America is treating gun control in the same divisive way that it treats most controversial issues, such as abortion and inter-group bias. Those who have power and platform try to enforce their positions while demonizing the opposition. Although there are exceptions, the power and platform holders tend to endorse more extreme—my way or no way—positions. They are convinced of their righteousness and wisdom, and presume that persons opposed are mad or bad.
Since those with power usually have platform and vice versa, they use money and media in an effort to overwhelm the opposition. However, the assault merely helps incite and motivate the opposition to redouble their resistance. Almost never is there a decisive victory on either side. And the campaigns eventually morph into relentless guerrilla warfare.
Anyone with a functional cerebrum knows that gun control is on most American minds. We all have an intuitive sense of the scope of the problem. We all can find enough statistics to reinforce our concern. For instance, the Pew Research Center cites CDC data indicating that, 39,773 Americans died from gun-related injuries in 2017, and that 60 percent were suicides, 37 percent murder, and 3 percent “other.”
I am a Marine Corps,Viet Nam veteran who had a top-secret security clearance, carried a weapon for almost all of my four-years active duty, and currently am a psychologist with 40 plus years of experience.
Although I do not profess to be a gun control expert, I have some ideas that, I believe, can make a modest contribution to improving our situation. So, I wrote to my Pennsylvania governor, US senator, and US congresswoman, asking to be heard. I made it clear that I did not expect to talk directly with them, but would be happy to speak with an appropriate aide. I emphasized that I have very specific ideas that I have never seen offered by anyone.
How did the office of the Pennsylvania governor, US senator, and US congresswoman respond to me? You guessed it. I got a form letter, enumerating all the wonderful things that they had done and expected to do to control guns. It was quite apparent that no one cared about hearing what I have to say. They wanted only to reinforce their scripted messages that give them political cover.
A week ago, I contacted an investigative reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, leaving him a voice mail and email about my frustration. He left me a voice mail, saying that I should call him which I did. I, of course, got his voice mail, and left him another voice message. The reporter also said that he will respond to my email. He has not. Let’s see if he does.
Since those with power usually have platform and vice versa, they use money and media in an effort to overwhelm the opposition. However, the assault merely helps incite and motivate the opposition to redouble their resistance. Almost never is there a decisive victory on either side. And the campaigns eventually morph into relentless guerrilla warfare.
Anyone with a functional cerebrum knows that gun control is on most American minds. We all have an intuitive sense of the scope of the problem. We all can find enough statistics to reinforce our concern. For instance, the Pew Research Center cites CDC data indicating that, 39,773 Americans died from gun-related injuries in 2017, and that 60 percent were suicides, 37 percent murder, and 3 percent “other.”
I am a Marine Corps,Viet Nam veteran who had a top-secret security clearance, carried a weapon for almost all of my four-years active duty, and currently am a psychologist with 40 plus years of experience.
Although I do not profess to be a gun control expert, I have some ideas that, I believe, can make a modest contribution to improving our situation. So, I wrote to my Pennsylvania governor, US senator, and US congresswoman, asking to be heard. I made it clear that I did not expect to talk directly with them, but would be happy to speak with an appropriate aide. I emphasized that I have very specific ideas that I have never seen offered by anyone.
How did the office of the Pennsylvania governor, US senator, and US congresswoman respond to me? You guessed it. I got a form letter, enumerating all the wonderful things that they had done and expected to do to control guns. It was quite apparent that no one cared about hearing what I have to say. They wanted only to reinforce their scripted messages that give them political cover.
A week ago, I contacted an investigative reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, leaving him a voice mail and email about my frustration. He left me a voice mail, saying that I should call him which I did. I, of course, got his voice mail, and left him another voice message. The reporter also said that he will respond to my email. He has not. Let’s see if he does.
