Scared animals.

Editor,

Arguments against gun control boil down to: (a) if guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns, and (b) if the government takes citizens' arsenals away, the government will impose dreadful tyrannies on the nation because no bullet-wielding patriots will be there to prevent it.

So the question becomes: why are Americans so afraid that armed criminals will have their way with us, and why are Americans so afraid of our government?

To answer the first question my guess is that if our economy were more democratic, so that truly enlightening education were available to all and all Americans were allowed to live with dignity, economic security, and hope for a decent life, there would be no scary, desperate people for those who are advantaged to fear.

As for fearing our government, I think the basis for this is related to my answer to the first question. There is a strong undercurrent of resentment in our society that anyone born into poverty and ignorance might be given something he or she seems not to deserve.

The division between the haves and the have-nots in our society is cultivated carefully and reinforced with arguments about individuals' right to hoard as much of the wealth of our nation as they can. This is where the fear of government comes in. "They," meaning the people we elect to manage our collective affairs, presumably want to take what's yours and give it to some violent, stupid gang kid or vulgar welfare queen.

That's what this gun business is all about. It's about not feeling like a member of the human race but rather a scared animal afraid you won't get enough to eat. So guns and fear and hatred permeate the American culture from top to bottom. We even invade countries for no reason because we have to own everything on the planet. Otherwise, the fear is, no one will share anything with us.

Re: "An Assault on Everyone’s Safety" (1/11/2011)