervous. More ‘Bizarro for President’ nervous.”

I post challenging, probably offensive things all the time. AND I WOULD LOVE TO REPOST THIS… but I’m honestly too cowardly. I don’t mind getting the argument started, the debate going, and hoping the discussion opens people ears/minds. But… I just don’t see this as doing that:

“Brock Turner got everyone saying that rape is caused by rapists. It isn’t the surrounding influences. It isn’t the alcohol or the party… it is the person. It isn’t the sexual proclivity or the penis… it is the person. Rape is caused by rapists. So why now is Shooting Massacre the gun’s fault? Why are so many news outlets and activists trying to paint the shooter as somehow less culpable than the instrument of destruction? In the Oklahoma City Bombing (which killed many more people) did we blame the van? Did we blame the bomb? Or did we blame the person? September 11th… do we blame the planes? The plane companies? Or do we blame the person? Why has the country come to a point where you have to be SO ANTI GUN or SO PRO GUN as to divorce rational thought?

Now… personal note… I will say that I hear and understand the discussions about how a gun (by its very nature) is a device that makes killing easier. If I had my druthers, the world would stay at swords and knives so that a kill, any kill, had to be purchased with strength, technique, and skill.

That being said… two things to read:
Definitions Matter. And Vague Government Powers Should Scare Everyone.
From that article: “I want advocates to learn the difference so I can have some level of confidence that I know what kind of proposed government power we’re debating. Right now the debate seems choked with people who don’t know, are proud of not knowing, and think you’re a redneck gun-nut asshole if you want them to know because they feel very strongly about this.”
The Massively Armed Non-Defense Branches of Government.
From that article: “People from both ends of the political spectrum have expressed alarm at this trend. Conservatives argue that it is hypocritical, unconstitutional and costly for political leaders to undermine the Second Amendment while simultaneously equipping nonmilitary agencies with heavy weapons, hollow-point bullets and military-style equipment. Progressives like Sen. Bernie Sanders have raised civil liberties concerns about the militarization of local police with vehicles built for war and other heavy weaponry.”

Last updated June 17, 2016