Creating the Motive to Prevent Gun Violence in the USA

I'd write this letter to my state and federal legislators, but they are all Republicans and not at all prone to agreeing with me; on anything. I'd write to the local paper, but this needs the kind of national attention that my blog might be able to help bring to fruition.

 

First, is the first four words of the 2^nd Amendment, “A well regulated militia,” referring to the Militia Act of 1792. Nothing therein refers to everybody's ability to own guns. The weapons known to the 18^th century militia bore no resemblance whatsoever to the center fire, semi-automatic, .223 long rifles (a.k.a., AR-15) of today.

 

Second, The news, and in general, media don't show the results of the gun violence, in the USA, done when shooters use the aforementioned long rifle. In my youth I saw a picture book of what the Allies found when liberating the death camps of WWII... Articles, and the accompanying photos, about events from the Vietnam War... Articles, also with explicit photographs, of the violence against African Americans in the USA in the 19^th and 20^th centuries...

 

The line diagrams of the consequences of a .223, high energy, round in a human body, published in the Washington Post, didn't motivate folks to useful, preventative action against the recurring acts of violence here in the United States.

 

Therefore, with all the appropriate permissions, start publishing stories (with explicit, brutal photographs) about the results of gun violence in these United States. Pictures and stories of the carnage, from elementary schools to any and all of the other community venues, where said crimes are committed need be published.

 

Could anybody continue to do nothing in the face of such, well documented, horror?

Why Authoritarian Regimes Fail

A couple of things to remember about authoritarian regimes like China and Russia:

1. A strong, capable military isn't possible because a coup d'etat oft originates in country.

2. An economy ruled strictly from the top of the regime is the most demoralizing thing possible (all decisions are made at the highest levels of the regime, credit is taken by said regime, blame is delegated to any and everybody else). The wheels fall off because the economy is subjugated to the incompetence of the regime.

Authoritarian regimes are still dangerous because they will risk anything, that isn't theirs or themselves, in the process of failing.