The
LRB
 There comes a time in almost all of our
lives when something goes so wrong that
we honestly wish another person were dead.
And were we to own, via Constitutional
fiat, a little red button that could instantly
vaporize those who've earned our disfavor,
we'd happily push it. No question. Especially
if the dirty deed were anonymous. That's
why
this
country doesn't experience even more gun-related
mayhem than it does, because it's damned
hard to get away with exterminating an
inconvenient adversary unless you're the
CIA or something.
This is why we shouldn't be asking why
those people in San Bernadino were murdered
but, instead, why do we make it so easy
to kill? Almost anyone in this country
can own the equivalent of the Little Red
Button and, unfortunately, our society
seems to breed people happy to disregard
the consequences.
There is a solution to this problem, a
simple one. Just agree to revise the Second
Amendment in a way that allows only members
of an organized state militia to own a
gun. You know, just like it actually says,
only in language clear enough that even
a Supreme Court judge can understand it.
-----------
And to the gun afficianados out there,
I leave this unattributed quote:
"To you, the deaths of these people
are less important than your right to own
a
gun. Go ahead,
say it out loud—'Those deaths are
worth it to me.'"
=Lefty=
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