Cascade Effect

I sat down with every intention of writing a blustery post about the sudden wave of anger over 'castle doctrine', which suddenly devolved into a blustery post on right to carry, which then devolved into carping about censorship, the news media in general, and the purpose of government.  This all went off the tracks once they had the shooting in New York City at the Empire State building, and the comments afterwards by Mayor Bloomberg. I ended up with more rants than my closing on a half century old public school educated 34 words a minute typing fingers could churn out quickly. I decided to begin with my most basic thoughts on the human condition.

So, I present for your edification, the story of thumbs, as told by an old cop. 

As animals go, humans have a distinct disadvantage when compared to bears, lions, alligators, and most other large animals in the world.  Humans don't have claws, or fangs, or fur.  We have brains, and opposable thumbs. Humans are tool creating and tool using animals. We adapt what we have available to us and create those things we need to survive. We use what we have to do what we want to do, what we need to do.

In the 20-someodd years I have been involved in the business of order maintenance, I have seen folks who were injured and killed by firearms. However, I have also seen my fair share of those done in by longneck beer bottles, kitchen knives, carpet and box cutters, baseball bats, two by fours, tire irons, and even the humble Number 2 pencil. That is also excluding the number one killer and maimer of American children, women, and families...the automobile. So to reel this back in a bit, laws nothwithstanding, when it comes down to it humans will find a tool to do the task at hand, and if that task is doing harm to our fellow man, whether offensive or defensive in nature, we as a species will use what we have available to us.
 
But wait, you cry, all these guns make it dangerous to be out in society.  So ask me where I feel safer, in my little southern town where lots of folks have carry concealed permits, or in New York City or DC or any big city with restrictive gun laws. The sidebar chatter to this is that laws are for the law abiding. If I'm going to rob you, I probably don't care that the gun I'm using is also illegal. My point here is a simple one. Laws cannot change malice in the heart of man. If I desire to kill you, if that is my goal, I will adapt to what I have available to me. The antigunners will say "But guns make it easier..." Perhaps. Will banning guns keep us from killing each other? Nope. I read just a few weeks ago that a 17 year old in China killed 8 and wounded 5 with a knife. Think about that. I also had another chance to look at the 26 ounce framing hammer in my truck, and notice how it bears a familial resemblance to the medieval war hammer I saw at the museum. Will they ban clawhammers next? It's illegal to use one as a weapon already, but if you seek to blame the tool for the actions of the wielder...my guns are just tools. I am the one that will account for their usage. Me.