Sunday Musings - July 9, 2023
The mass shootings in the United States continue. Although there is a lot of finger pointing, no one action is likely to stop them. I do think, however, a combination of actions might sharply curtail them. I think we citizens can individually and collectively, as voters, insist our elected leaders consider the following:
- Stop the manufacture of assault type weapons for civilian sales. Congress takes back the power to regulate the companies manufacturing guns.
- Consider whether arm force troops and other law enforcement groups need to use such weapons. (I realize this is a going to be a more complicated and controversial issue.)
- Make it illegal, as much as possible, to sell or manufacture parts which can be used in the home creation of such weapons. (One cannot control such options as 3-D printers.)
- Make it a federal offense for any civilian to own an assault type weapons no matter what the stated purpose.
- Create a fund to pay individuals to turn in their assault type weapons and then destroy them. Do not sell turned in guns as fund raisers for law enforcement groups.
- Seriously examine the death penalty in this country and consider a federal ban and/or a constitutional amendment to make it illegal.
- Commit to take responsibility for the fact that while we say we abhor using violence as a method to deal with frustration, perceived or real injustice or action with which we disagree we continue the use of lethal weapons by law enforcement. As states and a nation, we use violent action or intimidation (i.e., military exercises and threats.) Consider President Biden’s threat to use military force to protect the independence of Taiwan and to respond to other situation.) Either violence is an okay method to express anger, fear or other concerns or it is not. (Caveat: the use of force in restraining individuals is necessary at times. Force is regularly used in acute mental health treatment facilities. Often thinking is so impaired that a person is a danger to self or others. When used in such settings it is done with compassion and respect.)
- Never, ever use the excuse that “X country is doing it.” Just this weekend I heard that one of the Biden’s administration justifications for giving cluster bombs to Ukraine is that Russia is allegedly using them. We do not allow our children to act immorally just because Mikey or Susie is doing so. We do not get to do so as adults. Nearly every other country or international organization has outlawed the use of cluster bombs which can easily scatter submissions over a wide area while some fail to explore until later when encountered by a civilian.
- Do not condone groups such as the KKK, the proud boys, neo-Nazi groups or others who advocate violence and who may target specific groups based on a social construct such as race, gender, or sexual orientation. Do not support politicians who support or encourage such groups or individual belonging to such groups.
- Do not define justice as “an eye for an eye”. Responding to an injustice or a perceived injustice with violence is immoral and counterproductive whether it is initiated by a “civilian” or by law enforcement individual or agency.
- Trust the science of neurology. Many factors affect one’s ability to have a shared reality or to consider the needs of others. Quit deluding ourselves that “free will” is possible for all people - that the brains of all people are able to make humane, logical decisions. Some of us are able to do so at times even though a great many factors have to come together to make that manifest reality.
- Accept that some people need long term residential care. Do not recreate the snake pits which were often the norm for state mental health hospitals but create safe, humane, comfortable facilities staffed with well trained and well-paid individuals.
- No prisons or jail or so-called correction facilities. Individuals do not get better by being mistreated. None of us do. Mandated humane treatment may often be necessary for addition and a wide variety of actions which hurt self and others. Accept that the current system of prisons and jails is ineffective, inhumane and enormously expensive. Buildings and related facilities require food, clothing, staffing, medicine, and a host of other supplies. It is a very profitable business for many who now have a vested interest in maintaining the current system. Even the jails themselves are now often private.
- Set aside political ambitions, religious prejudices, fears and vested interests. Decide we humans can be very intelligent, creative, problem solvers when we are of one mind!
If we decide as a nation that violence is never the solution, we will find non- violent solutions. Telling some to do what I say and not as I do has never worked as parents or teachers and will never work for us at the community, state, or federal level.
Written July 9, 2023
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
2008 treaty—the Convention on Cluster Munitions—banned the production, use and stockpiling of cluster munitions in 108 countries, which noted that munitions often “kill or maim citizens,” though the U.S., Ukraine and Russia have not signed the treaty.
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