I had occasion to drive down to north Atlanta yesterday and on my way back I was rather surprised and somewhat shaken to see campaign signs for a Republican candidate featuring a prominent image of an AK47. Somehow, apparently, this image was supposed to make him more attractive to potential voters. What does this mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What has happened to us? Do guns make us more macho, do they lend credence to our political views, do they serve as proof of our patriotism and our American values? This is not the first time that I\u2019ve encountered guns as props and advertising for political candidates. Here in Georgia we have had candidates with guns displayed in their trucks and placards on the sides. Many peddle pictures of themselves holding guns. Frankly, it sells!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I\u2019ve mentioned before in these writings, I have guns, grew up with guns and support the second amendment. But that\u2019s not what this is all about, is it? Back in Iowa we had guns to hunt rabbits, squirrels and pheasants or occasionally to dispatch predators such as poisonous snakes. We didn\u2019t go about carrying and brandishing our guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Dahlonega, I\u2019ve encountered people carrying pistols on their hips in Walmart and Home Depot. What is this all about? I never experienced this for most of my life, it has only been recently, the last several years that this has become more common. Put this together with the rise of the so-called \u201cmilitias\u201d and the picture becomes even more threatening. Increasingly armed men and women show up at public events, most recently in Kentucky and Michigan. Most egregious is the presence of armed people showing up at polling places. What are we thinking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As citizens we have a right to have guns, but we also must exercise this right responsibly We need to get a grip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n