Psycho victim blamers
by digby
I guess we're all supposed to be personally armed at all times with a loaded gun. Even in our houses, while caring for infants and children:
NBC sports anchor Bob Costas believes that Kasandra Perkins’ life could have been saved had her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Javon Belcher, not had access to a firearm. The CEO of the National Rifle Association, on the other hand, thinks the situation might have resolved itself had both Belcher and Perkins had guns.
“The one thing missing in that equation is that woman owning a gun so she could have saved her life from that murderer,” LaPierre told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday [...]
That is so deeply absurd I'm surprised he doesn't start giggling maniacally when he says it. Does anyone sane believe such a thing? That everything would have ok if only there had been more guns at the scene? Where a tiny three month old baby lived?
They keep saying this ridiculous thing as if it makes sense. But the truth is that they just don't care about innocent victims of gun violence. By saying that this woman could have saved herself if only she were armed at all times, even in her own home, they're basically saying that anyone who can't be bothered to pack heat constantly and be prepared to use it at a moment's notice has only themselves to blame if they get shot.
After all, they could say, "well, unfortunately the price of freedom is very high, so those are the breaks" which is also sick, but at least it's closer to something that resembles their true belief. But they don't. The always say that there would have been less bloodshed if only the shooting victims had defended themselves by shooting the other person first. And that makes no sense at all unless you believe that the victims should not only be armed all the times but they should be quick draw artists with the ability to wing the bad guy rather than kill him,just like in the old westerns. And I'm guessing they do. After all, if you really wanted to take responsibility for yourself you'd do that. Being willing to shoot first and ask questions later is what liberty is all about.
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