CommentMax
http://www.newsmax.com/commentmax/articles/Dr._Michael_S._Brown.shtml
The Radicalization of America's Gun Culture
Dr. Michael S. Brown
September 13, 2000
Members of the great American gun culture who actively enjoyed their sport
and celebrated their firearms heritage were once considered the backbone of
America, both for their militarily valuable shooting skills and for their
patriotism. Decades of deliberate attacks by politicians and the media have
slowly relegated this important group to the status of a subculture that now
feels out of place and at war with its own government.
Prior to 1934 there were no federal gun control laws. There was only an odd
assortment of gun laws in various states and cities which were intended to
disarm racial minorities and immigrants. As far as the federal government
was concerned, anyone was free to buy a machine gun or even a cannon, and
the level of gun crime was relatively low. Since the National Firearms Act
was signed into law in 1934, the number of gun control laws at all levels of
government have multiplied exponentially. So has the overall crime rate,
which some argue is a direct result of gun control laws that discourage
self-defense.
Although none of these laws reduced crime, each new law creates another way
that a well intentioned gun owner can inadvertently end up in prison or
ruined by legal costs. Some have been killed in raids by government agents.
Much like laws passed to promote the failed war on drugs, each new gun law
gives the police additional powers that threaten basic constitutional
rights.
America's lawful gun owners are painfully aware of these facts. Since gun
laws don't reduce crime, they wonder, what is the real purpose? This
question has led to numerous theories that attempt to explain why the
"ruling elite", which includes the media and many politicians, would want to
eliminate civilian gun ownership in America.
American gun owners feel as if they are being slowly crushed. One writer
recently described this decades-long campaign as a slow motion hate crime.
Frustration has been building in the gun culture for thirty years and has
been accelerating with the faster pace of anti-gun attacks and the dramatic
improvement in communications. Stories of outrageous persecution by
government agencies now circulate like wildfire via the internet. Anti-gun
bills introduced in any legislature are instantly made known to millions.
Gun owners know the major players in the anti-gun lobby as well as they know
the villains in their favorite movies.
Several successful novels have tapped into this frustration. The best known
is "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross. This popular 861 page
semi-fictional work details the noble history of the gun culture and how it
has been attacked. The hero, Henry Bowman, is a talented engineer, gifted
marksman, and gun collector who holds his temper for years in the face of
growing bureaucratic oppression. He is finally forced to kill a team of
heavily armed federal firearms agents who are planting evidence to
incriminate a fellow gun collector. At this point, in the best cowboy
tradition, Bowman leads a bloody covert revolution against the "jackbooted
thugs" of the federal bureaucracy.
Ross uses the old stereotype of the American cowboy who is slow to anger and
just wants to be left alone. This highlights the way in which the old
fashioned values of the gun culture (truth, honor, tolerance, and personal
responsibility) are in conflict with our current government. He also offers
a scenario that holds great fascination for many gun owners who pass his
book from hand to hand saying, "You've got to read this book."
Some observers of this cultural war wonder why large numbers of gun owners
have not yet resorted to violence to preserve their way of life. Civil wars
have started over less. Almost every gathering of lawful gun owners has a
deep undercurrent of anger. They see each new gun law as a way to harass
them and make it more difficult for everyone except criminals and the
government to own guns. Solid, productive citizens complain bitterly about
how good people have been arrested for unintentional violations of the
myriad of gun laws. Each wonders if he could be next.
Although this group has been involuntarily radicalized, there are several
things holding back a violent response. One is the fact that gun owners are
a very law abiding group of people. They have a deep faith in the
Constitution and are willing to give the political process a chance to
balance itself. The second is that leaders of gun rights organizations, such
as the NRA, are promising relief through the political system. The third
reason is that the leaders of the anti-gun lobby are masters of propaganda
and would gleefully exploit any minor incidents to further harm gun rights.
It would take a massive wave of violent protests to affect any positive
change.
Nobody knows if, when or how this group will reach its breaking point, but
one must question the wisdom of infuriating millions of armed citizens.
------------------------
Dr. Michael S. Brown is an optometrist who moderates a large e-mail list for
discussion of gun issues in Washington state. He may be reached at
mb@e-z.net or www.geocities.com/rkba2000
http://www.newsmax.com/commentmax/articles/Dr._Michael_S._Brown.shtml
The Radicalization of America's Gun Culture
Dr. Michael S. Brown
September 13, 2000
Members of the great American gun culture who actively enjoyed their sport
and celebrated their firearms heritage were once considered the backbone of
America, both for their militarily valuable shooting skills and for their
patriotism. Decades of deliberate attacks by politicians and the media have
slowly relegated this important group to the status of a subculture that now
feels out of place and at war with its own government.
Prior to 1934 there were no federal gun control laws. There was only an odd
assortment of gun laws in various states and cities which were intended to
disarm racial minorities and immigrants. As far as the federal government
was concerned, anyone was free to buy a machine gun or even a cannon, and
the level of gun crime was relatively low. Since the National Firearms Act
was signed into law in 1934, the number of gun control laws at all levels of
government have multiplied exponentially. So has the overall crime rate,
which some argue is a direct result of gun control laws that discourage
self-defense.
Although none of these laws reduced crime, each new law creates another way
that a well intentioned gun owner can inadvertently end up in prison or
ruined by legal costs. Some have been killed in raids by government agents.
Much like laws passed to promote the failed war on drugs, each new gun law
gives the police additional powers that threaten basic constitutional
rights.
America's lawful gun owners are painfully aware of these facts. Since gun
laws don't reduce crime, they wonder, what is the real purpose? This
question has led to numerous theories that attempt to explain why the
"ruling elite", which includes the media and many politicians, would want to
eliminate civilian gun ownership in America.
American gun owners feel as if they are being slowly crushed. One writer
recently described this decades-long campaign as a slow motion hate crime.
Frustration has been building in the gun culture for thirty years and has
been accelerating with the faster pace of anti-gun attacks and the dramatic
improvement in communications. Stories of outrageous persecution by
government agencies now circulate like wildfire via the internet. Anti-gun
bills introduced in any legislature are instantly made known to millions.
Gun owners know the major players in the anti-gun lobby as well as they know
the villains in their favorite movies.
Several successful novels have tapped into this frustration. The best known
is "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross. This popular 861 page
semi-fictional work details the noble history of the gun culture and how it
has been attacked. The hero, Henry Bowman, is a talented engineer, gifted
marksman, and gun collector who holds his temper for years in the face of
growing bureaucratic oppression. He is finally forced to kill a team of
heavily armed federal firearms agents who are planting evidence to
incriminate a fellow gun collector. At this point, in the best cowboy
tradition, Bowman leads a bloody covert revolution against the "jackbooted
thugs" of the federal bureaucracy.
Ross uses the old stereotype of the American cowboy who is slow to anger and
just wants to be left alone. This highlights the way in which the old
fashioned values of the gun culture (truth, honor, tolerance, and personal
responsibility) are in conflict with our current government. He also offers
a scenario that holds great fascination for many gun owners who pass his
book from hand to hand saying, "You've got to read this book."
Some observers of this cultural war wonder why large numbers of gun owners
have not yet resorted to violence to preserve their way of life. Civil wars
have started over less. Almost every gathering of lawful gun owners has a
deep undercurrent of anger. They see each new gun law as a way to harass
them and make it more difficult for everyone except criminals and the
government to own guns. Solid, productive citizens complain bitterly about
how good people have been arrested for unintentional violations of the
myriad of gun laws. Each wonders if he could be next.
Although this group has been involuntarily radicalized, there are several
things holding back a violent response. One is the fact that gun owners are
a very law abiding group of people. They have a deep faith in the
Constitution and are willing to give the political process a chance to
balance itself. The second is that leaders of gun rights organizations, such
as the NRA, are promising relief through the political system. The third
reason is that the leaders of the anti-gun lobby are masters of propaganda
and would gleefully exploit any minor incidents to further harm gun rights.
It would take a massive wave of violent protests to affect any positive
change.
Nobody knows if, when or how this group will reach its breaking point, but
one must question the wisdom of infuriating millions of armed citizens.
------------------------
Dr. Michael S. Brown is an optometrist who moderates a large e-mail list for
discussion of gun issues in Washington state. He may be reached at
mb@e-z.net or www.geocities.com/rkba2000