Hey peeps. I’m really sorry I haven’t written in a spell. What have I been doing? I’m so glad you asked.
A few weeks ago, I was getting ready for class when I got a ping on my phone. News alert! Some fool decided to pull his piece and shoot his (former) buddy while they rode a city bus downtown. Sadly, I wasn’t shocked to learn that someone else got shot here in the nation’s third most dangerous city (although this guy had given new meaning to the concept of shooting on the move). What did cause a mild stir was the fact that the assailant (1) fled the bus on foot, (2) remained at large, and (3) was last seen heading down Second Street, just a few blocks from the law school, where I was scheduled to teach that evening.
As I sat there at my desk, struggling to translate “don’t get shot tonight” into a more palatable email message to my students, the ire began to simmer. It bubbled and popped and finally reached a furious boil as it occurred to me just what I was about to do. There I was, dutiful educator, prepping to go meet my students on the perimeter of an unsecured crime scene.
I had been trained never to do stupid things like going to stupid places where I had every reason to expect to meet stupid people. Man-who-shoots-friend-on-bus would likely qualify as a stupid person. Anywhere in his vicinity would be a stupid place to go. And the only thing stupider than B-lining over to that place with that dude on that night was to do so with a flock of syllabus-tethered students in tow.
Thank goodness my campus security officer happens to be Heimdall of Asgard, who can just whip up one of these nifty force fields…
Or not. Welcome to the gun-free zone.
When bad guys attack a plane, Congress passes the “Arming Pilots against Terrorism Act,” so they can “defend the flight decks of aircraft … against acts of criminal violence.” When bad guys attack rail lines, pundits suddenly ponder if we should “increase the number of armed patrols on high-speed trains.” When bad guys attack a military recruitment station, oh, well now we ought to “allow troops to carry guns on base for personal protection.” When bad guys attack a church, we’re all inspired “to look afresh and anew at how we protect our congregations” — perhaps “armed security teams” are in order.
Where were those big talkers last month when Professor Problem-Child randomly offed his colleague on the campus of Delta State, just a few klicks down the road from me? Or how about on September 17th when some predator right here on my own campus “got out of a dark SUV and punched another man who was crossing the street”? Or how about two weeks earlier, when someone “armed with a silver handgun … approached two men and demanded money” — again, right here on my campus?
The poor guy at Delta State did not meet his end in some back alley or dim lot. No. He was in his office. I think it’s safe to assume the last thing he expected was to encounter a murderous gunman. In my case, I knew there was a homicidal idiot running around a block or so from my classroom. I knew that most of my students were oblivious to the danger itself, let alone to any options they might have had for thwarting it if necessary. And I knew that the only way I could arm myself with even a smidgen of real stopping power was to do so at the risk of six years in the can and a permanent felony record that would prevent me from ever earning an honest living wage again. And of course they’d revoke my carry permit.
I totally get that pilots, pastors, servicepersons, passengers, parishioners, and other such wholesome folks are all worth saving. But damn it, so am I. If it makes so much sense that they should have some means of self-preservation, why doesn’t the same rationale apply to my students and me?
If I’m ever elected King of Tennessee, my 1st act will be an edict legalizing Constitutional Carry, my 2nd would be the elimination of “gun free zones.” 3rd would be to appoint you firearms training czar and Commissioner of Safety for the state.
Ha! Well as I told my mom, this is all public record now and I have witnesses, so I’m holding you to that! Job security! 😉
Gun Free Zones are killing zones. In Florida where statistics are very comprehesive, licensed carry permittees commit far fewer firearm related crimes than police officers.
🙂
Tiffany – once again you have cut right to the heart of this matter, and again have done so in an eloquent manner full of common sense, truth and logic – all of which, unfortunately, seem to be extinct today in congress, and state capitols as well. I will never understand why the ‘solution’ is always to “pass more laws” when the laws already in effect are being totally ignored by these morons who go around shooting up campuses and other locations. Once again, the individual, upright citizens are being called upon to give up yet another right simply for the sake of politicians who want nothing more than bragging rights later on … as the country crumbles around them. Nero would be jealous!
Thanks! One of my biggest fears is that my time when come at a moment when my resources have been unfairly and arbitrarily limited against my will. I don’t mind losing a fight fair and square (so to speak). I do mind losing because the thing is rigged from the jump…. Especially when I’ve got a classroom full of people looking to me for leadership.
Yes ma’am I fully understand your thoughts there! I’ve avoided several stores and other businesses who display the little “no firearms allowed” sign in their windows – on principle if nothing else.
Rick
Yes ma’am I fully understand your thoughts there! I’ve avoided several stores and other businesses who display the little “no firearms allowed” sign in their windows – on principle if nothing else.
Rick
I hope you don’t mind if I repeat your words. I will give you due credit. You so eloquently stated one of the best arguments I have heard for allowing arms in campus.
Wow! What a compliment! I’d be honored. Thanks so much!
Whatever, clever. So sad they don’t pick up on the true manifestos until after the fact… when it’s too late! Sorry.
🙂
Damn! You laid it out better than any congressman could (or would). It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world!! Heaven forbid, if anyone should hurt either of my blessed children (adults they may be)… well, I’ll just say… I’ve lived a rich, full life. So let the cards fall where they may if I know who you are. One thing I can say with surety – I wouldn’t harm innocents…and I wouldn’t “off” myself either. I’ll just accept my punishment. In the meantime I’ll take all the firearms safety courses I can afford, from all the good instructors I’ve met and know, and continue to hone my skills. Although I’m a late bloomer…I’m a perfectionist!
It makes no sense that so many innocent people, young and old, should have to be buried by their loved ones, at the hands of someone who is extremely disturbed and has no regard for humanity. I don’t dare pretend to have the answers, but this stupidity has got to stop! My prayers continue to go up and my thinking cap is on, but this is no way to live.
I’ll hop off my soap box now. Emotions are running deep. The more I write, the angrier I get. My heart goes out to those suffering from the senseless loss of loved ones. May God bless us all. Amen.
Mopes – thanks for replying (always my #1 fan, LOL). As for your first paragraph, you do realize this is all public record, right? Nowadays they have a cool word for writings like that. It’s call a manifesto! 🙂 But yes, I love you too.