Gun Nonsense

All business entities are interested in sales, residual sales and profit, profit, profit.  Such is the very nature of a capitalistic society.  But at what cost are sacrifices made to generate those sales and to make those profits?  

Does it appear the NRA, gun advocates and firearms lobbyist want to see the country return to the law of the gun?  Do we really want to settle our grievances with showdowns in the streets?  Where exactly is all this pro-gun legislation taking us?

Shannon Watts, founder of “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,” and Kate Beck, head of the Seattle chapter have launched a petition to prompt the Starbucks Corporation to prohibit the carrying of firearms in their establishments.

Most businesses prefer to restrict firearms from the workplace in an effort to maintain employee safety. But at the giant coffee conglomerate, apparently employee safety isn’t a major concern.  Starbucks refuses to ban loaded firearms in their establishments in the 43 states where openly carrying a loaded weapon is permitted.  

Anyone care for a Vente Caramel Macchiato with a Glock on the side?  Or perhaps you prefer, a White Chocolate Mocha with a Beretta to go?

In Arkansas the 3 R's stands for Reading, Writing and Rapid Fire.

In Arkansas’s Clarksville High School, when classes resume this fall approximately 20 teachers, administrators and other employees will be armed with concealed weapons.

Located between the Arkansas River and the base of the Ozark Mountains, Clarksville is a community of between 10,000 and 15,000 residents.  The school district supports under 3,500 students in K-12.  Is Clarksville really that much of a hotbed of violent criminal activity?  In Arkansas the 3 R’s must stand for “Reading, Writing and Rapid Fire.”

Apparently, this school system won’t pay a teacher a decent salary, but will pay $70,000 to train and certify 20 employees in gun handling and safety.  At an estimated $200 per student, that’s a hefty price for any school system to pay for “security.”  Maybe by adding in "combat pay" a teacher can earn a decent wage.

How long will it be, before someone perhaps a student, falls victim in some horrible accident?  And what ever happened to that law about schools being a gun free and drug free zones?

Gov McCrory doesn't seem to know guns and alcohol don't mix.

In North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory is posed to allow the carrying of firearms on playgrounds and in bars.  No, this is not Tarheel forward thinking, as The Ole North State is following suit behind Tennessee and six other states.  Is stupidity is running amuck?  Where is the common sense?  

Alcohol and firearms just seem to be a very bad combination.  Even lawmen of the old west saw this as inherently dangerous.  Why don’t today’s political leaders see the flaws in this thinking? Haven't we have already experienced enough unfortunate incidents due to poor judgment?  Is it really wise to add alcohol to situations already overwrought with poor judgment? 

In Warrington, Florida fumbling around in your mother’s car, in your driveway, in front of your house, at 2:40 a.m., in an attempt to find a cigarette can get you shot.  This was the case with Roy Howard Middleton (60). 

17 shell casing were found and Walker's Lincoln was pummeled with bullet holes.
PNJ.com

Middleton was mistaken as a possible robber and reported to the police by a neighbor.  When two Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived with guns drawn, they ordered Middleton out of the car and to keep his hands where the officers could see them.  Middleton later reported he thought the two officers were neighbors joking with him.

The officers began firing multiple shots ultimately striking Middleton in the leg.

According to Ceola Walker (77), Middleton’s mother, “He was just coming home like he usually does.  I don’t understand why they had to use so much force under the situation.  I don’t understand how they could fire so many shots at him.  He wasn’t resisting or anything and he was at his own house.”  Are these questions we should all be asking?

Walker said she later found 17 shell casings and her Lincoln was pummeled with bullet holes.  It appears even persons trained to “protect and serve” can be a little overzealous with the misuse of their firearms.

In New Orleans, Louisiana a 14 year old boy was shot in the head while standing in the driveway of a 33 year old homeowner.  The home owner, Merritt Landry said he thought the youth was about to burglarize his home. Landry said he thought the unarmed teen had a gun and he “feared for his safety.”  Yeah, right.  Isn’t this story getting just a little old?

Louisiana has “Castle” laws which are very similar to the infamous stand your ground laws.  These laws allow for the use of deadly force when threatened within the home.  The teenager, identified as Marshall Coulter remains in critical condition.  It is reported, if he survives he will suffer from severe brain damage.

Such was the last week of July 2013.  The above is a mere fraction of the firearm incidents and activities that occurred in this one week in this country.  There are 52 weeks in every year.  What firearm incidents, activities or accidents will next week bring?

I'm not hatin, I'm jus sayin...