tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post5547789115956049403..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Bang Bang Crazy, Part 12 - God, Guns, and Suicide MachinesJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-16522040151624787122017-01-28T13:10:49.753-06:002017-01-28T13:10:49.753-06:00I've admired your writing and the first three ...I've admired your writing and the first three stories and insights in this series. I follow you on Facebook and keep wondering if you made enough room in the airlock for one more minion LOL. However, you have all the elements here but I feel you've been barking up the wrong political issue. I came across the linked article and before this past year would have thought it conspiracy material but now...as a former moderate reasonable Republican this is frightening.<br />https://www.autostraddle.com/i-was-trained-for-the-culture-wars-in-home-school-awaiting-someone-like-mike-pence-as-a-messiah-367057/<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08971461126890266506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-73364331578501413462016-05-11T17:18:58.423-05:002016-05-11T17:18:58.423-05:00I am so glad to see somebody with the intelligence...I am so glad to see somebody with the intelligence and reasoning skills to take the gun fetishists on. They show up everywhere. A few months ago they showed up en mass, like the proverbial flying monkeys to comment on an article published on HuffPo by an angry, grieving father. His daughter had been shot to death by an ex boyfriend. Some of their helpful and sensitive commentswere to the effect that if he the boyfriend had had a knife, or a can opener, or a blender, he would have killed her anyway, and really it was her fault because she let him in the house and back into her bed. <br />Wonkette had not so sad an example: Ted Cruz, caring a broken shotgun with the barrel slung over his shoulder the way Larry, Moe, or Curley would carry a rake. The Wonkette author ndicated this was unsafe. Legions of idiots showed up to say that no, it wasn't unsafe because the gun couldn't fire. Never mind that you could break someone's nose, cause them to lose a few teeth, and by the way, damage the barrel of a fine shotgun. <br />And it wasn't enough that they disagreed with the author. No, they expected her to apologize, write a retraction (to a blog!) and one of them commanded that she "make him a sammitch".HanBarbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09255769880524208325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-43234876725705298852016-04-29T17:42:47.013-05:002016-04-29T17:42:47.013-05:00Guns have had a tremendous impact on our society. ...Guns have had a tremendous impact on our society. Whether it is a discussion of "the right to have a gun", the idea of "protection" against some eventuality, the misuse of a gun, or just a desire to go to a range and shoot at targets, people will and have an interest in guns. I am a gun owner, but I am hardly fanatical about it, and enjoy the occasional target shooting. I did three years in the Marine Corps. I have done some reloading. I also lost my 17 year old son several years ago when he used my 357 to kill himself in his room. I have also read on a more or less daily basis, as I am sure you all have, about the various forms of mayhem committed by individuals in a variety of circumstances using guns. So I have some personal experience as well as just daily living experience in regards to guns... So in my opinion I think that virtually anything that makes the experience of gun ownership safer is a good thing. Short of outright confiscation, mostly anything else that comes to mind to make ownership safer is a good thing. Gun safety classes, backround checks, gun registration, technology fixes like "smart guns" all go towards safer gun ownership. Safety and responsibility are paramount and need to be reinforced and stressed whenever possible.Gun availability is something that could be controlled to a degree with required standard questionnaires provided by either state or federal authority. Waiting periods should always be required, and maybe some kind of a recheck procedure. Something like you bought a gun a year ago and you are required to take it back to either where you bought it or perhaps to the local police to reaffirm that you do indeed still have it or can account for where it is now... In regards to the original back and forth it was indeed well done and as indicated somewhat predictable. Talking to people who shall we say feel strongly about something or with people who have not thought things through often drops to name calling or insult... Jim I would like to thank you. Your writing is very enjoyable. The points you so often make are very much appreciated. Robyn Ferrianhttp://www.stonekettle.com/2016/04/bang-bang-crazy-part-12-god-guns-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66441921697229454812016-04-28T20:54:43.291-05:002016-04-28T20:54:43.291-05:00It never fails to baffle me that I need a license ...It never fails to baffle me that I need a license to operate a motor vehicle - requiring that I demonstrate that I know how to responsibly use it - and am legally required to have insurance on it should I damage property or injure someone with it; but to get a firearm just requires a three day wait or showing a CWP. No insurance requirement should I target something other than a range target etc. Vanya Tucherovhttp://www.ticky-box.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-6828033564951510552016-04-28T17:10:00.182-05:002016-04-28T17:10:00.182-05:00My only hope is that someday Jim will no longer ne...My only hope is that someday Jim will no longer need to pen another Bang Bang essay. Perhaps not on my lifetime, but in my son's or or soon-to-be grandson's. Dorseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16858102835558632891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69811991229720354392016-04-26T07:17:50.945-05:002016-04-26T07:17:50.945-05:00About those "law-abiding" gun-owning Tea...About those "law-abiding" gun-owning Tea Party "Patriots" - they're anything but "law-abiding": http://www.irehr.org/2014/04/17/bundy-standoff/<br /><br />They're the very people who should never be allowed to put a hand on a firearm: http://csgv.org/issues/guns-democracy-freedo/insurrectionism-timeline/<br /><br />Again, NO, they are neither responsible gun owners, nor law-abiding citizens - they're Timothy McVeighs in the making: http://www.politicalresearch.org/2013/11/22/nullification-neo-confederates-and-the-revenge-of-the-old-right/#sthash.QsQj22Hk.dpbs<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-85401095735375550152016-04-22T13:46:27.423-05:002016-04-22T13:46:27.423-05:00While I thoroughly enjoyed your well-crafted debat...While I thoroughly enjoyed your well-crafted debate with the NRA dude, I’ve got to say I’m a bit disappointed. Not in your debating skills, stance on the subject matter or writing… All that was spot on. I’m disappointed because I really would have enjoyed the debate between you and Dana. It would have been just as fun (maybe more fun) to hear from poor Dana the woes she has experienced and how she wants further “religious freedom” laws enacted in this country and watching you wipe the floor with her! Jennifer Cooknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-8126309756930082822016-04-21T02:59:57.375-05:002016-04-21T02:59:57.375-05:00I really hate the entirety of the 'mental heal...I really hate the entirety of the 'mental health' argument to oppose gun legislation. It corners on one very fallacious assumption: mental health is some kind of binary condition. Sane = potential gun owner. Insane = no bullets for you. Most mental health assessment of that mythical binary relationship require multiple criteria, grouped in clusters for any sort of diagnosis in the first place. In short, I might be riddled with some or many of those, but as long as I don't have enough of them, I might not be considered mentally ill. For many or all of us, the right combination of stress, depression, etc. could make any of us 'mentally ill' at any moment. Life throws at people, sometimes, things they are ill-equipped to deal with. Enough of those over time changes the sane to the insane.<br /><br />Since you are sane until (potentially) eventually being insane, where do you draw the line? How can you even use mental health as an argument for gun control outside of the insane (who, mind you, probably don't have access to guns anyways)?<br /><br />Mental health is not a defense against gun control. It isn't even a cogent argument.<br /><br />It's a demoralizing, dehumanizing, myopic, non-argument.<br /><br />Thanks for the article, Mr. Wright!Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-67153484396659130852016-04-17T00:35:03.813-05:002016-04-17T00:35:03.813-05:00It's entirely possible someone has already men...It's entirely possible someone has already mentioned this one, but if not....here is some future fodder for you:<br /><br />http://fox8.com/2014/10/30/graphic-details-released-in-near-beheading-murder-of-college-student/<br /><br />Christian who nearly beheaded a Wiccan. <br /><br />Also, as usual, great article. Cherilynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09986753257338814639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-49854667104494336462016-04-16T16:44:46.813-05:002016-04-16T16:44:46.813-05:00Here's a link to a Forbes (hardly a leftist pu...Here's a link to a Forbes (hardly a leftist publication) article from 2012: http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2012/12/18/addicted-to-bang-the-neuroscience-of-the-gun/#3fb2c0297bd4<br />Might shed some light on the psychology of the subject. I found it interesting.TC Langhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10320519973690667692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-84403503405698997982016-04-16T14:03:29.163-05:002016-04-16T14:03:29.163-05:00I agree with alaskapi. Just as people's lives...I agree with alaskapi. Just as people's lives tend to be highly individual, so do their ends.<br /><br />Some people have an impulse toward death, they try, they're prevented, they're grateful for the intervention and never try again. <br /><br />Some people are suffering greatly in mind or in body, they try, they're prevented, they work out another way to do it. <br /><br />Some people are suffering greatly in mind or in body, they try, they succeed.<br /><br />It's the impulsive ones who are helped to safety by the absence of an immediate "solution." It's hard to kill yourself with a pistol you don't have, and it's difficult to throw yourself off a bridge with an 8-foot fence along the edge. <br /><br />But I can't say that the deliberate death of someone who has a diagnosis of terminal cancer and who decides to skip the last several months of suffering, is sad 'n' tragic. It's always sad to lose someone you love, but maybe you haven't had a close friend eaten up by disease. You want "tragic"? That is tragic. And horrific. And dreadful. The ability to end that suffering is a merciful blessing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-2753091120015424252016-04-16T13:42:21.192-05:002016-04-16T13:42:21.192-05:00"a questionnaire . . . that could easily be g..."a questionnaire . . . that could easily be graded on the spot. It would have a simple mechanism for grading, each answer would have a point value and if you got points in the bad range you were deemed mentally ill and could not purchase a gun."<br /><br />Well, it's an idea. And twenty minutes after the exam was approved, "approved answers" would be posted on every gun-nut's Website, along with screaming outrage about how them pointy-headed psychologists was tryna keep law-abidin' 'Murricans from their legal Constitooshunal gun-ownin' rights.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-37028038126466238312016-04-16T13:32:17.764-05:002016-04-16T13:32:17.764-05:00Women tend to take a lot of pills. Guys pull the ...Women tend to take a lot of pills. Guys pull the trigger. It's a lot easier to revive someone who's overdosed on painkillers than it is someone who blew the back of his head off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-90710390268293702192016-04-16T13:30:14.382-05:002016-04-16T13:30:14.382-05:00I'm not sure they see it as a toy -- I think t...I'm not sure they see it as a toy -- I think the wimmins see it as a way to keep the bogeyman away and the guys see it as their male body-part in a holster.<br /><br />Remember the female idiot who decided that shooting at a couple of shoplifters in a parking lot was a peachy-good idea? She thought it was perfectly justified because they were black and she saw herself as "helping" the store's security team.<br /><br />The guys act as if gun control laws are going to surgically remove that body-part. Well, if they strongly equate one thing with the other, I guess their frightened outrage would make sense to them, wouldn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-21894059087375775612016-04-16T13:09:06.474-05:002016-04-16T13:09:06.474-05:00With a slight edit:
"Could it be it could be...With a slight edit:<br /><br />"Could it be it could be that the sole purpose of your life is to serve as a warning to others? You don't like it? Don't persist in saying, writing, or passing on stupid shit."<br /><br />Perfect. I'm going to use that. <br /><br />This describes a friend of my college roommate who endlessly and repeatedly sends him (and me) those racist, hate-filled bullshit Reich-wing emails that are never signed and always aimed at "those people". Sometimes they are referred to on liberal blogs as those emails "from your crazy uncle Larry whom you NEVER dare let out of the root cellar". Conveniently, this guys real name happens to be "Larry", and he's a freakin' dentist!) I can't wait to throw it at him when I call him on his next racist email bullshit, and he comes back with his typical, "Asshole" retort.<br /><br />Love your writing!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-51039457211892703682016-04-16T12:19:51.941-05:002016-04-16T12:19:51.941-05:00Again, Jim's rationality is attacked by a rati...Again, Jim's rationality is attacked by a rationalizer. Too damn few people can tell the difference. No inveterate rationalizer can be convinced that he's not being truly rational. They think that any argument is a good one.Rebel Libhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14856052894035989473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72185763628648910222016-04-16T10:17:02.721-05:002016-04-16T10:17:02.721-05:00My former father in law was all for over throwing ...My former father in law was all for over throwing the government. When I brought up the fact that the US Military has been doing counter Insurgency, and that his AR-15 or what ever flavor of gun works real well against Hellfire missiles, 500 pound bombs, 20 and 30 millimeter rounds. Not to mention signal intel. They have been doing it for 30 yrs now in foreign countries. I told him he would have to not use any communication and mount a coordinated offensive at the same time. That the military fights this in Afghanistan Iraq etc etc. He shut up. These people are mentally ill, and we need more mental health hospitals to take care of crazy people. A pill not taken is not as effective as ensuring these people are on their medications. However due to lower taxes, using fear to increase Homeland Security, Military Spending, erosion of our freedoms(patriot act etc). This consolidates more power in the hands of fewer people instead of more freedom and benefits for all. The right wing loves their sheep. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-25370918226819196242016-04-16T00:59:54.462-05:002016-04-16T00:59:54.462-05:00Going beyond gun control, how about the guy who mo...Going beyond gun control, how about the guy who moved from California, where he had a conviction for child molestation, to Kansas, where he neglected to tell anyone about said conviction, and proceeded to open up a gymnastics studio. For kids. Yeah. Right here in town. I'm not going to say that nationalizing a registry would be easy (because I know it wouldn't be) but maybe it's long overdue. <br /><br />On the topic of "No New Taxes," I think we've tried the trickle-down approach long enough, and it's time to admit it isn't working, and try something else. Yes, I am aware that the ones who buy politicians are NOT in favor of change.<br /><br />Gretchen in KSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66230055158887536942016-04-15T22:01:02.315-05:002016-04-15T22:01:02.315-05:00GaryB-
My sister killed herself last week. Her s...GaryB- <br /><br />My sister killed herself last week. Her suicide was understandable. She had been from suffering severe mental illness for many years.<br /> She poisoned herself with carbon monoxide as she hated guns with a passion.(Her beloved son was killed by a punk with a gun he should never have had.)<br /> As difficult as things are right now, I would never argue that anyone lacks the right to kill themselves and I don't see Mr Wright or commenters here doing that.<br /> I do however see plenty of folks willing to step up and try to work through reducing suicide by gun deaths. <br /><br />That is a worthy goal - the number of permanent-solution-to-temporary -problems deaths by guns suicides can be shown to drop as soon as access to guns is tightened up some. Especially by young folks.<br /><br /><br /><br /> This has been a pretty shitty year in my family- at the same time I was watching my sister make a left turn into nevermore I was in the middle of a group trying to keep someone from killing themselves over a divorce. A stoopid fricking divorce. <br />I got screamed at about demanding all guns be taken away and treated to a whole hell of a lot of frothing spittle about rights to have guns shit for months. Three days ago that person called me and thanked me for the no-guns-while-you-are a fruit-loop thingy. I sorta got an apology for all the nasty names I was called. <br />Doesn't matter- I don't really care if people call me names. I care folks don't kill themselves on a whim.<br /><br /> One person did not have an easy way to end their life during an emotionally charged period because there were no guns at their fingertips and one ended their life because their life was total shit for a long time. <br />Very different stuff . <br />And I think pretty much this is what folks here are hoping to take a stab at sorting out - except the FakeNRA dude who can't keep track of his own name let alone his argument.<br /><br /><br />To assume all suicides are merely "terminations" which are " always sad and often tragic but frequently understandable" but that none should be derailed because of some abstract right of self determination we haven't really sorted out we have ? Pfft <br />sorry- I disagree<br /><br /> As always, thank you Mr Wright. <br /><br /><br /><br />alaskapihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11900235733791874046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-86503254202525182292016-04-15T20:47:03.396-05:002016-04-15T20:47:03.396-05:00I think the most appropriate description of the wh...I think the most appropriate description of the whole pro-anti gun control debate is Charlie Foxtrot, but thank you for trying to speak truth to stupid. <br />So again as you squids say BZFNGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548774297687965245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-71804351500630739792016-04-15T19:50:17.401-05:002016-04-15T19:50:17.401-05:00Last year it became legal to carry a concealed wea...Last year it became legal to carry a concealed weapon without a license. It had been legal to open carry for a long time already, but the law changed. To date I have not seen one single person who was either carrying openly or "accidentally let their jacket open" since the law changed. That is either in town or out of town. This is Maine which is very much open, rural country and despite the law and despite the nature of this place, I learned last year that in my town of roughly 800 residents before the law changed fewer than ten percent had concealed weapons permits. <br /><br />So far it appears the change in the law hasn't changed many people's behaviors.Acadianlionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00053800440487837458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-37016804436638194642016-04-15T18:09:04.011-05:002016-04-15T18:09:04.011-05:00This why I call Twitter "The Toilet of the In...This why I call Twitter "The Toilet of the Internet". However, it's satisfying to see that there are "plumbers" able to clean this shit hole. Well, perhaps not clean, but apply some logical perspective. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03291456347124077217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-12753037261330568022016-04-15T13:04:05.886-05:002016-04-15T13:04:05.886-05:00Good article. We need gun registration / data bas...Good article. We need gun registration / data base, etc. Not gonna happen because of the NRA.<br /><br />I would love to read or hear about any study that looks at the way people's actions and reactions change when they're carrying a firearm - and how the people they interact with respond when they realize the other person has a weapon. And how many times does the person who is carrying a concealed weapon "accidentally" let their jacket open a bit so the other guys can see. After all, when you're in a pissing match after a fender bender, what good is it to have a gun if the other guy doesn't know about it. And how does the whole dynamic of the interaction change after the weapon is brandished? Would Trayvon Martin seen the need to attack George Zimmerman if Zimmerman hadn't "oopsie" let him see the gun. Somehow I doubt it.<br /><br />JZinFLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-45336113413654238782016-04-15T11:40:52.805-05:002016-04-15T11:40:52.805-05:00I have tried many times, as I read with passion an...I have tried many times, as I read with passion and conviction, another of your essays to determine who it is that I so love about your writing. It came to me just this morning.<br /><br />My daddy was a Navy man. To be clear he was UDT/SEAL Team 1. He never saw action. Was in route to Korea when the conflict ended. Finished his "tour". Supported the training of that first Seal Team (Hence Seal Team 1) and headed to the reserves. He left when his only son, then 2 1/2 was diagnosed with leukemia. Not sure I added that. But because I love him and miss him, I feel like I want you to know him. My brother died 4 years later. My three sisters and I were 8, 4 and I was 3. Our life moved on and an other brother came and my dad was one of those genuinely awesome 70's dads. Actually he was super involved in our lives. Incredibly affectionate, hands on and verbal with his love. I was a lucky kid.<br /><br />My dad was a multiple gun owner. Just outside my bedroom was the locked gun cabinet. He was a hunter. A target shooter. A gun enthusiast. He taught us gun safety. He had rules for when we played war, cowboys and indians, and any game that included "weaponry". He was serious about this. I remember, clearly when paying outside one Saturday, how serious he was. My brother broke the cardinal rule of pointing a toy gun at my head. My dad lost. his. shit! What followed was a stern but loving lecture on guns danger, respect and the sanctity of life. My dad died 11 years ago. I really miss him.<br /><br />So here is why I share this story. You remind me of him. He was smart. Clever. Funny. Fair. A man of great integrity. And he would have abhorred what you have so eloquently just described in your essay. And every essay that proceeds it. <br /><br />There is a way to bridge this gap of lunacy. There is. But I fear we will never get there. Because the divide has become so deep and filled with ignorance, fear mongering, money and politics. Most days I feel cynical and defeated. I give up fighting. I have read numerous books on gun violence and the 2nd amendment to educate myself. I have written senators and congresspersons. But this divide, this fanaticism fueled by the NRA and propagated by the Mike Nolastname's of the world seems insurmountable to me. That 20 children could be murdered in a classroom and result ZERO change is unfathomable to me. And it makes me sad. And it makes me miss my dad.<br /><br />So I will wrap this up by saying Thank You. Thank you for making me feel with each new post that I am having a good long talk with Daddy. He would have LOVED you!Auntie Miphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08587331779041550284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-76993017712251600972016-04-15T11:26:11.945-05:002016-04-15T11:26:11.945-05:00I don't get the gun culture. You think that Gu...I don't get the gun culture. You think that Gun Owners would want to get guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. Even if you completely disregard the 20,000 suicide deaths that isn't even the tip of the iceberg. All the mass shootings we have seen were by mentally ill people. The closest anyone came to wanting to restrict that is when people said "We have to stop Muslim Terrorists before they strike." That only stops the one Muslim mass murder and not the jack offs that walk into and shoot up a Planned Parenthood clinic. <br /><br />As long as people are unwilling to say "No you can not have a gun." there will be an unending series of gun related mass murders, murders, and suicides. "But it is a Slippery Slope." be damned.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14670532596583146789noreply@blogger.com