The Right to Bear . . . Rocket Propelled Grenades.
Posted: Tuesday, July 20, 2010
by e
Dhammabucha Rocksprings Meditation
If rocket propelled grenades are outlawed, only outlaws will have rocket propelled grenades! Makes sense to me. Or, if suitcase sized nuclear weapons are outlawed, only outlaws and terrorists will have suitcase sized nuclear weapons. Even more sense. Let's open the floodgates of weaponry. Why should I, a responsible citizen, have a less powerful and destructive weapon than crooks or terrorists do? That doesn't make any sense at all.
At one time, in an America long ago, guns were a part of the culture, integral to people living in the countryside. But no longer is this true. America is becoming a vast urban area with tightly compacted populations that are becoming increasingly denser ever day. Guns are no longer purchased for recreation, they are being purchased out of fear. America is becoming more fearful by the hour.
Where do we draw the line regarding violent weapons? The language in the constitution leaves a lot to interpretation, all the way from strict gun control when applied to private citizens (militia organizations only), to carte blanche ownership of anything up to and including private suitcase sized nuclear weapons.
Who will draw the line? How many lines must be drawn? I can see the lawsuits now: students petitioning the court to open carry because they are scared of bullies - maybe hand grenades hidden in lunch boxes? Or perhaps a petition to open carry on airplanes. After all, what's the difference between an airplane and a bar full of drunk, concealed weapons owners? The danger level is about the same.
Even though gun owners have a 400% better chance of getting killed by a gun than those who don't own guns, the perception is that guns and weapons somehow protect us. They don't. They will only make a life that is already stressful and full of dangers even more so.
"After Thursday's closing bell, Smith & Wesson reported record revenue of $82.6 million for the fourth quarter ended April 30, compared with $51.9 million in the same period a year ago. The company recorded a $52 million profit, or $0.12 per share, up from a $4.2 million profit, or $0.11 per share, a year earlier. Smith & Wesson beat analysts' expectations of $72.8 million in revenue, or $0.10 per share.
"We are proud to deliver our tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year sales growth," Golden said. "We believe these milestones mark only the beginning of a very exciting future for Smith & Wesson." - Will Atkinson | SmallCapInvestor Blog.
And, the Pentagon says that right now, 12,995 different arms sales involving 218 countries and $300 billion of requests are being considered. Lots of profit in killing.
Fear sometimes creates it's own monsters. With the recent Supreme Court decision that struck down the City of Chicago's strict gun rules, the flood gates are now opening for unlimited weaponry in the hands of civilians. And the gates will only open wider and wider because everyone is afraid, and becoming more fearful every day.
Even though Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, after the Supreme Court decision, passed a new, tougher law making gun permits very hard to get, this will be challenged and beaten down as well by forces that are profiting by the fear in the citizenry and the idea that individuals are now no longer safe and must provide for their own protection.
Isn't it obvious where this is heading? Everyone that now has a pea shooter .38 or 9 millimeter will shortly have to reinvest in something more lethal in order to remain protected. Maybe the next step would be an AK 47? Sawed off shotgun? Then what? Maybe IUDs buried in their driveways? Once fear takes hold, there is no relief because you can never have enough security.
Amazingly, the pursuit of security is the very thing that makes security impossible to attain. Once the mind envisions danger around every corner, securing oneself becomes obsessive, so obsessive and manic that the quest for security creates a world in which there can be no security. Everyone will be armed to the teeth and have their finger on the trigger. One misstep and you are toast.
Don't be rude on the highway or you might be the target of a stinger missile hanging out of the window of the car behind you. Painting your house the wrong color will not mean a meeting by the homeowners association, your house will be firebombed. All legal because we have the right to protect ourselves, even from orange houses.
The culture of fear that gun ownership is creating will have dire effects on society. Instead of everyone carrying a weapon and feeling more secure, the opposite will happen where everyone will become even more paranoid that the other guy or gal will have a bigger and better weapon.
And all the while weapons manufacturers, with their influence in congress and their skyrocketing profits, will create more and more reasons to legalize bigger and bigger, more deadly weapons until the streets of Chicago, L.A., and New York will resemble Iraq with disagreements being settled by killing, and ideologies spread by armed gangs sanctified by the word, "Militia."
Weapons are manufactured for one reason - to make profits. And weapons are used for one reason - to kill people. America supplies more arms to the world than any other country. This is bad karma. Bad karma has a way of eventually catching up to the society that indulges in bad karma, and therefore I see no good coming out of the current atmosphere of fear and hatred that is taking over America.
A fear that may soon become a self fulfilling prophecy.
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More commentsYou have to be careful with owning a gun, especially if you have kids. Lockboxes are always great and hard to decipher. If you have to get one for protection use it wisely. If you're a hunter, be careful because Dick Cheney might accidentally shoot you.Hah! I forgot about Cheney. Good one James, thank you.
Fantastic article. Well done.You made many very vaild points. In UK we do not have gun ownership on the same scale as in the US but there has been a recent drive to look at gun laws again after Derik Bird and Moat. This is going to be a very hard problem to solve: ban guns and people will just buy illegal ones without any regulation.I think that if you use a weapon you have to have a damn good reason. For example if your house and family are attacked by armed robbers and you open fire that is one thing. However, if someone comes onto your property unarmed and with no dangerous intentions and you shoot at them you should get a murder or attempted murder sentance. That's wrong your property or not.Let the armed robbers have whatever they want. You can replace it. Start a gun battle and you will come out on the short end, if not physically, then in endless litigation. Thanks Conner.
I had a break in about three years ago. I called the local sheriff. I asked if they could patrol my road a bit more often (it took 45 minutes for the closest sheriff to respond). The comment back was "why don't you have a gun? You have the right to protect your self and property."I don't understand the mentality. I agree guns are for killing. Whether it is killing people or animals.My respect for law enforcement has just plummeted. Pull a gun, even on a burglar, and one of you will die, maybe both. Either way, your life will be ruined. Let him have the damned microwave.
I remember an English comedian joking about the American gun system he said "that a guy goes into a gun shop to buy a gun and has to fill out a form to see if he is suitable to own a gun. Instead of asking him to fill out a form, just ask him one simple question..."Do you want a gun?"...if he says yes, then he obviously isn't suitable!"Love it! Thanks Tim. Great quote.The comedian was Jasper Carrot. From the early 80's I think. Funny!
While I disagree with some of the comments, or rather positions. I certainly do not find fault with others, I do however, think that gun ownership is a right.Never a problem to civilly disagree, Thank you for your comments Richard. I understand your point of view.Best.....e
Dear Raymond Rock, your thought provoking has merit, and can be applied worldwide. --- Even if gun owners have a better chance of being killed by a firearm than those who do not own weapons. Guns make an already stressful life that is full of dangers and more.It does add subconscious psychological stress while feigning a feeling of authority. It might take a face to face with someone meaner than oneself and with a bigger gun to see the reality of the situation. Thanks G.S.
Thnaks for your opiniion.Thank you, Bob.best .....e
My what a tangled web we weave. Greed and power have a way of blinding men to what is often best for the greater good. We are greedy souls and therefore we shall reap what we sow. It was once said, and I believe it to be true, that those that will trade freedom for protection, do not deserve to be free. Sound familiar?There is fundamentally no protection in this world, we all die from something, hopefully not something as stupid and traumatic as a gunshot wound, ergo the need for spirituality. Thanks David.
I think the different types of industry find ways to increase their sales and expand to new markets. For example, the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry don't care if there are obese people or sick people out there... That's their business!! Feeding them more food and more medications. Such thing happens with weapons. As you said, security is hard to achieve (-the pursuit of security is the very thing that makes security impossible to attain), and the weapons industry is having great gains from that!
Makes you wonder where this mercenary attitude by big business will end up. Maybe everyone will get fed up like me and buy nothing anymore! (Except building materials for meditation cabins!!)Thanks Samantha.....e
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