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Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Show Must Go On

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT HAVE NOTICED, AN EDITED VERSION OF THIS POST APPEARED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SECTION ON JANUARY 22, 2011


The Show must go on. The annual Shot Show in Las Vegas that is. Is there no more jarring juxtaposition than an article ("Giffords Set for Transfer to Rehabilitation Center") with an accompanying picture of tributes to the congresswoman, above a story ("In an Ocean of Firearms, Tucson Is Far Away") and a photo of an array of weapons waiting for the ready, aim, fire brigade.

The most distressing aspect is that there is not even a pretense that the recent events in Tucson give the gun lovers and lobbyists pause for reflection. The party line is that the fault lies not in our guns but in our mental health care system. Not exactly Shakespearean.

When the best we have to hope for is merely the most limited of conversations on the size of the magazine, not the scope of the arsenal, it is clear that the only lesson learned from this tragedy is that there were few, if any, lessons learned.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any weapon is constitutionally permitted. Even Nuclear weapons. Right? If there are limitations, we as a society may draw them. Ted

Robert said...

There is virtually no voice for setting limitations. Can there be anything more powerful than the gun lobby?

Anonymous said...

Why is the gun lobby so strong? Doesn't conman sense prevail sometimes?
Everyone should carry a Glock , just the other day , while driving, someone cut me off . I wish I had my Glock with me to show my displeasure.

Robert said...

it will soon be the 21st century version of the Wild West, as the congressmen leave their weapons at the front door when entering the hallowed body to discuss gun control legislation