In the perennial Christmas favorite "It's a Wonderful Life " every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings. In 21st century America every time another innocent child falls victim to gun violence N.R.A. chin-doctor in chief, Wayne Lapierre gets a bag full of blood money. He made over a million dollars in salary and other compensation for keeping most of us scared shitless while spearheading lobbying efforts that guarantee the deaths of more innocent people. It doesn't matter if he believes the ass backwards talking points he vomits. Results matter. Legislators are frightened of him. Clergy are frightened of him. Less radical members of the N.R.A. are frightened of him.
The fantasy of an armed takeover by "the Government "is just that. The government is being re-shaped into a fascist oligarchy by the same groups that pump millions into the N. R.A. If you are in possession of an I.Q. over 100 [not a firearm] that idea should cause you great concern. The Branch Davidians were well armed and it did not prevent the violent over reach of federal agents. Your A. R. 15 WILL NOT HELP YOU IF THE U.S. MILITARY WANTS TO KILL YOU. The fear that those of us who choose not to play with guns feel is very real. It is backed up with strong statistical evidence and it is happening now. There is no "rapture" snatching innocents from the imminent onset of a brutal death. If the God the christian soldiers of the N.R.A. worship exists, he must be taking a millennial hiatus. If vengeance belongs to the firebrand God of the old T, then Wayne would've been sawed in half by a .50 caliber Browning mid-canard by now.
Some of us are frightened of the people arming themselves and some of us are too frightened not to buy arms. We should, instead, focus on the wealthy individuals, and P.A.C.s stoking the fear and ask what they have to gain by doing so. Keeping the populace divided and in fear of each other has always been a win-win for power brokers.When this fear persists there is no strength in numbers.Whether we are packing or not, numbers are the only answer we have to the increasing concentration of wealth and power at the top.
Wayne Lapierre sells guns and he is good at his job. 300 million guns and counting in the U.S. alone. Like any great C.E.O. his is dogged and single minded, an object in forward motion determined to stay in motion. He is undeterred by facts, statistics and especially moral outrage. He is winning; an unstoppable lobbying and media machine. Why is his voice a roar and the voices of mothers, fathers and the friends of victims a feckless whisper? It is a clear sign of where the power lies and that is more frightening than any statistic.
His stride has to be broken in order to produce change. Every appearance he makes, disrupted. Every time he opens his mouth he should be interrupted. He needs to know that He is now the target.
In Waynes' world an attack on innocents followed by a push for gun legislation translates into increased sales.{N.R.A. Prayer Breakfast Molepost ] We need to follow the money and shed light on where it lands.
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