African societies have historians called griots. The griots study society for its contradictions rather than its cause and effect. In a deep irony, the harmony of Wayne LaPierre’s view is a telling; his view is exactly the same as a bullet’s; no thought or feeling as to its impact, an unerring aim at its target. LaPierre and others view guns as a tool in dystopian society, and emphasize straight line cause and effect: fire and get results. They want us all to be ready to pull the trigger. They have a blind confidence about their addiction to firearms.
LaPierre, et al. are just a step removed from the bad guys they say can be deterred by more guns. LaPierre simply says out loud what spree killers enact–that guns are a solution to ills, guns are judges and juries, guns deny their impact on lives and families, and deadly force has no morality. As much as any spree killer, LaPierre embraces deadly force. As much as any spree killer, he wants it unrestricted, available, and the freedom to deploy. And he has no answers for how or why its outcomes are horrific for society.
On a continuum, the NRA position is cloaked in the same delusions that misguide the killers themselves. A deep fantasy about guns ability to correct and defense against personal and social faults; a deep connection to the experience of the trigger pull; an inability to account for carnage they demand we endure. By words and actions, they demand we live on their edge. We have good reasons to take their guns away.
“…an inability to account for the carnage they demand we endure. By words and actions they demand we live on their edge.” When put like that would anyone deny it? LaPierre’s madness and these spree shooters’ is the same addiction–brilliant. Though I think LaPierre’s tinged with hysteria worrying about loss of that high NRA income.
Madness is rarely money driven.