I read an interesting piece on a friend\u2019s Facebook page that caught my attention and spoke to the rather complicated and sometimes absurd quality of the gun debate. I must admit that it is more than a bit surreal in that it relates his conversation with a black snake named Fred. I have printed it in its entirety. Perhaps, it will help you think about this serious issue and bring a smile as well.<\/p>\n
Oh, Lord, it was bound to happen. After a year of the most acrimonious political infighting ever in American history, Fred the Black Snake has decided to get involved in the political discussion surrounding guns. Listen up, and I will tell you exactly how it happened\u2026
\nFred met me on the way to the office early this morning. I could tell he had something on his little mind because of the way he issued his customary greeting\u2014sort of drawn out and downcast! \u201cWassssssup?\u201d
\n\u201cDamn, Fred,\u201d I responded, \u201cthat\u2019s the saddest, most melancholy greeting you\u2019ve ever offered. It sounds like you\u2019re preoccupied. Wassup?\u201d
\n\u201cBoss, I took a slither down the street and I saw one of your neighbors has an unusual flag flying\u2014two of them as a matter of fact. A black-and-white American flag with a blue stripe and a yellow flag with a snake on it. I don\u2019t have a snake flag, particularly one that says \u2018don\u2019t tread on me.\u2019\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, so what? As far as I know you don\u2019t need either one. You don\u2019t even know what they stand for, do you?\u201d
\n\u201cNot really,\u201d he responded, \u201cbut I like the sentiment of the yellow flag. What do they mean?\u201d
\n\u201cWell,\u201d I started, assuming my long ago abandoned professorial voice, \u201clet me educate you. The yellow flag is called the Gadsden flag, and it was designed by Christopher Gadsden in 1775 as a symbol of American resistance to British colonial policies. It has since become the symbol of individuals who want limited government and unlimited gun rights. So, when you see someone flying that flag, you know automatically that they belong to the far right of politics. The other flag is symbolic of support for police officers, many of whom have died in pursuit of their profession. It, too, has become a symbol of the far right in our nation.\u201d
\n\u201cFar right? How does that work?\u201d
\n\u201cWell, in American politics we have degrees of political activism, ranging from the far right (anarchists, QAnons, Fascists, racists) to the far left (Socialist, Communists, Libertarians). In between, we have more middle-of-the-road people\u2014Democrats, Republicans\u2014and within those organized parties, we have gradations of left and right. Confusing, isn\u2019t it?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, but I still like the Gadsden flag. I\u2019d like to be able to have an AR-15 or some such gun to protect myself and other Black Snakes. Maybe I\u2019ll have to pick a political party. Which side likes guns?\u201d
\n\u201cWell, Fred, it\u2019s not a matter of liking or disliking guns in general. It just depends on what kind of gun you have, how you use it, and how it makes you feel. Some people have guns for personal protection, some people have guns to hunt, and some people have guns to hunt people. Once again, gradations.\u201d
\n\u201cSure gets complicated fast!\u201d
\n\u201cSure does, Fred. That\u2019s only the beginning. There\u2019s the question of concealed weapons versus openly carried weapons; single shot versus magazine fed; single shot versus semi-automatic or automatic; or registered versus unregistered. Then there\u2019s the question of who should be able to own a gun\u2014anybody or only individuals who have been checked for safety training, criminal activity, mental stability, or extreme political views. Who gets to have a gun and who doesn\u2019t?\u201d
\n\u201cDamn,\u201d Fred\u2019s eyes were beginning fog over. \u201cI think I just want a gun, period.\u201d
\n\u201cFred, you are a snake, in case you haven\u2019t noticed. You don\u2019t have hands, hips, shoulders, or a broad back. If you had a gun, where would you carry it? Where would you carry the ammunition? How would you fire the gun\u2014you don\u2019t have fingers. It seems to me that the only reasons you\u2019d want a gun is why many people want guns. You just want to show what a macho person you are\u2014male or female\u2014you don\u2019t know anything about guns, have little or no training in how to handle a gun, have never fired a gun, and just want it to frighten anyone\u2014real or imagined\u2014you think might \u2018tread\u2019 on you!\u201d
\n\u201cBut, but, I think I need a gun,\u201d he was all set to argue with me.
\n\u201cBefore you get started and wind up in a tizzy, Fred, let me tell you this\u2014I\u2019m the Boss, I run this Wildlife Corridor, and I have a permanent ban on guns in the possession of any of the Corridor\u2019s inhabitants. I\u2019m telling you\u2014NO GUNS!\u201d
\n\u201cBut, but, but\u2026my rights!\u201d
\n\u201cFred, you\u2019re a snake. You don\u2019t have rights. No guns!\u201d
\n\u201cWell, can I get a Gadsden flag?\u201d
\n\u201cOnly if you can afford the $30.00 the flag makers want. You\u2019ll have to pay cash!\u201d
\nFred thought and thought about that, frowned a lot, but then he brightened\u2026
\n\u201cWassup?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I read an interesting piece on a friend\u2019s Facebook page that caught my attention and spoke to the rather complicated and sometimes absurd quality of the gun debate. I must admit that it is more than a bit surreal in that it relates his conversation with a black snake named Fred. I have printed it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-by-robert-fischer"],"yoast_head":"\n