Wednesday, April 17, 2013

calling for courage


When I was a child, my grandparents and my aunt and uncle shared the work of a man who taught everyone how to drive cars and tractors, and hunt and fish. He kept the cars and trucks running and the barn full of drying meat and fish. He was from Canada.
He also taught everyone how to shoot, and take care of guns. When I went to Girl Scout camp, and later other private camps, I shot 22's and was sponsored by the NRA as a Junior Marksman. My ex-husband and I always had a 22 around, and when the boys were little, a BB gun. I still have a BB gun, having discovered in California that coyotes, while not bothered at all by the BB's themselves, hate the sound of the gun cocking. The air compression must hurt their ears.
So I have been encouraged lately by the signs that Congress might actually do something in response to the Newtown killings. Even if it's only to close the loopholes in the purchase process by requiring all sales to be given federal and/or state scrutiny and to limit magazine size. I consider that a brave move on the part of all of Congress.
At the same time, there seems to be a "one step forward, one step backward process" happening. And I am reminded of the dreadfully negative power of the NRA. It is simplistic to think of them as just another lobbying group. Why? Because they have guns, and they unleash the bully inside many gun owners.
All of a sudden, Senators and the President get poisoned letters. Bombs go off, killing 3, on Patriot's Day in Boston. I'm sure that the homes of many in Congress who support these new measures of gun control, are being patrolled by pickups with gun racks filled. Sheriff's are being called to protect and warn away threatening people. Fingers are being pointed as if they were guns, at people walking to work in government. The children of Congress people will be threatened at schools, and after school. It happens; it happened to me.
So don't be fooled by the suave-talking dudes from the NRA. They may talk a good game, but underlying their smooth talk, is the ultimate threat: if you don't do as I say, I WILL get you, one way or another.

What we all need right now, is the courage to do the right thing - not a simple task in the face of such opposition, but absolutely necessary!

*The painting above is of an old friend who inhabits the wilds of Weld, Maine, in the summer, and California in the winter. He is not half as tough as he looks here.