Congress has called out the FBI, and rightly so, for not following up on a tip which it had received, which, if it had been pursued, might have prevented the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting tragedy. The operative word here is “might,” because our so-called representatives don’t want to anger the National Rifle Association (NRA) by passing responsible legislation and thus being seen as anti-gun.
The FBI obviously screwed up, and it needs to explain itself, if it can. On the other hand, the craven cowards in Congress listened to, and received money from, the NRA instead of their constituents. They could have prevented Parkland and the scores of other shootings before that if they had taken bold steps long ago. But we live in a “gun culture,” don’t you know? Many Americans find it difficult to extricate themselves from it.
The gun culture is actually older than the Republic. In an account I read a few years ago concerning the first encounter between European settlers and the indigenous population, one settler was hunting game when he spotted the native. When he saw a strange-looking person, he took fright and fired his weapon at the stranger. Happily, he missed, but his act set the stage for what was to occur over the next three centuries.
The history of America is a history of one of the greatest land grabs of all times. European-Americans literally shot their way across North America, pushed aside the indigenous population, and claimed their land for themselves. One might have thought that, once the European-Americans had secured the continent for themselves, they could have put their guns away and lived peaceful lives. But, no-o-o, they soon fell upon each other in an attempt to amass as much personal territory as possible. And, government became a target when it sought to establish law-and-order in the wilderness.
So, the more guns we have, the better we feel about ourselves. And the NRA cheerfully has nurtured this attitude; its view always has been “a good guy with a gun is the answer to a bad guy with a gun.” It would have you believe that we are still in Dodge City, Kans. circa 1880 where everybody was armed and ready for a shoot-out on the town’s streets. That might have worked in a time when law-enforcement personnel were few and far between; but nowadays, we have several layers of law enforcement, and we let the professionals do the shooting. The Chas is ever mindful of the rash of extra-judicial police shootings in recent years, but that is a story for another time.
The NRA, and our accidental president, think that arming school personnel is a good idea. Should schools become fortresses? Not on your life! Should school campuses be regularly patrolled by police? Absolutely! Persons acting suspiciously around a school should be approached, cautiously, of course, and asked what his business is. The old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure,” is especially true in this instance.
The Coddington Agenda recommends the following:
• Comprehensive reporting. The National Instant Criminal Background Check system needs to be updated on a weekly, if not a daily, basis, and more sources ought to be used.
• Universal background checks on all sales, private and public. This should be a no-brainer.
• Age limits. An 18-year-old cannot buy a beer in these United States, because he might get drunk and harm someone. But an 18-year-old can purchase all the AR-15s he can carry without question. What is wrong with this picture? Other countries have seen the picture and done something about it.
• A firearms owner identification card. Illinois has had this system for years. Application for one triggers a thorough background check. The card is necessary for the purchase of both guns and ammunition. You have a gun, but no FOIC, you go to jail, regardless of any other consequences.
• Maximum purchases. No one should be allowed to maintain a private arsenal. Maximum: Two guns, a handgun for protection, and a shotgun for hunting.
• Waiting period between purchase and pick-up. That’s part of the FOIC system. A week should be sufficient.
• No concealed carry. Whoever thought this up should be committed. This is Dodge City again, folks.
• A ban on all assault-style weapons. This should be a no-brainer. There should be a ban on the purchase of gun components which can be cobbled together at home to create a fully functional assault weapon.
• Voting. Don’t vote for any candidate who takes money from the NRA or the gun industry. Vote out of office any incumbent who does.
• A message to the NRA: Kiss off!
Just a thought.