Where Are the Guns?
by Dennis Peacocke
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 where 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 are, and that is...
the bottom line.
