The Pagoda of Buddhist temple near Sydney.
A long time ago now, my Australian friend was advised to make sure to be back at the hotel before 9pm. ‘It’s not safe in LA after that hour’, the hotel concierge told him. My friend did hear gun shots during the night. He very much enjoyed his visit to the US and thought the restriction of being back in the hotel before 9pm a somewhat quirky event that he still likes to regale to this day.
While the bearing of arms in the US is regarded as a democratic right protected by the constitution including the second amendment, I am beginning to wonder if it actually is so democratic. With a fear gripping the country where even children are afraid to attend schools. Is this freedom to bear arms now restricting the enjoyment of the free and democratic society that the US is so well known for?
“The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
This all very well, but what about the children? What about the children? This ‘freedom’ is killing them now and what are you going to do? You must know that more guns will kill more. The statistics are apocalyptic and horrifying. It is now restricting your freedom, your people. You keep on putting trade restriction on North Korea because you feel they are a threat to your security, but what about your own internal security? The lack of security is rampant, and in the hands of assault weapons held by millions of citizens well within your own borders.
You are not a Cow-boy country anymore and the British ceased to be a threat. What and who are you so afraid of that makes you want to bear those Arms at forever increasing numbers? Just because it is in a constitution does that mean that no matter the effects to thousands of victims each year, this country is too lame now to change it?
I pray that at the next election the opponents of a US democracy, including the NRA, will be taught a lesson they will never forget.
Tags: Apocalyptic, Assault weapons, British, Children, Constitution, Cow-boy, LA, North Korea, NRA, Second Ammendment, US
Oosterman Treats Blog 
February 24, 2018 at 7:02 am |
Gerard, you say that they’re not a cow-boy country anymore.
You’re so right! Maybe those people who carry guns think that they are still a cow-boy country!
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February 24, 2018 at 8:57 am |
I think that the issue carrying guns in America is just an accepted cultural norm, Uta. Most Americans don’t carry guns. It is a minority and they own often more than just one gun. This gun loving minority frequently have an arsenal of guns.
Many, before retiring to bed, oil them up and stroke them lovingly while looking along the barrel, before locking them up behind a glass door cabinet.
Wives often call; “When are you coming to bed, Fred?” The husband is still busy with his guns.
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February 24, 2018 at 5:16 pm |
Great story, Gerard. I am sure with a lot of truth in it! We humans are strange creatures. Some of us seem to be a few hundred years behind our time. It is outrageous that they think they have a “right” to all these modern weapons!
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February 24, 2018 at 10:20 pm
It used to be a right, Uta. But now it has become restrictive, curtailing the freedom of people who live in fear of getting shot. When a President calls for armed guards to be stationed at schools one cannot but come to the conclusion that democracy has flown out of the window.
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February 24, 2018 at 7:16 am |
I can’t imagine why any sane person would want to take vacation in America. It’s a shame, because there are some wonderful natural sights that I’d just love to see – for example, The Grand Canyon, but in contrast, there are so many other places in the world with fascinating Geography, I’ll just stick to those. Nothing would entice me to the USA I’m afraid. They need to sort themselves out there!
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February 24, 2018 at 8:44 am |
It would be a mistake to relate America to guns and killings only, Jenny. Just because the NRA is holding the country to ransom by the might of its lethal weaponry, the country is not worthy of visiting. I have only known Americans as being very friendly, peaceful, hospitable, kind AND… mostly very anti D.Trump’s policies.
I don’t understand this obstinate adherence to a Second Amendment with bearing arms when it just doesn’t add up anymore.
How cowardly for our own PM Turnbull to deliberate miss an opportunity to admonish Trump on his pro-killing- gun stance.
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February 24, 2018 at 8:51 am
I agree. I have several American friends who are absolutely lovely and are stuck with the current regime through no fault of their own. I’m still not going to add to the country’s economy through tourist methods though.
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February 24, 2018 at 9:21 am |
I think it is time to update your constitution. Times have changed irrevocably.
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February 25, 2018 at 4:51 am |
The constitution on ‘bearing Arms’ could easily be changed into ‘bearing Flowers.’ Just imagine what waving flowers would do to a person with frayed nerves, ready to run amok with a gun.
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February 25, 2018 at 6:43 am
Good point. Flower power hey, Gerard?
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February 24, 2018 at 3:36 pm |
It’s pretty well-known, that the “Wild West” very quickly established very restrictive gun controls. Deadwood, Dodge City, etc. required cowboys to surrender their weapons to the Sheriff, while they were in town.
Writing to you from the USA, I don’t want to be the voice of gloom & doom, but you should not anticipate any meaningful progress at this time. The restrictions being proffered to placate the anti-gun movement (ban on high-capacity magazines, ban on “bump stocks,” no semiautomatic rifles until you’re 21, etc.) are just pathetic, meaningless sops. The most likely outcome, rather than rational gun controls, will be a push for armed security guards in the schools, and in the southern states, bonuses for teachers who agree a Glock is needed in order to venture into English Literature, and an Uzi for Algebra.
One issue that many of us have never understood, is the Supreme Court finding that gun ownership is an individual right, without any requirement to participate in a well-regulated citizen militia.
Sorry to be a “downer” and hope you have a pleasant weekend, RPT
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February 25, 2018 at 4:59 am |
Trump is contemplating arming teachers and training them with the use of guns. Teachers already are working very hard and many are at times stressed with the job of teaching.
Just imagine an overworked and overwrought teacher with a gun? Add to that marital whip-lash or relationship upheavals. Most times when people go over the top, they might kick the dog or hit a lamp post, but when you own a gun… it is just too dangerous.
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February 25, 2018 at 2:00 pm
It’s a terrible idea
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February 24, 2018 at 5:30 pm |
“. . . the Supreme Court finding that gun ownership is an individual right, without any requirement to participate in a well-regulated citizen militia”, Robert?
It seems to me that “Deadwood, Dodge City,” was a bit more advanced during those “Wild West” days!
An “Uzi” presumably is a submachine gun, but what is a “glock”? Do you mean “clock”?
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February 24, 2018 at 5:43 pm |
Sorry, we’re well-versed in weaponry around here, I forget not everyone is familiar with guns. The Glock company, I think Austrian, makes a very popular semiautomatic handgun, used by the military, police, drug gangs, and private citizens.
Yes, the US courts have held that individual citizens have a constitutional right to own guns, and they do not need to be enlisted in a militia unit (like the “Minutemen” militias which fought the British Army in 1775) to obtain a weapon
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February 24, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Thank you, Robert. I wish more restrictive gun control could be established in your country at this time. The USA is supposed to be a leader of our world at this time, right? Ideally, gun control ought to be in place all over our world. But maybe it is not to be. Gun manufacturing is a huge market and for sure brings in a lot of profit!
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February 24, 2018 at 8:03 pm |
Oh Gerard! What an intricate web that pesky 2nd Amendment weaves. The big argument, in my mind at least, is that we HAVE a well-armed militia. Well-armed, well-trained, and for the most part, well-equipped armed services. And, that amendment was made long before the advent the type of assault weapons which are now decimating innocent citizens at an alarming rate. Had our forefathers envisioned how that amendment would be hijacked and used to protect the NRA and it’s members, said amendment would have been written very differently. I am utterly disgusted. As if being hijacked by Russia wasn’t bad enough, first and foremost is this NRA lobby. Grrrrrr.
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February 25, 2018 at 5:06 am |
The NRA lobby is a law onto themselves. I am so mad that our PM Turnbull did not take the opportunity to act more like someone like a Trudeau, a Merkel or NZ Jacinda Ardern.
A perfect opportunity to tell Trump to tackle this endless murder of innocents.
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February 25, 2018 at 5:41 am
I understand your frustration, however the message would have flown right over that orange mop, wasted effort, wasted words. He hears only that which he wants to hear and anything said to point out the obvious is a personal attack and cause for a vendetta. Hopefully Mueller will be able to cut his feet out from under him. Meanwhile the rest of the world tiptoes around him. Except of course the other child leader.
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February 25, 2018 at 12:34 am |
The gun industry lives off of fear, whether it is of the domestic type, the terrorist type, or the war type. Billions of dollars are at stake. Think of the Krupps during world War II. These people are war mongers, plain and simple. Media shares responsibility by its unending focus on violence… a major responsibility. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” This is crap in today’s world. The vast majority of Americans want much more gun control. The high school kids from Florida are bringing tremendous pressure on the NRA and its allies. They may succeed. –Curt
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February 25, 2018 at 5:14 am |
With armed teachers, what next? Bullet proof vests for school children or pre-school gun practise?
What is odd, that despite this attention on guns and killings, so many Americans also believe in religion and church.
Trump was on TV not long ago saying prayer with his eyes piously heaven-cast as if hoping for a sainthood at some later stage.
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February 26, 2018 at 5:15 pm
I think Trump is scheduled for somewhere slightly warmer than Heaven. Right wing conservatives, fundamentalists, and gun advocates have been in bed together for a long time here, Gerard. –Curt
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February 27, 2018 at 12:52 am |
All democratic rights come with responsibilities, often forgotten.
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February 28, 2018 at 1:46 am |
You are right. I think guns act mostly irresponsibly
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February 27, 2018 at 4:27 am |
As they say, language changes every five miles. Can we draw a parallel to what the contstitution writers meant when they used vocabulary meant for a couple centuries ago. Todays people want to capitalize on every loophole possible.
Besides, its only those who have struggled, understand. Not the silver or golden spooned babies🤴
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February 28, 2018 at 1:53 am |
Yes, if we adhere to what is past ‘ the flat earth believers’ would be running around.
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February 27, 2018 at 5:49 am |
one thing supporters of the NRA don’t speak about (or may not even know because they are so often clueless), is that the United States Supreme Court ruled that the second amendment does not protect owning the AR-15. so, it would be perfectly legal to outlaw assault weapons and not interfere with the second amendment.
the NRA is buying our politicians and in turn, the politicians are reading from the script the NRA writes for them. also, a portion of our society have lost touch with reality. in lieu of having an intake of real news which they have recently renamed ‘fake news’ and/or ‘alternative facts’, they are constantly hearing repetitious rhetoric from the true ‘fake news’, FOX; yet another onslaught on what used to be traditional American values. they are attempting to deprive us of our first amendment, through fear, for their own profit and it is working very well.
some of the people who believe the most important thing in life is the own an arsenal of guns, seem to be brainwashed by this rhetoric and believe such far fetched ideas like the Sandy Hook shootings were faked by actors. the same people, including members of our current President’s family are floating the idea that the surviving teens of the Florida shooting are actors because they are intelligent, informed and disagree with our current President.
it’s all very embarrassing and scary. our cultural climate is very intense at the present time.
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February 28, 2018 at 1:58 am |
We have the same nonsense in Australia. According to Murdoch and Co we should all hide under the table in fear of refugees or anyone speaking foreign tongues. The latest is that climate change is not happening and even if it is, it’s all the fault of welfare bludgers or the pensioners sleeping rough in our parks.
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February 28, 2018 at 12:24 am |
Excellent post and comments!
HUGS!!!
PS…How is Helvi doing?
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February 28, 2018 at 12:39 am |
Helvi is doing alright and is back to her normal self. She laughs and finds joy in daily life. We are getting to the end of endless medical appointments even though some form of treatment will probably continue. Thank you for you caring, Carolyn.
Hugs too.
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February 28, 2018 at 7:53 am
I’m so glad to hear all of this! 🙂
Yes, we must always find the daily joys and laughter! 🙂
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March 8, 2018 at 8:47 pm |
No one needs an assault weapon, yet the still make and still buy them. There is an aura of fear in this country now, and mostly it is guns causing it. Yet I never hear rants against the NRA. Their lobby has been so big and they have contributed to most lawmakers campaigns. People are afraid to attack them in print and media. Our president is a contributor to this fear. His recent retraction of the ban on bringing body parts of African elephants into this country is outrageous. Possibly in deference to his own son’s big game hunting. Trump recently said the school shootings were caused by mentally ill people. Is everyone mentally ill?
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