Here a shooting, there a shooting, everywhere a mass shooting! Could we please just put the mass shootings on lockdown? An apparent neo-Nazi incel opened up with an AR in an outlet mall in Texas, killing eight in what was only the second deadliest mass shooting so far this year.
The usual chorus of "thoughts & prayers" and "ban assault weapons" has become such a routine that I don't think anybody believes it'll actually make a difference. It's like some morbid absolution ritual, shout for a bit and then you can tell yourself there's nothing more you can do.
For me it's a bit difficult to reconcile the notion of an assault weapon ban with memories of 2020. Between the police and the militia types there were plenty of heavily armed folks who meant us no good and nobody to protect us but us. AR-15s proved to be quite handy in that regard and we definitely had our fair share.
We got guns cause they got guns. Why does that sound familiar? Oh right, because that's the justification for every standing army and arms race. We're in an arms race with ourselves and the whole country is just an ill-tempered and ill-trained standing army. Yippee ki-yay motherfuckers!
There's good news though! If we can figure out a way to bring an end to the armed standoff that is civil society, we'll be well on our way to bringing an end to the armed standoff that is international relations. All we've got to do is find a way to end mass shootings and we can have world peace! Now who's got some Raytheon stock for sale?
Photos an action on March 13th, 2021, the 1-year anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death.