It has taken me awhile to write this blog. I knew what I wanted to talk about and what I wanted to say but wasn’t ready to write. Actually, we were too frigging busy with family things, and I didn’t make the time. Then I read the 2 recent posts from my co-author Tony Paris, “Our Founding Fathers” and “American Vanity is Killing Our Republic”. Tony touched on the same thoughts & concerns I was having, so I decided to make the time. It was time especially now with a recent primary election and an upcoming general election on the horizon. In addition, there were statements that I heard on TV and during a recent poker game that I could not ignore.
I was going to title this piece “If I Were King”. Then my sons and wife, as they often do, pull me back, give me reason to pause, reason to think, and reason to change. Who says only a King would have the authority to make proclamations or decisions like this. What an assumption that only a male could be so wise to offer the same. I changed it. I changed it to the current title as if it was a response to a question I had been asked. My opinion or offering of a solution. Now mind you, I understand opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one, some stink more than others.
Like Tony, I think our republic is struggling, but I have hope that it will right itself as we move forward. Forward is always the way we should be looking and moving. Actions speak louder than words and we are always stronger when working together. I too believe our legislative body has become so disjointed that it is harder & harder to find compromise. Our vanity is killing us. The disjointed views professed by either side have diminished the possibility of both sides finding common ground to benefit the whole. I sometimes feel like we have 5 different political parties instead of 2. Ok 3 if you count Independents.
- The “Far Left – Tree Hugger” believes in their new green deal. Government should do everything for everyone, because we aren’t smart enough to think or do for ourselves. Not sure where they will get the money for all their plans.
- The “Center Left – Donkey” todays Democratic party. They know what they want to get done, they don’t quite know how to get it done. They want to help more than they should. They have good intentions.
- The “Center – Elephunky” where this Country has gone in the past regardless of political persuasion. You can’t fix everything, you can’t help everyone, but there is a balance. You just need to find it. Every decision does not have to be all or nothing. What happened to compromise. For the betterment of the republic.
- The “Center Right – Elephant” what the true Republican party is. You can call them Rhinos, but they were not radical. They weren’t always totally honest, but they didn’t blatantly lie to your face like some do now. The George Bushes, Liz Cheneys, Mitt Romneys of the party.
- The “Far Right – Lemmings” run around in a large group not knowing where they are going or what peril lies ahead. Immoral, unethical slice of Rhinos that have been hoodwinked & gaslighted by Donald Trump. They will tell you what you want to hear today, and tell you something completely different tomorrow, because that is what you want to hear. They look you in the eye and lie to your face, as if yesterday never happened.
Unfortunately, each of them, maybe not the center as much, have stopped thinking about the whole and only think about themselves. Vanity!
Let me get started:
Gun Control – The second amendment was established in 1789 shortly after this Country broke away from governance by a king. “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep & bear arms shall not be infringed”. It was established in response to events that governed our Country, for the purpose of the people to form a “well regulated” (sounds like the National Guard or Federal force if you ask me), to protect itself against a tyrannical leader. The NRA takes part of that amendment and forgets the rest to support their claims of rightful gun ownership. Going so far to disregard the safety of the nation for their own personal vanity.
The folks who stormed the Capital, were not a well-regulated militia, and I still do know why they brought guns to a protest, when using them to kill someone is illegal in this Country. Or is a gun a show of masculinity. Tell that to the women who own & carry weapons. If those who stormed the Capital on Jan.6th were well regulated, they would have had a commander. That commander, though afraid of fighting himself, would have been Donald Trump. At the time (as the President of the United States) makes him more guilty than any other person that day.
You want to own a weapon? Please do so. You don’t need to own a high capacity, semi-automatic or automatic style weapon. The only purpose of owning a weapon of that type is to hurt, kill, destroy as many things as possible in a short period of time before you are shot yourself. You want to hunt? Please do so. I have hunted and enjoy the time out in and with nature. There isn’t an animal out there that is hunted that requires a high capacity (we can discuss what that means) or semi-automatic or automatic weapon. The reason is, it makes for an unfair contest, and you would tear the shit out of whatever you were hunting. You want to fire a large round weapon, join the military. I’ve held a 50 cal in my hand and fired it down low on my hip just like Rambo. It feels good, but I understand the destruction that occurs on the receiving end. High capacity, semi-automatic or automatic weapons should be reserved for those in the military.
I’m tired of hearing legislators or gun activists say “The shooter acted alone”. That is the furthest thing from the truth.
- They act with those who encourage them,
- They act with those who allow them to purchase the weapon,
- They act with those who underfund schools for safety & security initiatives,
- They act with those who don’t enact laws that make it more difficult to gain access to such weapons,
- They act with those who limit access/funding for mental health services.
Oh that poker game I was at a few weeks ago, one of the guys playing actually thought the police response to the Uvalde school shooting, was a liberal plot to enact gun control. My next question was do you think the same of Sandy Hook? No answer. What the Fuck! Really! Are you kidding me? Maybe he should talk to Remington (and I have my thoughts on that settlement) or Alex Jones about how that turned out (He deserves everything he gets and must pay for).
So here is what I think
- You can own a weapon. The magazine size should be limited. If you want multiple magazines fine. You only need so many bullets to protect your home. If you choose to commit a terrorist act with this weapon, it takes time for you to reload your weapon, hence giving a first responder an opportunity to act as well.
- You want to fire a semi-automatic, automatic or other style weapon, go to a licensed gun range and have at it. It can be serious, fun or competitive. You don’t need one to hunt or carry on the street.
- There should be waiting periods to obtain a carry permit and license. You would be amazed and what time would buy us as a nation in addressing gun violence.
- Increase funding for mental health services in schools and states.
- Increase funding for safety/security in schools.
Will this fix everything, no. I’m not an idiot, nor do I own a pair of rosy colored glasses. Fixing everything is not possible. It will reduce the number of individuals killed by gun violence each year. It will extend the time to reload, allowing responders to act accordingly. It is better than what we have, and it allows citizens the right to gun ownership.
Roe vs Wade – I don’t agree with abortion after a specified period. I always told my boys, you get someone pregnant, I’ll take you to the girl’s house personally so you can take responsibility. I don’t agree with it as a form of birth control. I also don’t think it is my right to tell a woman or 2 people who find themselves in that situation, what to do. That is a decision between a woman, the father, their families, her doctor or any combination of the parties involved. This is a medical decision and should always remain that way. In no way, should religion be part of that decision. May I remind you that religion has killed more people in this world than any other thing out there. If you want to use religion as a basis to live your life, treat people and center your moral compass, I think that is great. I do the same. DO NOT USE IT TO GOVERN. It is not possible. There are too many versions, beliefs, denominations to do so.
These radically conservative State legislatures who are enacting incredibly stringent anti-abortion laws will be sorry. They do so, even though the majority of the people in their State and this Nation believe otherwise. Forcing a young child to carry a baby conceived through incest or asking a young adult to carry a nonviable fetus that will die in their womb, even though carrying the child to term could medically damage that person’s uterus or possibly kill them, or forcing someone who has been raped to carry an unwanted child to term is barbaric. As I mentioned in a past post, the same group of people who professed my body, my right with the vaccine, are the same people who would vote to remove someone else’s right to their own body.
The idea that an embryo is a living being is based on the religious belief that a person is alive at the time of conception. I’m sure there is a medical timeline that can be established that determines a fetus’s (child) chance of survival outside the womb with minimal medical assistance. Those radical conservative states that outlaw abortion or allow citizens to bring suit against another who seeks an abortion or the medical professional who supports them, should go back in time to the Salem Witch Hunts. It is the same thing. What a way to divide our country further than to pit citizens against each other.
The women who support outlawing abortion and governance by religion should don their full burqa or niqab, relinquish their professional standing, drop out of school, and never be seen outside without their man. That is how countries who govern through religion operate. Please move there if that is what you support. Now don’t go crazy telling me I hate Muslims, that is not what I am saying. Those fanatical religious decisions make Muslims as uncomfortable as you. I am pointing out what effect radical religious decisions have on a group of people.
States that outlaw abortion, don’t realize the fallible decision they are making. You may think you can force someone to have a child, but you cannot force them to keep the child. If you do that, then you are as much a socialist as those you disagree with. If you are going to outlaw abortion, you better have a robust foster care, adoption, and welfare system. You will need them. Maybe you didn’t think there was any chance an unwanted child would become your responsibility. Foster care, adoption services and welfare programs cost money that the State will need to fund. Oh wait, maybe you don’t care about the child after their born. That’s someone else’s problem now! What hypocrites.
So here is what I think
- Abortion should never be used as a contraceptive. If you don’t want to get pregnant use contraception. If you don’t and you get pregnant, own it. You have a decision to make.
- Abortion should never be illegal in the case of incest, rape, or the health of the mother. NEVER
- If abortion were made illegal, then 26 weeks or some medically established time based on fetus survival outside the womb should be established. The timeline should not be established by a legislator.
- If you are going to outlaw abortion, then you better establish robust adoption, foster care and welfare systems for the unwanted children. They will become the State’s responsibility, and yes it cost money.
I hope Clarence Thomas is listening. At some point he may need to decide on inter-racial marriages. I wonder what he will do………
Unfortunately for the two issues above nothing will happen until something happens to those who make the laws. Maybe, just maybe they will think harder and longer. What a Shame.