Editors note: We’re receiving thoughtful feedback from our readers regarding Richard’s column about being a gun owner and his take on the issue of responsible gun ownership. Here is this morning’s column: Gun Owner. Only 50% of subscribers have opened it yet (we usually top 75%), but we felt compelled to get the addendum out today.
Hey, also, have you voted yet? Today is June 7, primary election day in Iowa! Vote!
Below is an addition Richard wrote, plus comments from readers.
One more thing to say today…
By Richard Gilbert
A column I wrote for Julie’s Potluck about responsible gun ownership is getting a fair amount of positive feedback, including a surprising call from Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas.
He said he was running out of ideas with the current gun violence crisis, and I told him he needed to see it as an opportunity.
Being a Texan, I knew he’d welcome it if I quoted a little Scripture, so I hit him with Matthew 22:14.
“Governor, I said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
And he said, “What do you mean?”
And I said: “You’ve been to enough Governors’ Conferences to know that every one of your counterparts in the other states sees the next President of the United States every time they look in a mirror. So here’s your ticket to the big dance.”
“Say more,” he said.
“Well, governor, here’s what you do next. You get a hold of that actor Matthew McConaughey who I quoted in my column today about his ideas for some responsible gun laws. You know, background checks for all, must be 21 to buy an assault rifle, making Red Flag laws the law in Texas, and a waiting period for AR15s and other assault weapons. Then you get that good old boy Matthew down here, and you wheel out to a big press conference on the capitol steps, and you tell the newsies that you are calling the Texas Legislature back into special session, and they have 48 hours to get those laws passed.
“Then when you get your bill, you and Matthew go down to Uvalde (that’s his hometown, you know) and sign the bill into law.
“Then you get on your plane and get to Washington in time for all the Sunday morning talk shows. You can’t dawdle with this opportunity because there are governors in 38 other states who’ve had mass shootings this year.
‘Be sure to stop in Des Moines on your way back to Texas. Motorcade out to the Iowa State Fair for a quick lunch of a pork chop on a stick and a couple of deep-fried Oreos. Play it coy when Tucker Carlson acts pissed if you are running for President without getting the okay from him first. Just tell him you intend to spend a lot more time in Iowa because they are such responsible gun owners, and you want Iowans’. advice on how we can make what you’ve done in Texas into a national movement.
Then I woke up.
I turned on the news and saw Matthew McConaughey at the White House in the press briefing room. He’d just come from a meeting with Joe Biden, who likely looked in the mirror and saw the CURRENT president of the United States.
Here is the video from today’s press briefing:
You’re too late for the deep-fried Oreos, Governor Abbott but there’s still time to do the right thing.
Reader Reaction
Gerry Hartung:
Julie, I continue to enjoy reading your Potluck. In addition to always being interesting, it (sorta) keeps me in touch with you and Richard!
I love this one from Richard. Gun violence in this country is ridiculous and out of control.
I also think Richard hit on something in the Second Amendment that we as a nation don’t focus on— “A well-regulated Militia”. There is absolutely nothing well regulated about gun ownership here in this country. Criminals and mentally unbalanced people can easily get their hands on guns in this country. “A well-regulated Militia” should be just that— well-regulated! That means not just anyone can have a gun, and not just anyone can sell them to anyone. “A well-regulated Militia” would call for training to get a gun and ongoing training to keep a gun and some form of service in this well-regulated militia. We read this amendment completely wrong (much to the benefit of the NRA)!
Here’s a terrible and depressing stat— according to the UN Commission on Human Rights, ‘officially’ about 6,546 Ukrainians have died since Russia invaded on February 24th- so about 3.5 months ago. Now they know these estimates are way low and could be more like 20,000+. So, take the first number divided into 3.5 months=, 1,870 deaths per month. At 20,000 its 5,714 deaths per month. In the United States we average 3,768 deaths per month from guns! A number that sits right in-between the 2 Ukrainian estimates of deaths. We effectively live in a war zone every day. I don’t think this is the effect our forefathers wanted the Second Amendment to have on our nation.
Gerry Hartung, Baltimore, MD
Bob Shreck:
Greatly enjoyed your tour through Midwestern gun culture and your willingness to explore/explain it. It likely resonates with far more people than will speak up in the current climate--I am not one of the shy ones. I favor the proposals for responsible you outlined in your column. In addition to legislation, I have one word to explain it: copycat.
Of course, the availability of guns is a factor, but that is nothing new.
Mental illness is a factor, but that is also nothing new.
Social stresses (COVID, race relations, finances, unemployment) are a factor, but those are not new.
I think the publicity and the publicity's nature are the main factors. Here I will take a page from another social phenomenon that affects the same demographic--suicide.
We learned long ago that one young adult suicide is often associated with another, and another--hence, "copycat"--and we learned various techniques to suppress this evolution. First, do not aggrandize the event; give it no publicity. Even the obituaries seldom allude to the obvious terminal occasion. Certainly, do not publicly examine the pathology involved, the social stresses, the failed support and relationships, and the disappointments. Don't do it repeatedly in multiple vehicles over days or weeks, regardless of who they are.
Further example: Golden Gate Bridge suicide reports were suspended as the count neared 1,000 in fear of a rush to be the 1000th. I don't believe such GGB deeds are even reported anymore, resulting in a dramatic drop in events.
Back to mass shootings: We obviously cannot get rid of guns, and while new sales can be somewhat restricted (age limits, red flag laws, etc.) they cannot be stopped altogether, and there are multiple other ways to lay hands on guns, so I don't see legislation making a significant difference. What we need is a way to identify the young white male consumed with anger, despair, hopelessness, set on revenge, perhaps mentally ill, perhaps committed to dying, all to punish the world around him--time to make a difference, time to demonstrate potency and relevance, make a name for yourself, get revenge, etc. This makes sense, and while big data algorithms have been proposed to identify these folks, they threaten privacy laws and would turn up thousands more "innocents" than actual performers. And not many would need to slip between the cracks for the epidemic to continue. So what to do?
Remove the motivation, at least for this behavioral technique. Start by never naming the culprit. Do not reward this behavior with publicity, not even post-mortem publicity. Omit the detailed examination of the killer's social, familial, and mental pathology, leading others to wear the shoe that fits. Let the publicity storm die down. These killers have left remorse, are unstable socially, and are inspired by a reading of others who took this path. Obscure the path.
Adopting the above approach would require the cooperation of the media, which could not be compelled, but they have learned the lesson about suicide, and the same approach should be taken with mass shootings.
Jus' sayin'.
Bob Shreck, Des Moines, IA.
We love hearing from y’all. Keep those cards and letters coming.
I abhor all this gun violence. I can't believe that I worry now about going to a movie or a concert or the store or my grandkids in school. Who is going to be the next nut case who decides to become a mass murderer. Is one of the next shootings going to be someone I love? I am NOT against people owning guns or defending themselves. My dad, brothers, nephews and sons all have or have had guns and knows how to handle them in a responsible manner. But who in the hell needs to own assault weapons in the general population? If any of these gun laws, measures or whatever else people can think of to try and solve the problem, if they save ONE person and that is a person you love, was it worth it to have those new laws. A woman on TV expressed it very well today. Your right to own guns stops when it interferes with MY rights, freedom and my pursuit of happiness. Loretta Quinnett
I lived in East Texas and a city where both Matthew McConaughey and Greg Abbott grew up. I think the governor is more worried about gender reassignment for children.