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| Run culture, not gun culture |
We live in a gun culture in the USA. Gun ownership is constitutionally protected by the US Bill of Rights. People are passionate about guns. “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people” is a regularly uttered mantra by members of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA is a strong lobby influencing political leaders of both parties (although more Republicans are influenced by the gun lobby than Democrats).
More than 1% of all deaths in the USA are caused by firearms each year. There are mass shootings on a regular basis. Everyone is up in arms (pun intended) when this happens but the 24 or 48-hour news cycle simply vanishes with zero action. It’s crazy how habituated people have become to gun violence. In the end, nothing gets done. If someone makes a passionate anti-gun plea, the gun lobby is quick to invoke the “founding fathers.” They also invoke their “God given right to bear arms.” In America, there is nothing more taboo than criticizing the Founding Fathers or God. You have automatically lost the argument if you do! The solution that the pro-gun NRA members offer is more guns; all in the name of the Founding Fathers and God. Sheesh…
They oppose banning assault weapons, oppose waiting periods to purchase guns, even oppose background checks for potential gun owners! They all think that “Obama is going to take my guns away.” Paranoid they are!
There is also staunch support for stricter border control and staunch opposition to taking in any refugees. They don’t even want women and children! Ironically, we still call ourselves the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” Seriously?
I can’t help inject some levity here. We are clearly a gun culture. I have an idea. Instead of a gun culture, why don’t we become a run culture? The advantages are obvious. For starters, there will be a whole lot less violence. Whoever heard of someone getting shot with running shoes? We will be a lot healthier. I don’t know of the exact stats, but I am willing to bet a hundred bucks that runners are healthier than shooters! We will also be a lot happier. Imagine being around someone who is angry and has a gun. Now imagine the same angry person with running shoes. I can’t tell you how many times I have run hard to vent some anger.
Oh, and don’t forget the runner’s high! When was the last time you heard of a gunner’s high?
On a serious note, the shooting today where 14 died in San Bernardino was sad. Let’s not get habituated to this news. Gun regulation is way overdue here in the USA. Talk about it, write to your Senator about it, blog about it, tweet about it, do something about it!
As for my training today, I ran for 6.5 miles around the Parsus office after hearing about the shooting. I felt sad for the victims. I also felt helpless. I was compelled to blog about it today.