Gun Violence: Why Do We Resist Action?

As Americans, we live in a reality where gun violence takes nearly 100 lives each and every day. Those of us who are not directly affected seem to have accepted this reality and probably don't even give it a second thought unless we read about or see on TV, the news of another mass shooting. Why do we continue to accept this? Why are we resistant to action to reduce this number? My shot at answering those questions mainly touch on a few points (surely there are plenty more others can cite);  1) we cling to the 2nd Amendment in our Bill of Rights as if it's some sacred decree that MUST be given the broadest interpretation without regard to the present or future  2) we have become so ego driven and narcissistic in our politics that we are unable or unwilling to consider that we may be wrong at the individual level, which would mean something may be wrong on a mass level and 3) guns are woven into our culture in such a way that they are not only used as entertainment or recreation at a practical level, but also in our artistic expressions of television, film, and literature.

I want to touch on each of those points a little and along the way I will more than likely use quite a bit of personal opinion derived by analyzing this from my own world view. And at that, I fully realize I may well be wrong or even characterize an aspect incorrectly. For that, I apologize up front, with the realization that I am not saying my opinions are facts, but they are my musings based on statistics, observation, experience, and yes, even feelings. All I can ask is that this is read with an open mind. That even if you disagree, understand that I'm not attacking you. It's not personal and you could very well write in contrast and I hope you would expect the same open look at your opinions as I am asking for mine. We don't have to agree, but somewhere along the line we all need to try to see this as a social and human problem and not just a political one. I also want to add the caveat that I am not for repealing the 2nd Amendment. I am for sensible gun control. I choose the rights of Americans to live over the right of someone to own and possibly use a weapon that can kill or injure multiple people in a matter of seconds.

In his book "12 Rules For Life", noted research psychologist Jordan Peterson wrote a chapter on being truthful and part of that truth is not just in our relationships to others, but being truthful with ourselves. There is a short segment in that chapter that addresses why we need to be truthful and see things as they are. Not doing that can eventually cause suffering and/or continued suffering and lack of progress. This piece of the chapter stood out to me.

Peterson writes (emphasis is his) "Things fall apart. What worked yesterday will not necessarily work today. We have inherited the great machinery of state and culture from our forefathers, but they are dead, and cannot deal with the changes of the day. The living can. We can open our eyes and modify what we have where necessary and keep the machinery running smoothly. Or we can pretend that everything is alright, fail to make the necessary repairs, and then curse fate when nothing goes our way. 

Things fall apart: this is one of the greatest discoveries of humanity. And we speed the natural deterioration of great things through blindness, inaction, and deceit. Without attention, culture degenerates and dies, and evil prevails."

We are allowing the past, a dead past, control our actions today. The Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States are two of the human race's greatest documents, but things change. We are not the society or culture of the late 1700's. Much has changed in regards to society, culture, and mechanism. To be able to review, debate, and come to a new agreement on our governing documents may be the way to start sorting through some of our greatest problems. We have to adapt to changing times and that means inspecting even our most sacred of cows.

 

Our politics has seeped into our social and cultural thought process. Hell, it's even wormed its' way into our sports and entertainment at such a pervasive level that it's almost impossible to escape the long tentacles of political ideology and the discourse it breeds when it permeates every aspect of our lives. We have really dug into our positions. We have started to believe that changing your mind or listening to a different opinion is a sign of weakness or capitulation. With that in mind, we don't seem willing to explore what is happening around the world in regards to guns. There are countries that don't put up with mass shootings. There are counties that don't put up with seeing double digit murder numbers in their cities over the course of a weekend. We consider Japan a free society and they have very strict rules and regulations on acquiring and owning guns. Homicide by gun shot is almost non-existent. Check out the link below and learn a little more about what nations have gun control and you can see how effective it can be. All it takes is just to set aside our rigid views a little and at least consider stricter gun laws. 

This Is How You Do Gun Control

I'm not an advocate of censorship, so it's difficult for me to want video games, music, film, television or any other artistic media to be stifled in what they can't and can show or have as a topic. I do, however, agree with the warning labels that are put on some media for language, violence, sexual content and the like. I'm not sure that art plays a huge role in gun violence, but there are a lot of instances where it certainly does glorify firearms and the damage they do. How much can that impact a young mind?  Maybe none. Maybe a little. In a few cases, maybe a lot. How much does it impact an adults mind over time? Everyone is different and we have to be aware that we should stay in touch with what our children have access to and even stay alert to what we are allowing our brains to become saturated with. Learn who our children are and know what they can handle. If you don't, how can you expect society to? You can't. If we are responsible to one another and promote open dialogue, that can't be a bad thing. 

Video Games & Gun Violence

Violent Media & Behavior

I find it difficult to dive into any of these facets very deeply. There is just so much to be said. So much to be shared. So much to hear. So much to learn. I guess, all I ask from anyone reading this is to perhaps have another look at what you believe. Do some research. It's too important an issue to not have all the information you can have on it. This is one of those issues that I don't think any of us want to be on the wrong side of, so putting the politics and ego aside is necessary in trying to figure out what's best. The majority eventually gets what it wants in this country. It takes time. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to start thinking and acting on this now. We have kicked this can far too long. It's time to think, act, and hold conversations like adults that care about the well being of others. Even if your view, pro or anti gun control, isn't changed, you can be honest in any conversation you have about your beliefs and can consider yourself educated on the subject. That's all any fellow citizen can ask, isn't it? 

So, in closing, you may ask what my stance is. Fair enough. I would like to see a much more stringent application process. Education is key and the more a person learns about guns in both physical use, statistics, and safety, the less likely the chance they will be involved in a gun event of a negative nature. Hold owners responsible if their guns are used by friends or relatives or even if they are stolen, which means that all weapons kept in a home should be required to be in a safe. Every gun that isn't a single shot rifle or shot gun, in my opinion, should be registered with local law enforcement. The more left leaning side of me is almost to the point of believing that if you want to use a machine gun or any rapid fire gun, that you should have to go to a gun range and use it on that premises. Mental health evaluations should be a piece of the puzzle and while that's not an angle I gave any time to in this blog, I do realize that should be a part of any serious gun debate. I guess I am to the point to where we need to change gun ownership from an undeniable right to a privilege. A privilege that will be fairly easy to earn if you are responsible and go through the process to acquire. That's some of where I am, but I don't know that I'm set in stone on all of it. I tend to sway a little on the right versus privilege thing, simply because I do take our Bill of Rights seriously and even though I THINK it would be wise to explore changing what doesn't work, I have a healthy respect for the fact they have worked to this point pretty well. 

As always, I welcome any comments, and admittedly, I'm a little bit all over the place with this particular blog post. The topic demands so much more than I am able to give, so this small piece will have to do for now. My mind is open on most any subject, so if you don't agree, let me hear it. 

Movies I Like That Most People Hate

Do any of you folks have something that you really enjoy that you have found most other people don't? I sure do. I have a few movies that are among my favorite that seem to be big turn offs for a lot of people. 

Revolver

I have liked "Revolver" right from the get go. In fact, after the first time I watched it, I immediately started it over again. There was something going on that I was trying to grasp. I had been studying up on self-awareness and ego and this movie hit those themes hard, but wove it into the story so well that the film begged to be seen multiple times to peel back the layers. The main character in Guy Ritchies most under appreciated film spends the entire movie trying to beat back that inner voice (his ego) that has kept him in trouble and caused him so much fear. Rotten Tomatoes has this one at 17% and Roger Ebert was scathing in his criticism; "It seems designed to punish the audience for buying tickets."  I suppose I've punished myself about 7 or 8 times since the first time I've seen it. Despite criticism of the film, I think I get a lot of it and that's why I love it. I see it as art and as something that isn't to be viewed once and tossed out. If you are interested in the message, it'll hold your attention and leave you thinking long after the movie has ended.

2001: A Space Odyssey

I can totally understand why there are people that don't like this movie. It's long, it can be boring in spots, and it's not quite obvious on the initial viewing as to what the purpose of the film is. That said, I think it's a cinematic masterpiece and Stanley Kubrick sure has a knack for dabbling in that rare air. Shot in the early/mid 60's, the special effects still hold up today. It was another 10 or so years (Star Wars) before anyone could duplicate what was done. The story is that of man, but only in evolutionary jumps. From our time barely surviving on plant life to transcending our mortal bodies, the film shows how those jumps could occur without being very specific. We just know that we started using tools and weapons and that kick started us into being meat eaters that developed a greater understanding of the universe and our place in it.

The Fountain

This film by Darren Aronofsky is one that a lot of people haven't seen. Generally, people get confused by it and it's a movie that will cause either reflection or revulsion from a viewer, I would imagine. There are three stories going on and each has a tie to the other, though the main character(s) is the same. It's beautifully shot and it's another one of those films that bears repeated viewings. It touches on loyalty, determination, love, death, and dealing with all of those things in the confines of a finite lifetime. In the end, the main character (Thomas) is able to transcend death and accept that we think of as dying is really just rebirth in another form. A different way for the universe to examine/experience itself apart from our conscience being.

Con-Air

This is one that many self-proclaimed, serious film buffs love to pick at and hate on. I won't defend it against assertions that it is text book action film making by Simon West. It is, but it's also a farce. A sort of parody that plays it close to the vest. It has all the elements of a block buster action film, but it isn't taking itself seriously. It throws everything at the audience. Every cliche' of the action film genre gets dealt with. A misunderstood, wronged hero who is just trying to get back to his family? Check. Menacing bad guys that have specialties in their criminality? Check. A wife and child just waiting for their hero to make it home? Check. A good guy that is trying to help out all he can, while having to fight off incompetence from those around him? Check. Corny self-serving dialogue? Check. Gun shots? Check. Shit blowing up? Check. Las Vegas? Check. Sappy and happy ending while a sappy song plays showing a family reunited against impossible odds? Check. It's an easy film to watch and a lot of fun. Remember, you can't watch this seriously.....it wasn't made to be watched that way. It's not taking itself seriously and neither should you! It's just a ride (to steal a phrase from Bill Hicks)!

My Pull Back To The Right

I made a comment last week to a friend that I was feeling a pull back to the right (politically speaking). My reasoning was due to how insane the left and liberals seem to have become in recent years. I have been influenced quite a bit over the past 10 years or so by left leaning writers and commentators such as Bill Maher, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Dave Rubin. I also delve into philosophers like Alan Watts and Terence McKenna in an effort to "feed my soul" so to speak and try to keep from being overly accepting of the aforementioned influences. Naturally, being influenced by these people would definitely see me move towards a more overall liberal worldview. I still maintained that I wouldn't necessarily call myself a liberal, but I was done with conservatism as a worldview that I would adhere to in a staunch manner as I had for most of my adult life.

My choice was to stop identifying with one or the other and go issue by issue and stake out positions based on as much information I could get from both sides of any issue and my own personal parsing of that info. That's who I want to be and who I have attempted to be for quite some time now. With that said, I feel like at this point, I need to acknowledge that I am rethinking how openly I support liberalism as a whole. I could always forgive some of the economic things I didn't agree with because I felt that there was more open compassion from the left, because there were more people that could identify with how others lived based on their past and socio-economic position.

Over the past year or so I have been introduced to Jordan Peterson, Michael Shermer, and Ben Shapiro.  I wouldn't call any of them far right, but Shapiro is definitely a conservative, Peterson isn't a classic conservative, but he leans that way in how he attempts to make sense of our social/cultural constructs, and Shermer only appears to be right leaning because of how insane the far left has become. Shermer is probably where I am (or possibly Dave Rubin) speaking comparatively. I may not have shifted as much as the fact that the spectrum has moved under my feet. I don't even know if I'm speaking politically unless we are going to focus on specific policy/issue. This writing is geared more towards my rejection of political correctness and the general attempts of the "regressive" left to impose their fascist inclinations on everyone else. 

Dave Rubin has recently started rejecting his identification as a "liberal", simply because of what it seems to imply at this point in time. I strongly feel that a dishonest media, along with people who believe they need to be offended for others in an effort to gain power or some sort of misguided moral superiority are moving us backwards as a nation. It's going to turn out to be a phase, as we are already seeing a correction, as level headed liberals are moving towards the right and we have a president that is anything but politically correct. People are being driven into the arms of Trump in the same way that moderate Republicans were pushed to Obama or a more libertarian view by the George W. Bush years. I love freedom of speech, even when it offends me (which doesn't happen often, because I need to feel the hit personally) and I don't think anyone's communication with others should be stifled or made against the law. I want to hear from people I don't agree with. I can't understand when others don't want that. It's a chance to sharpen your own beliefs and more importantly, it's a chance to try to understand another person viewpoint. That's been very important to me for awhile. If I have a "fault" when I participate in group political/social discussion, it's that I seem to waffle, but that's really because I am trying to find out how it feels to hold each position. What about a persons worldview, up bringing, or person experience makes them stake out a particular position? I truly believe it's made me a better person by triggering critical thought and patience. 

I would really like to write more on the influence of people like Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, Dave Rubin, Austin Peterson, Larry Elder, Michael Shermer, and Sam Harris have had on me, but that would make for a small book. I have kept an open mind, as much as possible. Anyone that knows me or knows my past writing should understand that I try not to live in a bubble. I cull info from a lot of different places and I trust the words of people more than I do any information that comes from a for-profit organization. 

The bottom line for me and what I've picked up from Jordan Peterson in a big way is that none of us have a right to not be offended. If a person is offended, it's a choice. Words have no power that we don't give them as individuals. That's been a position of mine for a very long time. I'm much more interested in seeing our country move forward on the basis of fact than feeling. When people (or a group of people) call others fascists and then seek to shut down those people's ability to speak freely (going so far in some cases as to try to create law limiting speech), the true fascist is revealed. If the middle and moderate right is where I have to identify and where I have to speak to others from, so be it. I accept freedom, personal liberty, and fact as the most important influences on how I think and act, and right now, the left side of the spectrum (and largely from those further on the left) isn't living up to being the progressives that they think they are. They rely on stifling the speech and freedoms of others as a way of making the country better and I firmly believe that is misguided and it eventually will lead to the authoritarianism, and yes, fascism that they fear. 

I'm going to stick with what seems tangible and real. I know that being correct on so many things is subjective and I accept that as truth. On the other hand, there is also fact on many other issues and there is intellectual honesty and working from those areas has to be the best for us all. Maybe I'll have more on this later. Maybe someone will challenge me with a comment. Either way, I will do my best to be honest about how I feel and respond to what is swirling around me every day in the world. 

The Rubin Report

YOU TUBE: The Rubin Report