Kevin Drum makes a very good point.
Keep this firmly in mind. LaPierre's only goal yesterday was to hijack the media narrative. He wants us talking about Natural Born Killers. He wants us talking about Grand Theft Auto. He wants us talking about mental health services. Hell, he's perfectly happy if we spend our time talking about how crazy his proposal is and how unhinged he is personally. Not only does it keep us from talking about gun regulation, but it's good for the NRA's fundraising efforts in the bargain.
I know that lots of well-meaning people think that movies and videogames really are problematic, and that access to mental health in America is a scandal. And that might well be true. But every minute you spend talking about this stuff is a minute spent doing exactly what the NRA wants you to do. ...Kevin Drum, MoJo
What's going on here has been going on for years. On each issue, the left has moved -- automatically, it seems -- into defensive posture. The right has had a lock on framing the issue, choosing the language to describe it, and shouting over anyone who tries to enter the discussion from another direction. Did Bush v Gore mean we gave up? What made us defensive?
The gun issue is about democracy and responsibility vs. militarism, among other things. Quite apart from anything else, the sooner we kick that militarism out of the discourse, the better for our civil and civilian America.
Instead of putting a cop with a gun in every school, how about putting a teacher in every gun store?
Posted by: 1cuppajoe2go | December 25, 2012 at 08:32 PM