Where Are All The
Guns?
January 8, 2004
By Dennis Peacocke
© 2004 Business Reform
Those of us who remember life in America after World War II, and before
the 60's cultural revolution, fondly reminisce over how different life
was then. Doors were often left unlocked; women and children were
generally safe on the streets day or night; you knew your neighbors'
names for blocks around; public language and customs were much kinder;
and the prevalence of violence we know today was completely unthinkable.
To be sure, there were some significant cultural negatives such as
blatant racism, etc., but the world here in America generally wore a
much, much kinder face. And, of course, virtually all young boys played
"guns" and "army" with cap pistols, BB guns, or any handy stick that
even remotely resembled a gun, sword, or spear.
The movies and television never showed blood, intestines, severed heads,
or the host of splayed body parts now ubiquitously available in the
general media. War movies were invariably about character development in
the midst of cause and crisis, and films like "The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre" would never have been made, or, if they were made, would have
caused a riot/protest at their first showing. The "F" word, recently
OK'd by the FCC for public consumption on U.S. television, was used
almost exclusively by some men or boys, and in guarded or male-only
private environments. TV Westerns were a mainstay for Middle America,
but public violence remained nominal. Schools were safe for learning.
And, of course, the vast majority of little boys played with guns. Those
guns were available at any toy store in town.
Drugs were isolated for the most part to sections of the inner cities.
Abortion was illegal and hidden behind closed doors; venereal disease,
as we know it today, was limited to syphilis and "the clap" (gonorrhea).
And nobody was dying of AIDS or the host of other STD killers unleashed
by "sexual freedom." Slaughters like Columbine High never happened, and
gangs used clubs and knives to fight with, not guns, although they were
commonly available. And, of course, the boys played "fort," war, and
even had BB gun fights when their male testosterone levels reached
critical levels.
So where are the guns today? Both of our hearty, young, male
grandchildren wanted toy guns for Christmas. Are you ready for this? No
store here in the greater Santa Rosa area, with a population of over
200,000, sells toy guns. We called, inquired, and sought in vain. The
people at Toys-R-Us all but lectured us for even asking about them.
Political correctness strikes again!
Okay, you testosterone-hating forces, can't you see what's wrong with
this picture? I don't even belong to the National Rifle Association, but
I know who is behind this. Slaughter on with the carnage your values
have created. Why don't you shut down the TV and movies and the violent
music if you are really serious about "peace"? But prohibit toy cap
pistols! You are infinitely more to blame for the carnage than cap
pistols will ever be.
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