Trucks, AK-47’s and Doing as We Damn Well Please
I heard a BBC interview the other day on the radio, a truck dealer in Missouri who was giving out a voucher for an AK-47 if you purchased a truck from him. Great marketing gimmick, got him international coverage that you could not pay for. But it was the things that he said, the prepared, defensive comebacks to the incredulous reporter that got my attention.
I have no reason to believe that the truck dealer was not an honest, law abiding person who would never harm someone without cause. It may be that he truly hopes that by providing the weapon, he hopes to that a customer’s family could be spared a horrible fate. He mentioned a terrible tragedy where a Florida family was killed in a senseless act of villainy. This was the TV/movie plot of the innocent citizen’s ravaged by the lawless criminal. His message was “If he had AK-47, this would never happen. Sure a handgun or a shotgun is good but with an AK-47, the odds are leaning in your favor.” And he is right.
I just wish that the only solution is to shoot them first. What of prevention, of intervening at some point, earlier in the lives the perpetrators or identifying the risk factors for violent behavior and incidents and removing them instead?
Again, I am sure he had every intention to protect and defend the innocent. It is just that he touched on some concepts that may motivate those who commit the crimes he hopes to prevent. In a later interview, he stated that the main problem is crystal meth and the associated crime. It is an epidemic and needs to be addressed. But some of those core beliefs that he expressed are the same as those who commit rampage killings.
The center of those beliefs was a person’s Rights. Those who go on these rampages have a central belief that they are in the right to do so, they are serving justice. He even spoke of the Right that was given by god. This is beyond just personal view and conviction, this was divinity and the whole power and mystery of the multiverse instilling the justification for the ability to kill.
Then he spoke of the commies that didn’t like guns. Never mind the reference to the people who gave him the renown assault rifle, it was again the distancing, the alienation and dehumanization of the other, who makes it alright to kill. When they are not like us, when they are The Other, it is okay to kill.
In his interview with the British reporter, he seemed to be more aggressive, more belligerent. He stated that the reporter (and his people) would not understand since all the strong ones left his country to create America. Again, it the strong, those who, as he says, “does whatever they damn please” that will use a gun to make things right.
But why does a person need an AK-47? “Well, we do what ever we damn well please” was his attitude.
I had this image of a family sitting around after dinner, watching a reality tv re-runs, cat on the table, shoes on the floor, rifle leaning against the couch. The bad guys burst in but their faces drop when they hear the sharp clack of metal as the first round is chambered. Boy, did they pick the wrong house. Only those smart enough and “strong” enough to be prepared for such as tragedy will survive. He kept referencing Christen beliefs and the right to defend your home. But was there an anticipation, an almost hopefulness that someone would break in to give them the excuse. It is almost like he wants someone to break in to fill them full of lead.
There is no doubt that people will defend their own lives and safety of their loves ones. Violence is terrible and tragic. But just so, this violence is seen as the remedy so readily. Is it the gun that defends life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when it is also the central tool of so much death, domination and misery? Or course, we have the right to defend out lives.
Again, by no means do I suggest that the truck dealer is the same as a rampage killer. But the rampage shooter perverts this individual Right to kill when their belief’s or self-identity is threatened. Maybe liberty is the core issue here. I get what I want and deserve, regardless of your concerns. Where do those liberties end when they cross over to another’s? when does my right to a job, woman, self image overcome your right to live?
Is this how the thinking goes- We have the right to live- Kill anyone who enters your home to take and harm you.
We have a right to speak, read, say, talk, go, dress, love, eat, sleep however we want. The issue is that when we are so absorbed in our own rights, we don’t see the rights of others. It is a nation of individuals that is looking after themselves. Everyone is safe because they are taking care it themselves. And if you take away any of those rights, well, we can kill you too.
American’s holds the individual’s rights in the highest degree. Give me liberty or give me death. Your death, preferably. This is the nation that is based on justice that is afforded every person, in each person’s interpretation of that justice. And if a right is ever violated, if any personal liberty is hampered, not only is justice required but you personally need to fix it yourself.
Perhaps we have so many rampages because we are a nation of people who hold our rights so dearly that we would die but preferably, would kill to preserve them. Rights are vital and sacred. But when muddled with self-centeredness, the right of self image becomes greater than the rights of others to breathe.
Are American’s more egotistical, self centered and narcisstic than others? That argeument could be made. But there is no doubt for our love of the individual’s right and its fevorent defense. But the combination of these two leads to the mindset to kill.
Perhaps America has so many rampages, workplace and school shootings is because of the perversion of the individual’s right. We demand to be noticed, for justice to be served and to punish those who hurt us. It is the extreme self centeredness that is a distortion of the individual.
This is not an anti-American rant. I believe that our values support life and liberty for all. I realize that everyone has there own idea of what America is and interpretation of its values. It is wrong to separate sides and point to the those believe guns are the answer and say they are the problem. I hope that is not what this writing suggests. The question is not should guns be banned or do they work as a deterrent. It is how we can address the thoughts that killing is Right when not absolutely necessary.
We need to find the common ground in the same goals- peace and security for all of us. I don’t know how we meet in that center field but I am going to try to figure it out.