Missing Perspective

Law Student 1: Is that a body?

Law Student 2: Someone killed her?

Attorney: It was an accident

Law Professor: And we’re going to make it look like a bigger accident.

Law Student 2: Why would we do that? We should go to the Police

Law Professor: Do what I say and ask questions later?

Law Student 3: No, this is insane. You’re insane

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December 4. 2015, in the New York Times, with a very short Op-ed called, “End the Gun Epidemic in America” (source)   described plainly and boldly that America is not doing enough to protect kids, families … PEOPLE.

“Opponents of gun control are saying, as they do after every killing, that no law can unfailingly forestall a specific criminal. That is true.  They are talking, many with sincerity, about the constitutional challenges to effective gun regulations. Those challenges exist. They point out that determined killers obtained weapons illegally in places like France, England and Norway that have strict gun laws. Yes, they did. But at least those countries are trying. The United States is not.”

So here is my confession. I like talking about politics, the news, and I love hearing arguments from all corners of the mind. When people grow tired of arguments, I do not, as long as valid points are being made. But I could probably on half of one hand could count how many times I have been in a legit argument about gun control or witnessed an argument about gun control. Now, this isn’t to say there aren’t people who are severally passionate about the subject, and rightfully so.  I will NEVER forget the argument between Rosie O’Donnell and Tom Selleck on her old TV show or more recently Amy Schumer’s stint as the host of SNL where she went out of her way to highlight her distaste for guns. (Not to mention working with her cousin Senator on gun control). Even on the other side of the aisle, there are a number of public NRA advocates who are extremely passionate about not being restricted from buying their guns and the best way to protect oneself is to be armed. One time a guy told me that the first time he held a gun was when he was four years old, and I really thought he was joking…. But he wasn’t. He told me that the reason he would never abuse his gun was due to that fact he was taught about guns at a very early age, and in fact, that’s the problem in America is that there needs to more gun education. Hmmm, I don’t know that, but to each his own.

So the script from the beginning of this post is from the fabulous Shonda Rhimes famous television show, “How To Get Away with Murder”.  A show that I have grown more and more uncomfortable with due to its focus and message. Many people are bothered by its overtures regarding sex, but I am more bothered by the cavalier approach to murder, death, and killing. Now, I have never been a fan of the ideology that art makes you act in real life. The idea that songs from rapper Eminem or rocker Marilyn Manson could contribute to the violence in the country or video games inherently make kids more violent. But the more and more I watch “How to Get Away with Murder”, I can’t help but feel a little desensitized. In every episode, the show literally gives excuses as to why people kill and the lead character’s drive to win gets numerous killers back on the street. I know Shonda isn’t promoting this in real life, but you can’t help but wonder if everyone walks with the idea that this is only a TV show, and not “what if this was me” in real life. Murder is so common place on all of the shows I watch except in sports and reality shows, I can’t help but wonder, if I became blindly extremist on a topic, would committing murder be so far fetched, because in reality why would it be? (seriously, stop and think about it). One thing for sure is that I could get a gun. We have to do something about guns in our country, because we truly are inundated with images of murder and that’s the reality. We inundated with happy stories. Violence, Drugs and sex, America’s visual cocktail of choice.

Many were upset with Speaker Paul Ryan for easily blaming mental health as the cause to Planned Parenthood mass shooting (source) as a way to deflect from gun control and I would agree. The excuse that you cannot change the heart, mind and condition of the person who decides to kill and murder innocent people is true, but you can change the laws around them, and we apparently we continue to do so. In an article in the Washington Post,  published on October 6, 2015, titled: “New gun laws pass often in the United States. But they usually make guns easier to get” (source)

Read and take away with it from what you will, because there might be a slight bias, but one thing is clear. The NRA feels strongly about promoting gun freedom. It’s America, the land of the free, I don’t have a problem with that. But my question is if they control Congress because of the money. When the lobbyists from both sides and sit down and discuss with the congressional staffers or the right hand people of our lawmakers, do they really agree or believe in what they are voting for, or just have a passive attitude towards guns. If it’s the latter, maybe I would feel a little better. Because I have been passive about the topic myself.

So I titled this post, “If it ain’t about the money”…. , because what scares me if our elected officials are making decisions based on the money, because if ain’t about the money what is it? Cause people continue to die. Everything we do, the decisions we make, the number one reason for divorce is always about the money. But there is something about life and death and money that makes me feel disgusting. I don’t want to believe that we aren’t creating better gun laws because of money, because when innocent people die, it costs everything, because human life is priceless and we need to start acting like it.

“Oh, no. It costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people?” says Peeta. “It costs everything you are.” ― Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay

So if it isn’t about the Money? What is it? Share your thoughts below

M/P