There is so much about the world I inhabit that I don’t understand.
I’ve repeatedly posted about my inability to get my head around support for an ignorant, obviously deeply mentally-ill candidate for president, for example. I mean, what in the world do people see in a self-engrossed buffoon given to bizarre, nonsensical rants that makes them want to give him control of the nuclear codes?
There are other aspects of American life that I find equally incomprehensible, and one of them is Americans’ gun fetish, which has given us repeated, horrific mass and school shootings.
In some ways, the problem with gun ownership is the thornier of the two: we can get rid of Trump by electing his sane and intellectually superior opponent, but even if we changed gun laws tomorrow–outlawing, for example, the personal ownership of assault weapons–we would still be faced with the fact that millions of Americans already own millions of weapons.
Many of those weapons, to be sure, are in the hands of responsible people–sportsmen, adults aware of and compliant with safety measures–but research suggests that a vastly disproportionate number are in the possession of far-Right conspiracy theorists and looneys styling themselves as “militia” members.
We are never going to be able to get rid of those millions of weapons. Even those of us who marvel at the current, clearly ahistorical acceptance of a dramatically-enlarged application of the Second Amendment nevertheless recognize that the Amendment would not allow broad confiscation of guns.
It is a thorny problem, and as with so many difficult issues, progress will inevitably be incremental. That said, there are encouraging signs that at least some progress is being made. Back in April, Daily Kos reported on the woes of the NRA.
Early this year, Wayne LaPierre resigned ahead of a trial over his flagrant misuse of the organization’s funds to “treat himself to yacht trips, African safaris, and regular use of a private jet.’
In the wake of LaPierre’s resignation, the organization has reportedly descended into infighting. Finding a new leader has proven so difficult that not even Donald Trump Jr., who spent years talking himself up as the NRA’s next leader, is willing to take the job. Or at least, he says he wouldn’t, though no one has actually asked him to step in.
Leadership aside, the NRA now has only a fraction of the funds they had to sling around in past election seasons. They’ve declined from the $50 million they put into races in 2016 to only $11 million in their PAC and SuperPAC combined as of the last filing. Membership is also down by over a million, to around five million, which is half the goal LaPierre set for 2023 a decade ago.
And that’s not all that’s declined. So have gun sales. So what does that mean for the gun lobby?
The financial troubles (and thus the waning influence) of the NRA is very good news, because that organization was able to block reasonable firearms policies. As the article notes, other gun organizations aren’t able to exert the lobbying heft of the NRA.
With the NRA fading, there are other gun lobby groups working to gain more influence. However, none of them seem to have the level of influence, extensive finances, and highly effective lobbyists that the NRA had a few years ago. Those other organizations haven’t spent decades nurturing relationships with both politicians and deep-pocketed donors. The decline of the NRA seems like a genuine moment of weakness in the pro-gun lobby.
The article concludes with the hopeful proposition that–despite “stupid state laws”– “America may have passed ‘peak gun.” That’s probably too optimistic. On the other hand, it implicitly recognizes the importance of culture–and culture change– when dealing with issues that can seem intractable.
The reason the culture wars have flared so intensely these last few years is that frightened people have recognized the overwhelming threat to White Christian male dominance posed by the changes they are seeing in public opinion. America’s culture warriors are desperately trying to stop the growth of newly inclusive attitudes, evidenced by acceptance of women and gay folks and people of color, and the rejection of rules based solely upon the doctrines of favored religious denominations.
Those frightened “warriors” are the ones clinging to their “Second Amendment right” to own an AR-15. As their numbers diminish, so will the public safety danger posed by angry men (almost all mass killers are male) who want to stop the spinning of a world that is changing in ways that they believe disempower them.
It’s far from a perfect solution, but at least the culture change on guns seems to be heading in the right direction.
I am always astonished at the statistic that reveals that only 30% of Americans even own a gun, mostly handguns (72%). The latest numbers I could find pegged total guns in our country at 393 million, with a population of 330 million. That translates to about 100 million gun owners to the majority, 230 million, who don’t own a gun. Another case of minority rule, along with the Electoral College, the Senate, etc. etc.
I do have faint memories of my love affair with toy pistols as I played cowboys and Indians as a kid, but that faded as I grew into adulthood of course. I’m afraid it appears it stayed with too many American (men) who remain enthralled in that childish affair with firearms. I’m sure it has something (everything?) to do with power, but whatever it is, it is a woeful situation for all of us.
I can’t help but wonder if a gun safety course is needed at the high school level. As these old warriors die off what happens to their weapons? Will their kids and grandkids know how to treat them safely, or will they just lay around and gather dust until a great-grandchild gets ahold of one and blows his little sisters head off?
Our culture glorifies the gun toting hero. From comic books to Star Wars the “good guys” defeat the ” bad guys” by using guns of all sorts. So unless you are some kind of superhero who can’t be killed, you need a weapon to defend the weak and protect your freedom. Also, there is the tradition of he who uses his gun to “bring home the bacon” to feed his family. Would you have the kiddies go hungry? In light of all this, I agree with Gil that it’s surprising only 30% of Americans own guns. I think many gun owners see unarmed folks as naive Pollyannas who are unwilling to accept responsibility for their own security. They see themselves as the heroic protectors of the peace.
Gil, I wholeheartedly agree that it has something to do with power. Perhaps it’s the feeling of powerlessness in a society where “freedom” has come to mean “anything goes” and there are few consequences particularly for the ruling class and race.
One piece of sane legislation that would actually make a difference in gun-related death and injury is to require passing a course of instruction with an emphasis on safe handling and storage of a firearm before making a purchase. This would eliminate the impulse buy when a person may be driven by a moment of poor judgement, because before he or she would be allowed to finish the transaction they would have to take the class. As well as a “cooling off” period of time it would allow for some kind of rudimentary mental health assessment.
This is also how advocates of gun ownership could lead the way. The NRA that I used to belong to (before Wayne LaPierre turned it into a political lobbying group) was dedicated to safe handling and proper training, and they could do so again. There was extensive training for their instructors, and they could lead the way to increasing safe use of firearms.
Wishful thinking.
When Scalia, the original originalist, did away with “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,” I was appalled. It’s the only part of the Bill of Rights that clearly refers back to the body of the original document, where a well regulated militia is defined. You would think an originalist would think that the original document might hold some sway.
We are the safest, most comfortable humans who have ever existed, yet our entertainment media is so pervasive that it can scare us to death. That is true even though guns in a home are statistically less safe than unarmed homes.
As horrific as school shootings are to us now, I am not sure that we have seen yet the worst outcome of the NRA’s nefarious lobbying. It is a sticky problem now that we’ve let it spread as far as it has.
Those of us who hunt are very likely to own multiple firearms. Hunting regulations ( usually for deer) often mean I must use one gun in area “A” but must use a different one in area “B”. Having said that I’ve no use for handguns or AR/AK style rifles. Getting AR style out of public hands will be difficult ( I advocate for banning/buying back magazines of over 5 or 10 rounds and banning the manufacture and sale of new autoloaders with detachable magazines as a good, workable, starting point.) With luck the NRA will bankrupt itself as people come to realize its endorsement of trump is the polar opposite of what a pro-Constitutional, pro law & order organization would do. Restoring the original meaning of the 2nd, which until the mid-1960s wasn’t considered to be an individual right, is important, but it will be a long haul and the NRA will fight it to keep its insane version of the 2nd in law. This fall we have only one choice to make America a better, safer, more respected and economically successful nation and that is to vote blue top to bottom.
I’m not holding my breath. The earth has already been salted and it will take years if not a whole generation or more to undo the damage caused by the propaganda spread by the NRA.
The only hope I have is if things soften up and the gag order on the government lifts enough to do some serious research from a public safety point of view.
When you tell a hard line 2A believer that having a gun in the house makes it something like 50% more likely somebody in the house will be injured in gun violence, you get this rabid reaction that exactly echos NRA talking points.
In some ways the MAGA movement is using the same techniques salting the earth with half truths and lies while obfuscating reliable information.
Peggy,
I, too, have been amazed at the originalists ability to offer full throated support of the original language of the second amendment while totally dismissing the two most important words in that amendment – “well regulated.”
Anybody who thinks confiscating guns is the way to a peaceful existence in the US is a pollyanna. Look at the latest school shooting and the assassination attempt against Trump. The FBI knew the school shooter was a danger nearly a year in advance but couldn’t do anything because of probable cause. With the assassination attempt, I still have questions about how he was able to squeeze off eight shots into a crowd where police, FBI, and Secret Service Agents were everywhere.
I’ve had psychotic people threaten to kill me because of my political stances, and I called them racist, and guess what the police will do?
Nothing.
“Our hands are tied. Unless a crime has been committed, we can’t do anything.”
Therefore, if you want to protect yourself, you better have a weapon because the police only investigate criminal actions. They are not a deterrent to criminal actions. Btw, if we could post pics here, I’d share a pic of the car loaded with far-right bumper stickers driving up and down my alley and parking in front of my house.
As we discuss on this blog weekly, there are lots of people who believe deeply in the MAGAT culture. They believe the government and immigrants are out to get them, and they’re racist loonies.
OMG, when I was staying in North Carolina during the post-George Floyd murder, and the marches were taking place by BLM and Antifa, radio hosts were selling instructions on how to build a detached bunker on your property. You couldn’t find 9mm ammo anywhere in Asheville or the surrounding counties. One of the guys staying at the camp listened to these radio channels that funneled fear and hatred. If you listen to that for 10 minutes, you’re ready to kill something. Imagine listening to it all day!
One last note: our town of 70k in Indiana has a large section that is barricaded in their houses. When we campaign on foot, we won’t even campaign in the area because of all the signs and dogs. Their ancestors used to burn crosses in their front yards.
The NRA doesn’t need to represent gun owners anymore when politicians are carrying guns into statehouses and showing them off to high school students visiting the Capitol.
When the 2nd Amendment was created, guns were needed primarily to hunt for food and for protection from wild animals who roamed free. My Uncle Don, of Don’s Guns, lobbied for years here to get the same background checks and requirements to purchase all “long guns” this state had on handguns which included the national background checks as well as local. Instead, Indiana lowered background checks and requirements to purchase handguns so Uncle Don went back to selling all guns as allowed under the law. He made a few more millions before his death; it is always Follow the Money and nowhere is that more true than regarding the NRA control over the weapon market.
During President Obama’s final few months of his second term he visited Chicago to discuss the extremely high gun death toll in that city. He reported that investigation into gun related crimes in Chicago found that more than 50% of the guns used had been purchased in Indiana. Follow that money!
I worked 5 years in the Municipal Court Probation Office and part of my job was, when possible, to research NCIC for additional criminal background checks on probationers. At that time there was only ONE COMPUTER IN THE INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT which had this system; it was difficult to schedule a time to do research as police had to use that one computer. Today, it is possible to research criminal histories of anyone, for a fee of course, more Follow the money to be made. A “decline in gun sales” may be due to the fact that so many have already been purchased by those 2nd Amendment supporters; has the death rate by guns declined? Is anyone keeping statistics on that number as “religiously” as they are polling the Trump vs. Harris numbers?
Todd, one of the best ways to avoid death by gun violence is to watch the movie in-laws! And remember, moving a serpentine manner, it’s hard for them to get a bead on you, 😂
I never understood the big kerfuffle over gun ownership, the Constitution clearly states that the Congress controls funding and weapons concerning militias. The president can also use the executive branch for a call to arms and to fund a militia in a pinch.
JoAnn is absolutely correct, during the early part of this country’s existence, most folks depended on their long guns to put food on the table. That really isn’t the case today. Today, people claim they need their weapons to defend themselves against the government. Kind of like what they tried to do on January 6th. Insurrection anyone?
As JoAnn noted, Chicago has been buying their guns in Indiana for decades. Mainly from the gun shows traveling around the state, especially in Gary/East Chicago. Indiana could eliminate gun shows but won’t.
Also, guns aren’t perishable, so if you buy one handgun, it will last for a very long time. I inherited several from my grandfather that are single fires and still work. He inherited those as well. They are well beyond antiques. 😉
For JoAnn’s last question, “Indiana has one of the highest rates of gun homicides in the country. Counties with higher poverty levels in Indiana have experienced greater increases in gun-related homicides and suicides.”
Indiana is ranked 30th in their strength of gun control laws.
https://everytownresearch.org/rankings/state/indiana/
Is it rather ironic America is unable to defend students and teachers in the classroom due to cult influence as an outcome of the cherished 2nd Amendment when the British are no longer coming?
One way to control gun violence is to control access to ammunition. It would require a federal law and a reasonable SCOTUS to do so. It might even involve an indemnification tax on manufacturers and wholesalers. The military would be the exception. Of course, that would mean that security at munitions depots would have to be hardened significantly, possibly by incorporating tracking devices of some kind. I am not smart enough to know how that would work but I am sure there are lots of folks who are.
I won’t stay anywhere where there is someone carrying a firearm other than police and even then, it makes me nervous. Businesses should take note that there are lots of people like me out here.
I found an old handgun that I had no idea was in the house after my spouse passed. No ammunition, just an old gun which I promptly turned over to the IMPD for disposal. The question about what happens to all the weapons in households after the owner passes raises concerns I had not thought about before. Do buybacks work?
I am glad I am old.
All the sensible NRA gun owners left the org so as not to support the NRA’s lobbying. Gun owners that care about their families lock up their guns. The demise of the NRA will be a celebration in this house.
Maybe arresting the parents of lone shooters after mass shootings will help minimize them. Maybe our society will start to look at their sons and make sure they are raised with some empathy. 98% of mass shooters are male so please, let’s say “All Males” in teen years should be evaluated so they don’t end up in prison while families lose loved ones. Females are not cowards like the males that have to feel manly with weapons. Let’s institute a conscription year for males, may be. We are the only country in the world with young males shooting up schools.
https://bbc.com/news/articles/c4gdqzxypdzo
To ‘Aging Girl’ and her point about young male violence in America. There is a movement to curb online targeting directed at boys focusing on normalizing violence through games etc. Note BBC commentary link above.
What’s wrong with you people? Every household should have several guns to be used to protect us from the government when it comes after us to keep us in line, you know, when the Socialists take control of the government (any day now). Wait. Wait! WAIT! Come to think of it, the government has tanks, and bazookas, and hand grenades and who knows what else. Maybe we should all park tanks in our garages. I need to rethink this. Maybe the NRA (National RIFLE Association) should change it’s name to NTA (National TANK Association), or the NWA (National WEAPONS Association). I’ll get back to you on this.