The Answer to Every Question is "More Guns"

Here's a little twitter "conversation" from Mr. Driftglass:

http://driftglass.blogspot.com/2015/10/inside-conservative-brain.html

Here's a photo Digby posted yesterday:

There were other shots in the post, of people with protest signs saying "Go Home Obama," and a confederate flag was also flown. Here's the link:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/this-is-just-sad-anti-obama-gun-right.html

So it's not really that surprising that someone can post a fictional quote from George Washington, be refuted as a matter of actual history, and still be defended. Colbert's brilliant concept of truthiness thrives. It's not surprising because people who saw the actual blood can still summon up enough energy to go out and stand in a protest against what was in fact a Presidential visit of comfort, not politics. The denialists just scream louder. It's what they do. To the objection that Mr. Obama is "politicizing" the Oregon murders, that it is "too soon," he might well respond that he is just now politicizing the murders at Sandy Hook, because enough time has passed. "The thing that separates the American Christian from every other person on earth is the fact that he would rather die on his feet than live on his knees!" --George Washington. The poster adds, "Why do liberals find this so offensive?"

According to reports I read, the shootings at Northern Arizona University yesterday were the result of some sort of gun battle between two groups of students. That some survived is obviously an indication that more guns, bigger guns, more dangerous bullets, etc., are still needed. Sometime good guys have to fight it out with good guys.

There's a fine short story by Annie Proulx about some people who drive off from one watering hole to the next in a state of argument. It's in the book "Close Range." When the police find them, they're all dead. A gun fight had occurred. When the evidence is examined more closely it seems that one of the victims was shot from behind. Ms Proulx saw this coming some time back. A good defense lawyer could raise endless questions about noggin orientation, and how bullets can change direction in flight. At the inquest I mean. There's always some stuff to divide up amongst the inheritors.

When I was in the 5th Grade my principal brought a German Luger to class. He'd picked it up when he was marching into Germany, in 1945. He said people tossed weapons out of their windows, and this one landed at his feet, so he brought it home. We passed it around the class, from desk to desk. I don't recall anyone snapping the trigger, or pointing at a classmate, but mostly I recall the event as a whole, the story of the weapon's capture, the cold black steel and how it fit in the hand, even a kid's hand. Mr. Edwards had a blond crew cut and was probably in his mid-30s. I wish I knew what division he served in, as my father-in-law was also in that march in '45. Of course there were many marches, many moments.

Donald Trump this week called for the execution of Sgt. Bergdahl. He was cheered. Perhaps if he is elected, as his first Presidential Act (and the final conclusion to the experiment in American democracy, which has been on its death bed since at least the JFK assassination), Mr. Trump can actually shoot Sgt. Bergdahl in the back of the head on live teevee. That would be bracing to Trump's supporters. After that they can rise up and get on with the project of deporting 12 million undocumented people and their American citizen children.

We obviously need more guns.

[photo from the Holocaust Museum, from 1942, Ukraine]