Sadly, history proves you wrong, and, sadly, sometimes violence IS the ONLY solution. In fact, my study of history suggests that violence always occurs when both sides are so narrow minded that they can't even understand the other side. Does that sad condition sound at all familiar, perhaps to the present ??? The USA Civil War is a "shining" example. The sides were BLACK and WHITE (no pun intended), and neither side had any interest in appreciating the other point of view. It left one side battered and arrogant, and the other side crushed and forever bitter, and our nation forever damaged, BUT UNIFIED. But the issue was settled, sort of. THEJETT
Catch me up. I couldn’t find anything relevant. Plus I’m focused on the genocide and trying to get some relief for the people trapped in Gaza, so I’m not as focused on details as I am the big picture.
Well the footnote highlights the difference between the end - in this case stopping a convicted criminal from entering the White House, and in that case the removal of the Attorney General - and the means of achieving it.
I’ll dig a little more after some rest. It is thoroughly frustrating that so many “good” people support someone who is a known rapist and who has a mountain of evidence against him in situations involving child abuse.
We must do all we can to prevent chaos agents, of all types, to control our destiny.
The attempt was shocking and not shocking. How many political officials have been shot or physically attacked, even in recent years? Multiple members of Congress, of both parties, have been shot. The spouse of Nancy Pelosi was brutally attacked. Judges and their families were threatened & murdered in a few cases. Threats were made against multiple justices.
I fear we still as a nation don't truly realize the stakes though realize human nature is to resist such apparently uncontrollable things. I speak personally too. You just try to go day by day.
Many in power don't do enough, including on such issues like the Supreme Court. I personally think President Biden, down to his responses to this event, has done more than many. I truly hope in my bones he will be re-elected. I don't like the chaos and ugliness that is the alternative.
Very well said. I would like to point out to the others that comments that no one wants to take our guns. We are asking for common sense laws. A license should be required and anyone under the age of 18 should not be allowed to buy. If anyone goes to buy an AR and an excessive amount of ammo they should be scrutinized. Only sane people should be able to buy guns and I don't see anything wrong with keeping them out of the hands of violent assaulters. Just common sense laws.
Hi Chris: It is very intellectually dangerous to draw broad conclusions for very sparse data. The existence of one misguided person does not justify punishing anyone who appears like him, or punishing anyone, for that matter. There is a balance between freedom and tyranny. In some nations, all you have to do is look strange to some government official and you spend the rest of your life in a Gulag in Siberia. We, on the other hand, believe in personal freedom, and have agreed to accept the risk that come with that freedom. History tells us that the only way to eliminate human violence is to use human violence, except in never-never land. If you can find a nation that is better than the USA, you are free to move there. Gerry
I read Posobiec‘s speech. He, and all like him, are fully human beings who love their kids and pets, just like SS officers did, and they are disgusting pieces of fascist shit. They’re telling you, like Hitler, who was also fully human, exactly what they’re going to do.
Yes, vote and encourage. But arm up. Literally drop any anti-gun feelings and arm up. If these scumbags cannot be stopped at the ballot box, what’s the fucking plan? Clutching “hope?” The best thing they have going for them is our disbelief, status quo bias, and cowardice.
Let me remind you all that if they win or just take power, carbon is floored and your children’s chance of even semi-decent lives are over.
Now go ahead and tell me that I am just as bad as these monsters and that the only thing to do is hug and hope. And let them destroy everything without any cost. Go ahead: help them.
Edit: I’ll this for all:
So what’s your suggestion if and when there is a fascist takeover, whether by election or a national 1/6? More Netflix binge-watching? Hypernormalization and retreat into ourselves? Refusing to inflict any cost at all?
“Arm up”? Oh yes indeed: the solution to too many guns is… more guns! Of course! Also: if I had a working gun in the house, I would not be here to type this— which, I suppose, would be a solution in itself, wouldn’t it?
So what’s your suggestion if and when there is a fascist takeover, whether by election or a national 1/6? More Netflix binge-watching? Hypernormalization and retreat into ourselves? Refusing to inflict any cost at all?
Massive civilian resistance. Don't follow the laws, don't show up for work, millions of Americans in the streets, etc. etc. Others can tell you the moral problems with the gun solution. My problem with it is strictly practical. Guns are the one thing these people have an advantage in. We have to find a way to beat fire with water, not with fire. It's going to take courage because they will kill and jail some of us. But they can't kill and jail all of us.
Yeah. We have a lot of organizing to do. We are doing a poor job of it now. Once the Republicans control everything, I think the American people will be motivated. It's a shame that's what I think it's going to take.
Hi Chris: Must compliment you on the high quality and clarity of your writing. It is sad that it is based on some flawed premises. We don't ban cars, even though they are dangerous. We don't even ban ideas that are dangerous. Freedom is the reason for our nation. We have a system for punishing abuser of the freedom, but, generally, people are free to abuse freedom as long as they accept the consequences, as happened to Trumps' attacker. [The fact that Trump's attacker was able to reach his position and get a shot off, is a matter that deserves serious investigation] That is because the Founders of this nation chose freedom over tyranny. It is possible to design a society in which breaking the law in impossible, but that would impose limits on peoples' freedom that the Founders were NOT willing to accept. Punishing someone for what they MIGHT do is not the USA way, or, at least, it shouldn't be. Thus, having a gun should not be a crime; only the harmful misuse of it. As the Israelis (and our inner cities) discovered, banning firearms has consequences. Gerry
We don’t ban cars because cars serve several purposes. Cars are also licensed and registered and people must pass tests in order to drive one. Guns, OTOH, have one purpose. To kill another being.
Israel is a country under constant attack; every adult must serve in the army and is a member of the reserves until they reach the age of 60. There is no comparison here.
Let me help you out with a small correction. The religious most conservative in Israel are excluded from serving and yet they wield tremendous political power.
Dear Marla: Those same restrictions apply to firearms. licenses, registrations, and tests. I assume that you are NOT involved in firearms. I assume that you don't consider hunting animals as another purpose for guns, and, therefore, you must be a vegetarian. And you don't consider self-defense as a legitimate purpose, so you must be someone who never has to worry about being in a place where you might be attacked. Israeli citizens, when they are not on active military duty, cannot have guns. That is why Hamas was able to kill, rape, and kidnap those 2000 innocent Israelis. I hope you never have to learn how naive you are. Gerry
I grew up around guns. The first day of deer season was a school holiday. White-tailed deer are considered by many to be a pest. I would never eat one, though, and I don’t know many ‘hunters’ who actually do. I eat very little meat, actually, though I’m not a vegetarian. The meat I eat is farm-raised, not hunted down in the wild and killed for sport.
I currently live in a large urban area but would never have a gun for self-defense, even though I know how to shoot and go to the range from time to time.
Israeli citizens may have guns, once they go through the permitting process.
Dear Marla: You sound like an interesting character. Why would you NOT have a gun for self-defense ? The fact that you are skilled with guns would rule out one logical explanation. And I want to thank you for motivating me to update my understanding of the Israel-gun situation, which I consider a model of conservative rationality. In 2012, when I last investigated, because gun possession is Israel is considered a privilege, rather that a right, only 2.5 % of the civilians were licensed to carry. All military had to turn in their weapons when discharged. But since the October 7 massacre, the government has, as you noted, changed the rules and made it possible for regular civilians to be armed. While a little too late for those 2000 plus victims, that is progress. Perhaps we might reflect on that as we fill up with unvetted military-aged male immigrants from enemy nations. I spent a few years doing counter-terrorism work, and I sense something in the air. That's why I wonder why you don't have a gun.
Because the “Israeli” government uses their citizens as shields. Their entire system is set up to create opportunities for oppression, ethnic cleansing, and to incite violence among the population. Funny how the republicans party acts very much like Netanyahu’s party. The Democratic Party takes advantage of the hate projected by the republicans party to make a few false promises and put on the “lesser of two evils” uniform. We do not live in a democracy or a republic. Even if that was the intention, we currently live in an authoritarian oligarchy. The ability to vote is just a farce to gaslight us into thinking we’re part of it.
Dear Dead. It sounds like you hate Repubs AND Dems. There are a few 3rd party groups, but from your comments, it sounds like you are more of an anarchy guy. We had an Anarchy party, but it couldn't get organized. It turns out chaos is only beautiful from a distance. Based on your comments, I assume you were never in the military and don't care to learn much about real conflict. I was and I do. Gerry
Ah, that actually explains your indoctrination. I’m sorry that you suffered at the hands of the military industrial complex. I hope someday you heal. I’m not an anarchist. I’m just anti-racism, anti-bigotry, anti-genocide, anti-fascism, and generally anti-harm.
What happens when that system is tyrannical and the people running it are lying to your face? Who is protecting the people that these fascist/authoritarians are making up lies in order to incite violence against? What happens when I minority of bigoted sociopaths takes over a nation and voting makes no real impact?
Hi Dead: First of all, the reason why every citizen must be armed is so that tyrants cannot dominate them. So the people themselves can protect their rights against tyrants. That is after all, how we separated from England. We all had guns. If you recall, the American revolution started because the British tried to take our guns away. The only way that a group of "bigoted sociopaths" can take over the country is if they have more and better guns than you. That's the reason why the first thing tyrants do is to take the guns from the citizens; sort of like what you are proposing. I'm an old guy, and have been involved in politics for all of it. My conclusion is that DEMs want to run your life, and REPUBs want to let you run your own life. From your screen name, I assume that you want to run your own life. Gerry
Pray tell, what "rights" are Republicans removing as we speak. You must have a strange situation. As far as I can tell, the only thing Republicans are doing is giving me BACK my right the bear arms, and letting me keep some of my earnings. It's the Dems who are trying to take away my rights, by taking my gun, and taxing me until I bleed. And don't get me started on DEMS and COVID. So, what rights are REPUBs taking from YOU ? Truth be told, I can't think of a single right Repubs have taken from anyone. Please, come up with at least one, even if it doesn't involve you. Perhaps you were thinking of the Repubs' program to stop fake votes. If you made some good money running that scam, sorry. Or perhaps you are getting some static over your Dead Spirit Guide business. After all, you've got to dress properly when hanging out with Dead Spirits, so you have a business expense tax deduction. I can see that being an issue. Gerry
I didn’t say anything about taking guns from anyone. We’re living in a state of indoctrination and extremism. They already have the bigger guns. They’re just using civilians as shields.
Hi Dead: Not to be boring, but what "indoctrination and extremism" are you talking about. The reason why Repubs are called Conservatives is that they stand for traditional values; hard work, fairness, freedom. If you are living on welfare, I can see why you resent Repubs telling you to get a job. Perhaps the Dead Spirit guide gig is not as profitable as you expected. I'm a lawyer and spending my life in dusty old law books does feel like being a Dead Spirit Guide, exploring the minds of judges, long deceased. And after a while, I can hear them speaking to me. That's when I jot down what they say, and know it's time to go home. Even dead spirits get cranky around dinner time. Gerry
If they stood for only those three things, we could get along. They also stand for enforcing an ideology, religion, and hate crimes against marginalized people. You can gaslight all you want. I’ve heard it from every trump supporter I’ve personally known. They target Black, Brown, Indigenous, transgender, and homosexual people. If you can deny that, then you aren’t looking at the party.
Dear Dead: While I can't speak for all Repubs. especially because, basically, I don't think of people in those terms. I have friends in all of those categories, and I don't judge people on those bases. When I was in the army, I worked with every kind of person from all around the nation, and had no problem with any of them. On the other hand, I meet lots of Dems from the South and inner cities that hated all of those groups. I think you might need to check your assumptions. You may be correct that Dems tend to seek out the sometimes disenfranchised groups that you mention, but that, in itself, is a form of discrimination, and doesn't mean the Dems fulfill their promises to those groups. Everybody wants voters. But the question is, which party actually does something beneficial for those voters. Gerry
'One person — for unknown reasons at this point — thought it was his decision, and his decision alone, whether Trump should be elected president again.'
You couldn't be more wrong about this.
He didn't care about the election. If it had been Biden, he'd have been there. If no politician had created a good gathering, it would have been some other event. Or school. Or church.
This was becoming three names. This was about being known as Thomas Matthew Crooks. This was about payback, and having control. This was about him being bullied in school, in a dead end job, a loner who only found identity with others like him—in a website that fantasized guns, explosives, and violence. And the toxic masculinity that hovers over all of this.
This was about him taking control. And being someone. For the first, and last, time in his life.
I agree with you on the absurdity of our laws, and SCOTUS. But don't make mistake the actions of this shooter. This event had nothing to do with politics or rhetoric.
It only had to do with being known by three names. And how easy our society made this happen.
I think the comments actually show a big weakness in the law and lawyering (forgive the inarticulate wording): the tendency to think anything can be made true if one finds the right argument. There are such things as empirical facts. More guns = more violence. This is not an ideological point, just what the data shows. Thinking it ought not be so, thinking the relationship should be inverse, doesn't make it so, no matter how clever one is. If we would rely more on empirical facts, and less on ideology, we would govern ourselves much better. I'm not holding out hope though.
It is sad. How these comments have gone off the rails. If this thoughtful essay can trigger such vitriol we are in even worse shape than I thought.
Political violence is never a solution.
Sadly, history proves you wrong, and, sadly, sometimes violence IS the ONLY solution. In fact, my study of history suggests that violence always occurs when both sides are so narrow minded that they can't even understand the other side. Does that sad condition sound at all familiar, perhaps to the present ??? The USA Civil War is a "shining" example. The sides were BLACK and WHITE (no pun intended), and neither side had any interest in appreciating the other point of view. It left one side battered and arrogant, and the other side crushed and forever bitter, and our nation forever damaged, BUT UNIFIED. But the issue was settled, sort of. THEJETT
I feel it’s actually very democratic to try and stop a man who has been complicit in medical, political, and legal violence against women and children
Sotomayor's now-famous footnote in Trump comes to mind...
Catch me up. I couldn’t find anything relevant. Plus I’m focused on the genocide and trying to get some relief for the people trapped in Gaza, so I’m not as focused on details as I am the big picture.
Well the footnote highlights the difference between the end - in this case stopping a convicted criminal from entering the White House, and in that case the removal of the Attorney General - and the means of achieving it.
I’ll dig a little more after some rest. It is thoroughly frustrating that so many “good” people support someone who is a known rapist and who has a mountain of evidence against him in situations involving child abuse.
We must do all we can to prevent chaos agents, of all types, to control our destiny.
The attempt was shocking and not shocking. How many political officials have been shot or physically attacked, even in recent years? Multiple members of Congress, of both parties, have been shot. The spouse of Nancy Pelosi was brutally attacked. Judges and their families were threatened & murdered in a few cases. Threats were made against multiple justices.
I fear we still as a nation don't truly realize the stakes though realize human nature is to resist such apparently uncontrollable things. I speak personally too. You just try to go day by day.
Many in power don't do enough, including on such issues like the Supreme Court. I personally think President Biden, down to his responses to this event, has done more than many. I truly hope in my bones he will be re-elected. I don't like the chaos and ugliness that is the alternative.
Very well said. I would like to point out to the others that comments that no one wants to take our guns. We are asking for common sense laws. A license should be required and anyone under the age of 18 should not be allowed to buy. If anyone goes to buy an AR and an excessive amount of ammo they should be scrutinized. Only sane people should be able to buy guns and I don't see anything wrong with keeping them out of the hands of violent assaulters. Just common sense laws.
Hi Chris: It is very intellectually dangerous to draw broad conclusions for very sparse data. The existence of one misguided person does not justify punishing anyone who appears like him, or punishing anyone, for that matter. There is a balance between freedom and tyranny. In some nations, all you have to do is look strange to some government official and you spend the rest of your life in a Gulag in Siberia. We, on the other hand, believe in personal freedom, and have agreed to accept the risk that come with that freedom. History tells us that the only way to eliminate human violence is to use human violence, except in never-never land. If you can find a nation that is better than the USA, you are free to move there. Gerry
I read Posobiec‘s speech. He, and all like him, are fully human beings who love their kids and pets, just like SS officers did, and they are disgusting pieces of fascist shit. They’re telling you, like Hitler, who was also fully human, exactly what they’re going to do.
Yes, vote and encourage. But arm up. Literally drop any anti-gun feelings and arm up. If these scumbags cannot be stopped at the ballot box, what’s the fucking plan? Clutching “hope?” The best thing they have going for them is our disbelief, status quo bias, and cowardice.
Let me remind you all that if they win or just take power, carbon is floored and your children’s chance of even semi-decent lives are over.
Now go ahead and tell me that I am just as bad as these monsters and that the only thing to do is hug and hope. And let them destroy everything without any cost. Go ahead: help them.
Edit: I’ll this for all:
So what’s your suggestion if and when there is a fascist takeover, whether by election or a national 1/6? More Netflix binge-watching? Hypernormalization and retreat into ourselves? Refusing to inflict any cost at all?
Literally, what is your plan?
“Arm up”? Oh yes indeed: the solution to too many guns is… more guns! Of course! Also: if I had a working gun in the house, I would not be here to type this— which, I suppose, would be a solution in itself, wouldn’t it?
So what’s your suggestion if and when there is a fascist takeover, whether by election or a national 1/6? More Netflix binge-watching? Hypernormalization and retreat into ourselves? Refusing to inflict any cost at all?
Literally, what is your plan?
Massive civilian resistance. Don't follow the laws, don't show up for work, millions of Americans in the streets, etc. etc. Others can tell you the moral problems with the gun solution. My problem with it is strictly practical. Guns are the one thing these people have an advantage in. We have to find a way to beat fire with water, not with fire. It's going to take courage because they will kill and jail some of us. But they can't kill and jail all of us.
All for a general strike but it must be organized.
Yeah. We have a lot of organizing to do. We are doing a poor job of it now. Once the Republicans control everything, I think the American people will be motivated. It's a shame that's what I think it's going to take.
I sincerely hope so. Might as well go down fighting.
But most will just conform, I fear.
Hi Chris: Must compliment you on the high quality and clarity of your writing. It is sad that it is based on some flawed premises. We don't ban cars, even though they are dangerous. We don't even ban ideas that are dangerous. Freedom is the reason for our nation. We have a system for punishing abuser of the freedom, but, generally, people are free to abuse freedom as long as they accept the consequences, as happened to Trumps' attacker. [The fact that Trump's attacker was able to reach his position and get a shot off, is a matter that deserves serious investigation] That is because the Founders of this nation chose freedom over tyranny. It is possible to design a society in which breaking the law in impossible, but that would impose limits on peoples' freedom that the Founders were NOT willing to accept. Punishing someone for what they MIGHT do is not the USA way, or, at least, it shouldn't be. Thus, having a gun should not be a crime; only the harmful misuse of it. As the Israelis (and our inner cities) discovered, banning firearms has consequences. Gerry
We don’t ban cars because cars serve several purposes. Cars are also licensed and registered and people must pass tests in order to drive one. Guns, OTOH, have one purpose. To kill another being.
Israel is a country under constant attack; every adult must serve in the army and is a member of the reserves until they reach the age of 60. There is no comparison here.
Let me help you out with a small correction. The religious most conservative in Israel are excluded from serving and yet they wield tremendous political power.
Dear Marla: Those same restrictions apply to firearms. licenses, registrations, and tests. I assume that you are NOT involved in firearms. I assume that you don't consider hunting animals as another purpose for guns, and, therefore, you must be a vegetarian. And you don't consider self-defense as a legitimate purpose, so you must be someone who never has to worry about being in a place where you might be attacked. Israeli citizens, when they are not on active military duty, cannot have guns. That is why Hamas was able to kill, rape, and kidnap those 2000 innocent Israelis. I hope you never have to learn how naive you are. Gerry
I grew up around guns. The first day of deer season was a school holiday. White-tailed deer are considered by many to be a pest. I would never eat one, though, and I don’t know many ‘hunters’ who actually do. I eat very little meat, actually, though I’m not a vegetarian. The meat I eat is farm-raised, not hunted down in the wild and killed for sport.
I currently live in a large urban area but would never have a gun for self-defense, even though I know how to shoot and go to the range from time to time.
Israeli citizens may have guns, once they go through the permitting process.
Dear Marla: You sound like an interesting character. Why would you NOT have a gun for self-defense ? The fact that you are skilled with guns would rule out one logical explanation. And I want to thank you for motivating me to update my understanding of the Israel-gun situation, which I consider a model of conservative rationality. In 2012, when I last investigated, because gun possession is Israel is considered a privilege, rather that a right, only 2.5 % of the civilians were licensed to carry. All military had to turn in their weapons when discharged. But since the October 7 massacre, the government has, as you noted, changed the rules and made it possible for regular civilians to be armed. While a little too late for those 2000 plus victims, that is progress. Perhaps we might reflect on that as we fill up with unvetted military-aged male immigrants from enemy nations. I spent a few years doing counter-terrorism work, and I sense something in the air. That's why I wonder why you don't have a gun.
Because the “Israeli” government uses their citizens as shields. Their entire system is set up to create opportunities for oppression, ethnic cleansing, and to incite violence among the population. Funny how the republicans party acts very much like Netanyahu’s party. The Democratic Party takes advantage of the hate projected by the republicans party to make a few false promises and put on the “lesser of two evils” uniform. We do not live in a democracy or a republic. Even if that was the intention, we currently live in an authoritarian oligarchy. The ability to vote is just a farce to gaslight us into thinking we’re part of it.
Dear Dead. It sounds like you hate Repubs AND Dems. There are a few 3rd party groups, but from your comments, it sounds like you are more of an anarchy guy. We had an Anarchy party, but it couldn't get organized. It turns out chaos is only beautiful from a distance. Based on your comments, I assume you were never in the military and don't care to learn much about real conflict. I was and I do. Gerry
Ah, that actually explains your indoctrination. I’m sorry that you suffered at the hands of the military industrial complex. I hope someday you heal. I’m not an anarchist. I’m just anti-racism, anti-bigotry, anti-genocide, anti-fascism, and generally anti-harm.
What happens when that system is tyrannical and the people running it are lying to your face? Who is protecting the people that these fascist/authoritarians are making up lies in order to incite violence against? What happens when I minority of bigoted sociopaths takes over a nation and voting makes no real impact?
Hi Dead: First of all, the reason why every citizen must be armed is so that tyrants cannot dominate them. So the people themselves can protect their rights against tyrants. That is after all, how we separated from England. We all had guns. If you recall, the American revolution started because the British tried to take our guns away. The only way that a group of "bigoted sociopaths" can take over the country is if they have more and better guns than you. That's the reason why the first thing tyrants do is to take the guns from the citizens; sort of like what you are proposing. I'm an old guy, and have been involved in politics for all of it. My conclusion is that DEMs want to run your life, and REPUBs want to let you run your own life. From your screen name, I assume that you want to run your own life. Gerry
The republicans are the ones removing rights as we speak, so I don’t want to hear that nonsense.
Pray tell, what "rights" are Republicans removing as we speak. You must have a strange situation. As far as I can tell, the only thing Republicans are doing is giving me BACK my right the bear arms, and letting me keep some of my earnings. It's the Dems who are trying to take away my rights, by taking my gun, and taxing me until I bleed. And don't get me started on DEMS and COVID. So, what rights are REPUBs taking from YOU ? Truth be told, I can't think of a single right Repubs have taken from anyone. Please, come up with at least one, even if it doesn't involve you. Perhaps you were thinking of the Repubs' program to stop fake votes. If you made some good money running that scam, sorry. Or perhaps you are getting some static over your Dead Spirit Guide business. After all, you've got to dress properly when hanging out with Dead Spirits, so you have a business expense tax deduction. I can see that being an issue. Gerry
So you’re saying your right to cause fear, take away freedom, and cause harm “trumps” my right to freedom and safety?
I don’t make money speaking out against corrupt politicians… is this you tattling on yourself?
I didn’t say anything about taking guns from anyone. We’re living in a state of indoctrination and extremism. They already have the bigger guns. They’re just using civilians as shields.
Hi Dead: Not to be boring, but what "indoctrination and extremism" are you talking about. The reason why Repubs are called Conservatives is that they stand for traditional values; hard work, fairness, freedom. If you are living on welfare, I can see why you resent Repubs telling you to get a job. Perhaps the Dead Spirit guide gig is not as profitable as you expected. I'm a lawyer and spending my life in dusty old law books does feel like being a Dead Spirit Guide, exploring the minds of judges, long deceased. And after a while, I can hear them speaking to me. That's when I jot down what they say, and know it's time to go home. Even dead spirits get cranky around dinner time. Gerry
If they stood for only those three things, we could get along. They also stand for enforcing an ideology, religion, and hate crimes against marginalized people. You can gaslight all you want. I’ve heard it from every trump supporter I’ve personally known. They target Black, Brown, Indigenous, transgender, and homosexual people. If you can deny that, then you aren’t looking at the party.
Dear Dead: While I can't speak for all Repubs. especially because, basically, I don't think of people in those terms. I have friends in all of those categories, and I don't judge people on those bases. When I was in the army, I worked with every kind of person from all around the nation, and had no problem with any of them. On the other hand, I meet lots of Dems from the South and inner cities that hated all of those groups. I think you might need to check your assumptions. You may be correct that Dems tend to seek out the sometimes disenfranchised groups that you mention, but that, in itself, is a form of discrimination, and doesn't mean the Dems fulfill their promises to those groups. Everybody wants voters. But the question is, which party actually does something beneficial for those voters. Gerry
'One person — for unknown reasons at this point — thought it was his decision, and his decision alone, whether Trump should be elected president again.'
You couldn't be more wrong about this.
He didn't care about the election. If it had been Biden, he'd have been there. If no politician had created a good gathering, it would have been some other event. Or school. Or church.
This was becoming three names. This was about being known as Thomas Matthew Crooks. This was about payback, and having control. This was about him being bullied in school, in a dead end job, a loner who only found identity with others like him—in a website that fantasized guns, explosives, and violence. And the toxic masculinity that hovers over all of this.
This was about him taking control. And being someone. For the first, and last, time in his life.
I agree with you on the absurdity of our laws, and SCOTUS. But don't make mistake the actions of this shooter. This event had nothing to do with politics or rhetoric.
It only had to do with being known by three names. And how easy our society made this happen.
I think the comments actually show a big weakness in the law and lawyering (forgive the inarticulate wording): the tendency to think anything can be made true if one finds the right argument. There are such things as empirical facts. More guns = more violence. This is not an ideological point, just what the data shows. Thinking it ought not be so, thinking the relationship should be inverse, doesn't make it so, no matter how clever one is. If we would rely more on empirical facts, and less on ideology, we would govern ourselves much better. I'm not holding out hope though.
Thank you Chris for this very
thoughtful and well written
essay.