Experts in the field of gerontology report that reminiscing is a favored activity of old farts.  That may be true, but take it from one who has been there (and still is), we also like very much to complain.  Granted there is much fertile territory which one may exploit, but when there are no obvious items that deserve our complaints, we are perfectly capable of manufacturing new ones.  Most of us are retired, which allows us adequate time to search for items of which to disapprove.  In previous blogs, I have endeavored to establish my bona-fides as a complainer of the first order however; I now wish to digress and utter a few hopeful words about the future of our country.

The Children Are Our Future

The truism that our children represent the future of the country, or world is what gives me hope that some of the screwed-up policies of my generation can be corrected without destroying too many of its accomplishments.  Of course, I am referring to the recent demonstrations and walkouts by school kids throughout the country in response to our most recent school massacre.  The gun lobbyists, and other 2^nd amendment guys insist that the kids are being manipulated and financed by those who would take their guns away leaving them and their families at the mercy of their government and other bad guys.  However; anyone who has reared teenagers would agree that they are better manipulators than manipulees.  Their idea of conformity is to follow the lead of their peers rather than some political activist.  I seriously doubt that adults convinced them to put their baseball cap on backwards or to wear baggy pants belted at a mid-buttock level.

Recently, as I watched some of the demonstrations I was reminded of an incident a little over 70 years ago (I told you I was old) when my high school staged a walkout (there I go again, sucked into that nostalgia stuff).  Nevertheless that was big stuff in those days.  We protested the failure of a levy to build a new school and a good time was had by all, especially after we discovered they couldn’t figure out ways to mete out a collective punishment.  In spite of the stern warnings that horrible retributions would result from a walkout (someone ratted us out), I suspect the teachers were secretly pleased.

It would have been laughable for my generation to presume we could ever effect changes at the national level, but these offspring of the baby boomers channeled their adolescent rebelliousness into a nationwide movement.  They demonstrated that when people (even kids) unite to pursue a common cause all things are possible.  The tool which was used to bring them together was of course social media.  They were able to show there were good uses for this same process that has also been used to undermine our democracy.  They chose to focus their efforts on those legislators who they felt were unduly influenced by the NRA and gun manufacturers.

Tis the time for TV to be awash in political ads and I recently noticed a couple of dandies.  The best was a video of a big guy in camo clothes with a camo colored large gauge shotgun which he proceeded to fire into a television set.  It turned out that the TV was no match for the 10 gauge rifled slug and this candidate for our state representative won that battle.  His qualifications for office also included an A+ rating by the NRA, lifelong support for the 2^nd amendment, abhorrence of Planned Parenthood, and support for Donald Trump and his wall.  Now, I ask how could you not vote for a guy like that?  He seems a sure bet to be elected in this part of the country, where men are men and women love it, and machismo is not a dirty word.

History of the NRA

The National Rifle Association has a storied history. It was initially formed by two Civil War officers who were concerned about the poor marksmanship they observed by Union soldiers.  In those days guns were a necessity for many, especially those living in isolated areas, not only for protection but as a means to provide food.  The organization soon became popular.  They sponsored competitions and programs teaching gun safety.  They maintained a close relationship with the military.  In 1906, they were offered the use of the shooting range at the Army’s Camp Perry in Ohio for the NRA’s national marksmanship competitions.  This several-day event is still held there, drawing over 6,000 participants each year.

When the Thompson sub-machine gun became a favorite of criminals in the 1930s the NRA supported the 1938 bill banning the possession of fully automatic weapons; and sawed off shotguns.  They also supported the licensing of gun dealers.  It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the NRA made a right turn and became a politically active organization.  They hired lobbyists, and the first presidential nominee they endorsed was Ronald Reagan.

Today’s NRA

They now number nearly 5 million members and have become among the most powerful groups in Washington, and the states.  According to October 2017 issue of Politifact, the NRA spent $203.2 million dollars on the 2016 election.  Add a few more million from the gun manufacturers and you could be talking real money, as the saying goes.  Their stated goal is to oppose any restrictions on gun ownership.

A tribute to their political power is evidenced by the lack of any significant legislation regarding regulation of guns in spite of the fact that a significant majority of Americans favor some limitations.  Since the recent mass shootings, there has been talk of limiting so-called assault weapons and bump stocks (which was a clever invention to bypass the statutes forbidding fully automatic weapons).  As in the past, Congress offers their heartfelt sympathies, but no action heartfelt or otherwise.

In the aftermath of the shooting of Ronald Reagan and his press secretary, the Brady bill was introduced, and a ban on assault weapons was put in place.  The NRA however; was able to use its clout to insert a 10-year sunset clause, and the ban was allowed to expire since there was no interest on the part of Congress to renew it.

It was the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Heller decision in 2008 which would frame the NRA’s talking points which persist to this day.  The decision rendered was the result of a lawsuit that challenged the ban on handguns in The District of Columbia.  The court ruled that the phrase “a well-regulated militia” in the Constitution was meant to include individual private citizens.  Now support for the 2^nd amendment has attained almost equal status with “right to life” for nearly all republican politicians.

Back when I was a card-carrying member of the NRA

It is at this point in my discourse that in spite of my best efforts I feel compelled to once again regress back to those good old days for I can’t help but reflect on the time when I was proud to be a member of the NRA.  As a teenager, I looked forward to the monthly issue of the American Rifleman which I shared with my brother.   It was full of articles about all kinds of guns, recent innovations, tips on marksmanship and safety, the proper loads to use, antique guns, and gunsmiths who produced works of art.  Many of these men produced rifles and pistols capable of amazing accuracy.  They combined art, engineering, and craftsmanship in their work, often from basement workshops.

The few guns I collected during that phase of my life are now locked away and I haven’t been a National Rifleman Association member for nearly 50 years.  I do not sleep with a gun under my pillow nor do I have loaded pistols at my front and back doors as one of my very sane and otherwise sensible friend does.  Studies have suggested that having guns readily available to defend one’s home against an intruder is more likely to result in shooting the wrong person than a bad guy.

Good Guys with Guns Strategy

The usual response to these shootings by the gun lobby guys is “the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” and it appears that many buy into that approach for the shooting ranges are said to be crowded, and after each mass shooting the gun business skyrockets.  There are now 594,000 Ohio citizens with concealed carry permits and the number of new applicants increases each year.  There are enough guns in the U.S. to arm nearly every citizen, and that number is growing.  No other country in the world even comes close.  If the good guy/bad guy premise is correct, we should be the safest people in the world as we obviously have the most good guys with guns.

One example of an extreme position taken by gun lobbyists was the passage of a law in 2011 which forbade physicians from talking with patients or families about firearms in the home.   This was especially worrisome to pediatricians and we psychiatrists.  Pediatricians, well aware of deaths caused by access of kids to loaded guns, under this law, were prohibited from asking if guns in the home were safely stored.   As a psychiatrist, I was witness to several instances resulting in death from suicide or delusional thinking by guns in the home.  Under this law we were forbidden from advising family members to remove guns from the home.   The law was initially declared constitutional, but three years later common sense prevailed, and it was revoked by the state’s Supreme Court.

How many mass shootings does it take?

If those committed to the absolute ideal of no legislative limits on gun ownership or manufacture were not swayed by the Sandy Hook episode, it is safe to assume their beliefs will never change.  Gabby Giffords, the  2^nd Amendment congresswoman who was shot in the head did change and became an advocate for sensible regulations.  On the other hand Representative Scalise who was shot, nearly died and remains crippled insists that he is more committed than ever to opposing any limitations.  He remains proud of his A+ rating by the NRA and supports a bill to allow reciprocity for state’s concealed carry permits.  He agrees with his fellow travelers that the solution to gun violence is more guns.

The more obvious solution of getting rid of all the guns is impossible for that horse has already left the barn and such an effort would be monumental. It would also be met with massive resistance even by people like me.  After all we have a long tradition of using guns to kill each other.  After we had successfully subjugated those Native Americans, we hadn’t killed, we had a Civil War in which 620,000 were killed.  Now we have fatalities over the drug wars and gangs of young people who seem to be spawned from the ranks of the disenfranchised.

Efficient Killing in Full Force

Now in the era of mass killings, we have much more efficient ways of killing people.  In the Parkland High School shooting, it took 6 minutes and 30 seconds to kill 17 kids while the Vegas shooter was able to kill 58 and wound 850 in 10 minutes with the aid of bump stocks on his rifles.  The AR-15 rifle is a favorite of mass murderers.  It is available with a 30-round magazine and can be easily converted to automatic fire which mimics the fire power of a machine gun.  It is patterned after the U.S. military M-16 rifle, which of course is designed to kill people.  It is not known for its accuracy and is not very good for hunting, unless one chooses to spray an area with bullets in hopes of hitting something.  Other than as a weapon, it’s only other use is as a toy for grown men to play soldier.  In spite of all this trauma, there is not even consideration for limiting the number of cartridges in a clip for either the AR-15 or pistols.

With each shooting, there is more talk of arming more people, most recently teachers, and even preachers.  Gun free zones are identified as soft targets, therefore, in need of more armed occupants.  Consequently, our Governor recently signed a law that allows concealed carry gun totters to enter churches, schools and bars.  What a great idea that now when we check into our favorite watering hole, we may be able to see a real gunfight rather than a boring fistfight.

The concealed carry laws concern me as I believe more guns are likely to aggravate rather than lessen loss of life.  I have witnessed first hand those of good character experience rage which overwhelmed judgement resulting in tragedies for victims and families.  Road rage has already taken on a different dimension; although, more guns may mean less flipping off of the aggravated.  There have always been accidents with guns, and children seem to be more prone or is it that such shootings are just more tragic?  There is also the problem of domestic violence which often gets out of control.  In this country self-inflicted gunshots are the most common and lethal of suicide attempts by men.  Many attempts are impulsive in nature, but there is no turning back after a bullet enters  the brain.  There is also the question of what effect all this gun stuff has on our police.   With all those people out there packing heat as the saying goes, if I were wearing a badge I would be especially wary and much quicker to draw my gun.

Back to our Future

Undoubtedly kids being kids some were probably enjoying the drama of the whole thing, but the maturity and discipline they displayed, along with the seriousness with which they pursued a lofty goal was indeed impressive, but even more so were the kids who gave speeches and were interviewed on television.  In marked contrast to the political rhetoric and propaganda which we usually hear, these junior orators responded to questions in a frank, unequivocal manner.  They showed no signs of discomfort at being in the spotlight of national broadcasts.   We can only hope they will not be swayed by less idealistic forces as they take charge.  Adult demonstrators would do well to emulate their offspring who chose to pursue their cause in a dignified and non-violent manner.  When one of the kids was asked how he hoped to change the political landscape, he replied “we will outlive you.”  Martin Luther King would have been proud of them all, but even more so of his nine-year-old granddaughter who led the chant at Thurgood Marshall Academy with “Spread the word!  Have you heard?  All across the nation, we are going to be a great generation.”  From what I have seen so far she might be right about that.