America`s Gun Culture

[seafoid]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redleg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDWAt_QfMvA

[seafoid]

http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2016/07/08/after-dallas-police-shooting-violence-begets-violence/

But the connections between the three shootings nonetheless have deep roots in the American soil. As a culture we have too often chosen to address our problems with violence, even as we continue to make guns widely available so that citizens can do the same. We reflexively resort to force to address foreign policy challenges, whether in Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, Nicaragua, El Salvador, or Grenada. We spend more on our military budget than the next seven largest militaries in the world combined. And we declare endless "wars" on crime, drugs, terror, or the latest disease.

Our Constitution was predicated on socially sanctioned violence, in particular the force that was necessary to relegate about 500,000 of our fellow countrymen and women to slavery. It took a civil war to eradicate that sin. An entrenched system of state and private terror enforced Jim Crow segregation for decades thereafter.

The founding commitment to force is also reflected in the Second Amendment—whether it is viewed as preserving a prerogative of states to field militias or, as the Supreme Court has declared, an individual right to bear arms. As I wrote recently in The New York Review, Americans own about 300 million guns, or 88 for every 100 people, more guns per capita than any other nation. Each year, more than 30,000 Americans die by gunfire. Our gun murder rate is about thirty times that of the United Kingdom, which has strict gun laws, and where the vast majority of the police do not carry firearms. So far this year, according to The Washington Post, more than five hundred people have been killed in police shootings. Both of the men shot by police this week were carrying guns.

But in this instance, it is the "war" on crime itself that is most to blame. More than any other nation in the world, we turn to the state-sanctioned compulsion of the criminal justice system to "solve" social problems, including mental illness, drug addiction, poverty, homelessness, and lack of opportunity. Our "first responders" are too often the police, bearing handcuffs and guns rather than public assistance or life support. We arrest and incarcerate our fellow citizens at the highest per capita rate in the world. And those targeted are disproportionately black and Hispanic men living in poverty-stricken inner-city neighborhoods. We can't seem to find the resources to invest in those neighborhoods to support adequate schools, job training programs, after-care for children let out of school before their parents come home, or economic development.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqB-wf49Xsc

[seafoid]

http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2016/07/02/police-injustice-how-the-court-fails/

[seafoid]

http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2012/12/15/our-moloch/
Our Moloch

Garry Wills   


Few crimes are more harshly forbidden in the Old Testament than sacrifice to the god Moloch (for which see Leviticus 18.21, 20.1-5). The sacrifice referred to was of living children consumed in the fires of offering to Moloch. Ever since then, worship of Moloch has been the sign of a deeply degraded culture. Ancient Romans justified the destruction of Carthage by noting that children were sacrificed to Moloch there. Milton represented Moloch as the first pagan god who joined Satan's war on humankind:


First Moloch, horrid king, besmear'd with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears,
Though for the noise of Drums and Timbrels loud
Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd through fire
To his grim idol. (Paradise Lost 1.392-96)

Read again those lines, with recent images seared into our brains—"besmeared with blood" and "parents' tears." They give the real meaning of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School Friday morning. That horror cannot be blamed just on one unhinged person. It was the sacrifice we as a culture made, and continually make, to our demonic god. We guarantee that crazed man after crazed man will have a flood of killing power readily supplied him. We have to make that offering, out of devotion to our Moloch, our god. The gun is our Moloch. We sacrifice children to him daily—sometimes, as at Sandy Hook, by directly throwing them into the fire-hose of bullets from our protected private killing machines, sometimes by blighting our children's lives by the death of a parent, a schoolmate, a teacher, a protector. Sometimes this is done by mass killings (eight this year), sometimes by private offerings to the god (thousands this year).

The gun is not a mere tool, a bit of technology, a political issue, a point of debate. It is an object of reverence. Devotion to it precludes interruption with the sacrifices it entails. Like most gods, it does what it will, and cannot be questioned. Its acolytes think it is capable only of good things. It guarantees life and safety and freedom. It even guarantees law. Law grows from it. Then how can law question it?

Its power to do good is matched by its incapacity to do anything wrong. It cannot kill. Thwarting the god is what kills. If it seems to kill, that is only because the god's bottomless appetite for death has not been adequately fed. The answer to problems caused by guns is more guns, millions of guns, guns everywhere, carried openly, carried secretly, in bars, in churches, in offices, in government buildings. Only the lack of guns can be a curse, not their beneficent omnipresence.

Adoration of Moloch permeates the country, imposing a hushed silence as he works his will. One cannot question his rites, even as the blood is gushing through the idol's teeth. The White House spokesman invokes the silence of traditional in religious ceremony. "It is not the time" to question Moloch. No time is right for showing disrespect for Moloch.

The fact that the gun is a reverenced god can be seen in its manifold and apparently resistless powers. How do we worship it? Let us count the ways:


1. It has the power to destroy the reasoning process. It forbids making logical connections. We are required to deny that there is any connection between the fact that we have the greatest number of guns in private hands and the greatest number of deaths from them. Denial on this scale always comes from or is protected by religious fundamentalism. Thus do we deny global warming, or evolution, or biblical errancy. Reason is helpless before such abject faith.


2. It has the power to turn all our politicians as a class into invertebrate and mute attendants at the shrine. None dare suggest that Moloch can in any way be reined in without being denounced by the pope of this religion, National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre, as trying to destroy Moloch, to take away all guns. They whimper and say they never entertained such heresy. Many flourish their guns while campaigning, or boast that they have themselves hunted "varmints." Better that the children die or their lives be blasted than that a politician should risk an election against the dread sentence of NRA excommunication.


3. It has the power to distort our constitutional thinking. It says that the right to "bear arms," a military term, gives anyone, anywhere in our country, the power to mow down civilians with military weapons. Even the Supreme Court has been cowed, reversing its own long history of recognizing that the Second Amendment applied to militias. Now the court feels bound to guarantee that any every madman can indulge his "religion" of slaughter. Moloch brooks no dissent, even from the highest court in the land.

Though LaPierre is the pope of this religion, its most successful Peter the Hermit, preaching the crusade for Moloch, was Charlton Heston, a symbol of the Americanism of loving guns. I have often thought that we should raise a statue of Heston at each of the many sites of multiple murders around our land. We would soon have armies of statues, whole droves of Heston acolytes standing sentry at the shrines of Moloch dotting the landscape. Molochism is the one religion that can never be separated from the state. The state itself bows down to Moloch, and protects the sacrifices made to him. So let us celebrate the falling bodies and rising statues as a demonstration of our fealty, our bondage, to the great god Gun.

[foxcommander]

One more thing Foxcommander. You claim that As seen in the likes of Baltimore and Feguson, BLM is a magnet for those who want to use it as an excuse to riot and loot. Others just want to cash in on the trend (Like Jay-Z and Beyoncé) to further careers and make money off the back of it the same as Al and Jesse have done for years.

So what is the breakdown here? What is the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting?

You're blaming them for this murderer's actions. What proportion of BLM activities have lead to murders, of police or otherwise?

I would ask you what the response of black people SHOULD be to the various unnecessary killings of black men by police, but that would require your acknowledgement that a problem even exists.

Feel stupid yet J70?

Looting and rioting in Baton Rouge has led to todays events. BLM is the group that gets these folk together.

So it's only if a police officer is killed first that shooting an armed killer who happens to be a black person is in any way justifiable in the minds of BLM supporters and liberal leaning folk?



How about this for BLM instruction and recruitment. There are some right r-tards in the crowd clapping their own demise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIr-B686kog

[Wildweasel74]

this good guy with a guy solution the NRA normally give doesn't seem to be working this weather, me thinks no access to guns might, just might be a better solution,

Oh that right that not work now, as guns have flooded America for years, bit like closing the bottle after the genie escapes.

[J70]

One more thing Foxcommander. You claim that As seen in the likes of Baltimore and Feguson, BLM is a magnet for those who want to use it as an excuse to riot and loot. Others just want to cash in on the trend (Like Jay-Z and Beyoncé) to further careers and make money off the back of it the same as Al and Jesse have done for years.

So what is the breakdown here? What is the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting?

You're blaming them for this murderer's actions. What proportion of BLM activities have lead to murders, of police or otherwise?

I would ask you what the response of black people SHOULD be to the various unnecessary killings of black men by police, but that would require your acknowledgement that a problem even exists.

Feel stupid yet J70?

Looting and rioting in Baton Rouge has led to todays events. BLM is the group that gets these folk together.

So it's only if a police officer is killed first that shooting an armed killer who happens to be a black person is in any way justifiable in the minds of BLM supporters and liberal leaning folk?



How about this for BLM instruction and recruitment. There are some right r-tards in the crowd clapping their own demise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIr-B686kog

1. I have no problem with anyone calling for the killing of cops or the use of violence against cops or anyone else being charged and arrested. I don't see how that can be protected speech.
2. You still haven't answered the question about the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting/murders, of police or otherwise.
3. And if BLM should be shut down because of a few nuts who took things too far, then what about the anti-abortion movement?

Interesting that you had to wait a week to respond to my question. Given your apparent knowledge of all things black and BLM, I'm sure the facts are at your fingertips?

[Jell 0 Biafra]

One more thing Foxcommander. You claim that As seen in the likes of Baltimore and Feguson, BLM is a magnet for those who want to use it as an excuse to riot and loot. Others just want to cash in on the trend (Like Jay-Z and Beyoncé) to further careers and make money off the back of it the same as Al and Jesse have done for years.

So what is the breakdown here? What is the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting?

You're blaming them for this murderer's actions. What proportion of BLM activities have lead to murders, of police or otherwise?

I would ask you what the response of black people SHOULD be to the various unnecessary killings of black men by police, but that would require your acknowledgement that a problem even exists.

Feel stupid yet J70?

Looting and rioting in Baton Rouge has led to todays events. BLM is the group that gets these folk together.

So it's only if a police officer is killed first that shooting an armed killer who happens to be a black person is in any way justifiable in the minds of BLM supporters and liberal leaning folk?



How about this for BLM instruction and recruitment. There are some right r-tards in the crowd clapping their own demise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIr-B686kog

1. I have no problem with anyone calling for the killing of cops or the use of violence against cops or anyone else being charged and arrested. I don't see how that can be protected speech.
2. You still haven't answered the question about the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting/murders, of police or otherwise.
3. And if BLM should be shut down because of a few nuts who took things too far, then what about the anti-abortion movement?

Interesting that you had to wait a week to respond to my question. Given your apparent knowledge of all things black and BLM, I'm sure the facts are at your fingertips?

I would have thought that was exactly free speech, J70...is it not?   

[DrinkingHarp]

One more thing Foxcommander. You claim that As seen in the likes of Baltimore and Feguson, BLM is a magnet for those who want to use it as an excuse to riot and loot. Others just want to cash in on the trend (Like Jay-Z and Beyoncé) to further careers and make money off the back of it the same as Al and Jesse have done for years.

So what is the breakdown here? What is the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting?

You're blaming them for this murderer's actions. What proportion of BLM activities have lead to murders, of police or otherwise?

I would ask you what the response of black people SHOULD be to the various unnecessary killings of black men by police, but that would require your acknowledgement that a problem even exists.

Feel stupid yet J70?

Looting and rioting in Baton Rouge has led to todays events. BLM is the group that gets these folk together.

So it's only if a police officer is killed first that shooting an armed killer who happens to be a black person is in any way justifiable in the minds of BLM supporters and liberal leaning folk?



How about this for BLM instruction and recruitment. There are some right r-tards in the crowd clapping their own demise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIr-B686kog

1. I have no problem with anyone calling for the killing of cops or the use of violence against cops or anyone else being charged and arrested. I don't see how that can be protected speech.
2. You still haven't answered the question about the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting/murders, of police or otherwise.
3. And if BLM should be shut down because of a few nuts who took things too far, then what about the anti-abortion movement?

Interesting that you had to wait a week to respond to my question. Given your apparent knowledge of all things black and BLM, I'm sure the facts are at your fingertips?

I would have thought that was exactly free speech, J70...is it not?

Not when the speech is a threat of violence

http://law.justia.com/constitution/us/amendment-01/43-threats-of-violence.html

[Muck Savage]

BLM have been running an anti-cop campaign for the past two years. They may not have been directly involved in the cop shootings in the past week but they have encouraged the hate against the police which has resulted in 8 police deaths.
Have they marched about this in the past week? Have they marched about the 25 other Black men shot dead in the past week by other black men? Surly their lives also matter, even the black police officer if they are only going to march for Black lives.
The hate for the police is getting out of hand and even though BLM are not the flame that is doing the damage they are the fan that is stoking it.

[muppet]

BLM have been running an anti-cop campaign for the past two years. They may not have been directly involved in the cop shootings in the past week but they have encouraged the hate against the police which has resulted in 8 police deaths.
Have they marched about this in the past week? Have they marched about the 25 other Black men shot dead in the past week by other black men? Surly their lives also matter, even the black police officer if they are only going to march for Black lives.
The hate for the police is getting out of hand and even though BLM are not the flame that is doing the damage they are the fan that is stoking it.

What is the flame that is doing the damage?

[J70]

One more thing Foxcommander. You claim that As seen in the likes of Baltimore and Feguson, BLM is a magnet for those who want to use it as an excuse to riot and loot. Others just want to cash in on the trend (Like Jay-Z and Beyoncé) to further careers and make money off the back of it the same as Al and Jesse have done for years.

So what is the breakdown here? What is the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting?

You're blaming them for this murderer's actions. What proportion of BLM activities have lead to murders, of police or otherwise?

I would ask you what the response of black people SHOULD be to the various unnecessary killings of black men by police, but that would require your acknowledgement that a problem even exists.

Feel stupid yet J70?

Looting and rioting in Baton Rouge has led to todays events. BLM is the group that gets these folk together.

So it's only if a police officer is killed first that shooting an armed killer who happens to be a black person is in any way justifiable in the minds of BLM supporters and liberal leaning folk?



How about this for BLM instruction and recruitment. There are some right r-tards in the crowd clapping their own demise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIr-B686kog

1. I have no problem with anyone calling for the killing of cops or the use of violence against cops or anyone else being charged and arrested. I don't see how that can be protected speech.
2. You still haven't answered the question about the proportion of BLM marches/protests that have involved riots and looting/murders, of police or otherwise.
3. And if BLM should be shut down because of a few nuts who took things too far, then what about the anti-abortion movement?

Interesting that you had to wait a week to respond to my question. Given your apparent knowledge of all things black and BLM, I'm sure the facts are at your fingertips?

I would have thought that was exactly free speech, J70...is it not?

In the states, you are right, it probably is.

It all comes down to whether the speech is encouraging "imminent lawless action", as per the Brandenburg case.

So if the protester is telling people to go attack and kill the cops right there and then, it wouldn't be protected speech.

If he is shouting about not taking it anymore and saying that force will be met with force, with no reference to a time or location or individuals, then it would be.

[Tony Baloney]

One of the biggest eye-openers for me over the past few weeks is the prevelance of states permitting open carry. It really is shocking that people can walk about with unconcealed weapons like in a Wild West town.

[AZOffaly]

Some would say unconcealed is far better than concealed!

I remember the surprise I felt in my first couple of days in Arizona, queuing up at McDonalds and the guy in front of me had a handgun in clear view tucked into the back of his jeans, TV cop - style.

[J70]

BLM have been running an anti-cop campaign for the past two years. They may not have been directly involved in the cop shootings in the past week but they have encouraged the hate against the police which has resulted in 8 police deaths.
Have they marched about this in the past week? Have they marched about the 25 other Black men shot dead in the past week by other black men? Surly their lives also matter, even the black police officer if they are only going to march for Black lives.
The hate for the police is getting out of hand and even though BLM are not the flame that is doing the damage they are the fan that is stoking it.

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that you are right and that BLM is getting out of hand in their rhetoric. That their tactics need to be reevaluated. Let's put that aside for now.

The issue, the reason for their existence, is the treatment of black people by the justice system i.e. the state, in the US. The unarmed men being killed because the police are afraid/prejudiced and overreact. The historical lack of accountability for law enforcement when it happens. The disparate sentences they receive for the same crimes when compared to white people. The harrassment by law enforcement.

Just because you don't like their rhetoric or their tactics doesn't mean that the issues they are concerned with are illegitimate.

And on the black on black crime - do you seriously think that all these black people don't give a bollocks about what is happening in their own neighbourhoods? That there are no movements out there among black communities trying to address the poverty and social issues which drive the high crime rates in their areas?

Does the right really give a shit about black poverty and crime rates in inner cities, or are their "concerns" just a red herring to try to delegitimize the issues on which BLM is based?