Today’s post will no doubt offend some, perhaps all. That said, I will not apologize. These are ugly times and we might as well tell it like it is. We are way past the point when we can just sugar coat everything and hope that by some miracle everything will be OK.
Today is the 137th day of the year. To date this year, we have had over 200 mass shootings. A mass shooting is defined as an incident where 4 or more people were shot or killed. Clearly, we are experiencing MORE THAN ONE MASS SHOOTING PER DAY. Unfortunately, we have pretty much become numb to these tragedies. Every time, there will be the usual outcry. Politicians will offer their respective condolences to the victims and their families, and there will be many sound bites about how we must do something to end this violence. Of course, nothing gets done. It becomes “express outrage, offer condolence, state that something must be done – rinse and repeat!
I have decided that since the politicians in this country can’t seem to do anything to stop this ridiculous nonsense, the government should take a different course. They should try to capitalize on this as an opportunity. We already have Powerball so why not set up a game kind of like a football pool where people could bet in which city the next mass shooting will occur and how many people will be killed. If no one picks the correct city AND the correct number of fatalities then the jackpot will roll over until someone gets it correct.
There are certainly some logistical things to work out. For example, there would have to be some way from preventing a shooter or any of his/her beneficiaries from picking a city and number of victims and then going out and committing that crime. There would have to be very strict protocols put in place to make sure no one could benefit in any way from a mass shooting that they themselves committed.
I’m sure this kind of betting would take some time to really resonant with the citizenry. There will certainly be those who are squeamish about buying a ticket, the prize of which is dependent upon people getting shot and/or killed. However, I think, over time, it will catch on. I’m sure Fox News would be more than happy to have a segment of their nightly newscast devoted to announcing the winner. (No doubt they could get NRA sponsorship.) Just think how excited Tucker Carlson would get, e.g. “There was a mass shooting in Peoria today in which 5 people died. Our condolences go out to the family – and the winner is ….”!
I’m sure that some of you reading this think this whole column is crass and in extremely bad taste. I couldn’t agree more. But let me ask you this, “If you think this is so disgusting, how is it any more disgusting that having politicians running this country who absolutely refuse to do anything about this epidemic of gun violence? This blog post is far less obscene and disgusting that the lack of political courage and will to do anything to address this problem. That is obscene.
Instead of trying to solve this problem, the Republicans are constantly trying to expand the number of weapons in this country and the places where people can carry them. The Supreme Court is on the verge of striking down a New York state law restricting carrying concealed weapons. This is the gist of some of the thinking on the Court.
“While a majority of the court seemed inclined to strike down the New York law, the justices suggested there could be limits to the right to carry firearms in public for self-defense, specifically when it comes to “sensitive places” or heavily populated areas.
Roberts questioned whether a state or city can ban firearms on university campuses, in football stadiums or places where alcohol is served, while Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked whether Times Square on New Year’s Eve could be subject to limitations on the right to carry in public.”1
Does anyone in their right mind think it is a good idea to allow concealed weapons to be legally carried by any Tom, Dick or Harry in New York City? How comforting would it be to get on a subway car wondering how many people crammed into that car are carrying weapons? Lunacy! No other industrialized nation even entertains this kind of discussion.
There are two problems that need to be addressed. The first is the ease of obtaining weapons in this country. This country is flooded in weapons. There are more guns than people in the United States of America. The second part of the problem is the proliferation of radical, hate-filled websites and TV programs which just stoke the fires. Give people easy access to weapons and teach them to hate. How the hell is that not a recipe for disaster? But that is exactly what is happening.
This is why the entire ‘pro-life’ movement makes absolutely no logical sense to me. Many of these people are just as adamant about their Second Amendment rights as they are about outlawing abortion. All of these people are spending tremendous amounts of time and money to ensure more children are brought into the world, often into poverty, and seem to care squat about all of the people who are killed by guns on a daily basis. I guess if you are a fetus, you are important and if you are real living and breathing human being, your life isn’t worth shit!
So, get out there and buy your Mass Shooting Lottery Ticket. Nothing else will get done so you might as well see if you can win some money to allow you to move somewhere that seems a bit more civilized. Try to stay safe in the meantime.
In previous posts, I mentioned how prescient George Orwell and Margaret Atwood were. In order to be complete, I should add Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games) to the mix. We are well on our way to becoming the United States of Dystopia!!
I’ll place my bets on the Gunshine state and Texas – where John Q. Drunkard’s right to carry and conceal a deadly weapon is more important than proving support for a raped 13 year old girl to have financial support when forced to raise an unwanted baby with an unknown criminal inhuman biological father.
Being purposely offensive also – for effect.
My 1986 Hughes room mate Tony died of COVID-19 in the gunshine state partially in thanks to the neglect of health standard there. It’s my purpose in life until I die or that governor is removed from office to torment DeSanity’s Insanity.
Forgot to add – grew up with guns – surrounded by them with my friends also involved. Only accidental firings known with one injury to a family member who’s wife shot her husband thinking he was a criminal breaking in at night (so the story went). No burglars shot. Burned my Life NRA membership after learning NRA president shot two endangered African Elephants for a TV show publicity stunt. I had to write them a damned letter to resign. Bastards.