THE POLITE SOCIETY

How long do you expect it will be before “lefties” start showing up at public political events with guns strapped to their side? I think the common notion is that only those on the right own guns. That would be a big mistake. Those on the left own them too. They’re probably more open to gun control laws than those on the right…but, trust me…they have guns.

I love the goofy logic of the Ron Paul group that if everyone had a gun we’d be a more polite society. What in God’s name makes these righties think that big ego’s don’t trump “give everyone a gun and no one will get out of line.” A bully is a bully, pure and simple. Give a bully a gun, it doesn’t matter whether his political leaning are to the right or the left, sooner or later the bully is going to want to show us all exactly how tough he is. Is there anyone who thinks we’d be better off if everyone on a commercial airplane had a gun? Are you really dumb enough to think you’d be safer?

The recent gun toting protester at President Obama’s town hall meeting in New Hampshire bore a tee shirt with the famous Thomas Jefferson quote that “the tree of Liberty must periodically be watered with the blood of patriots.” It’s a catchy phrase…but, I think it’s time someone ask the question of “why must the tree be watered with blood?”

Let’s not forget this was the same quote adorned by Timothy McVeigh when he was arrested for the Oklahoma City Bombings. Let’s also remember some of the blood Mr. McVeigh was watering the tree of Liberty with was that of CHILDREN who were attending day school in the Murray Building.

This country has tried the gun culture that was supposed to create the “polite society” referred to by Congressman Paul. It was called the “WILD WEST.” It really didn’t work out that well.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m resolved that the constitution provides for the “right to bear arms.” If anyone believes they need a gun to protect themselves I believe they have the “right” to own a gun. But, I don’t think that means without any control. I mean…we don’t have the right to bear “nuclear arms” now do we? And, I think that in order to prevent an unruly crowd (say like we’ve seen at some of the recent health care town hall protest) we might exercise some self-governing and say that a crowd of right and left wing zealots is more likely to insight gun-play than discourage it.

Given this country’s history with political assassination…Lincoln, the Kennedy brothers, Dr. King, not to mention those that were just shot at…Regan, Ford, George Wallace (you do recognize that those last three names were conservatives, which only proves my point that it’s not only the right that should be feared). It’s just plainly not a good idea to have gun toting protesters clearly in sight around political gatherings where the country’s first African-American President is in attendance. In fact, it’s probably not worth the risk where a Senator or Congressman are in attendance either.

Let’s keep those weapons in places that we might need them for defensive purposes and not offensive aggression.