Anchor Struck

I called a longtime friend/spiritual brother in the Midwest today to get his take on the gun control debate raging in the U.S.  He joined the NRA ten years ago, attracted by its training and safety programs.  Now, he says, he won’t renew his membership because of the recent political histrionics of CEO Wayne LaPierre.  After every mass shooting, LaPierre reflexively spouts the party line about the Second Amendment being in imminent danger of being repealed.  But he has no choice.  Generous contributions from the gun industry and its corporate allies help bankroll the NRA.

Anyway, my friend/brother said LaPierre lost him with his obsession over the alleged gutting of the Constitution.  “Not my crusade”, my f/b said.

The Parkland shooting is starting to really be different this time, mostly because of the survivors.  Since the slaughter, these kids have shown more courage, articulation and rational thought than LaPierre and LaTrump combined.  I hope that — as the vanguard of Generation Z — they spawn massive political interest among their peers.

I witnessed significant trauma in Vietnam as a casualty reporter, but I stuffed it and didn’t own it for 25 years.  I applaud the students for confronting their trauma before the wounds turn to scars.  That’s crucial.

I don’t know if any of the kids will go into politics, but, please, Emma Gonzales.  Run for President ASAP.  At the very least, hopefully they will register to vote in huge numbers.

So as teenagers are being the voice of reason, LaPierre has blathered about the Second Amendment and The Donnie has simply blathered.  In his classic style, Trump pulled –not necessarily the first — but the worst thing out of his ass.  His proposal to arm teachers is not only loony, it would be a boon for the gun industry, which needs more government subsidy.  Remington just filed for bankruptcy.

As the gun-crazy crowd continues to wrap itself in Old Glory, please note that Super Patriot Wayne LaPierre had a Selective Service number in 1970 that placed him in the “most likely” to be drafted pool.  But he didn’t go.  Snopes pooh-poohed an internet rumour that he was spared due to a nervous disorder, then speculated that he got a student deferment.  I’d like to offer an alternative theory: he caught bone spurs from Trump.