In the slate article we find some explanations that these gun rights activists are not "threatening" or "intimidating" anyone by bringing their guns for all to see in full view but rather just to educate and raise awareness:
"we are very clear that our objective is to educate, not alarm. In other words, we are only KNOWINGLY and INTENTIONALLY engaging in conduct meant to raise awareness and educate. "
It is an interesting position based on the mental effects the sight of a gun brings to mind. I wonder if when a bookie comes to collect on what he is owed he brings a large muscular man "not to alarm you but just to raise awareness"? Of course not. He brings a large muscular man along to visually intimidate you into paying, and of course to use that large muscular man in the event you don't. The chilling effect is the same with these counter-demonstrations.
Whilst reading this article the recent stories of Reshina McBride, Trayvon Martin, and many others came to mind. What is the connection you may ask? The connection is with the rise of new "castle doctrine" and "stand your ground laws" being implemented with money from gun rights advocates like the NRA across the United States. In the two cases I specifically mention two unarmed teenagers were perceived as such a threat that they were shot to death. Let me repeat the key words there: unarmed teenagers and shot to death. In one case the shooter invoked stand your ground as a defense and in the other a man clearly felt his "castle" was in jeopardy. If you do a google search you will find 168,000 hits for "castle doctrine cases". People who were so afraid of "others" that they felt the immediate need to shoot them with a gun, real threat or not.
So this is where we have come as a society, one in which 5 supreme court justices turned the 2nd amendment on it's head, a place where the Wild Wild West no longer exists just in movies. It exists out there in our streets, playgrounds, schools, parks, and malls. And the people with the guns want it both ways. Come near my house and I have the right to shoot you because FEAR! However don't mind if I am walking around your local mall with a rifle slung over my back, you have nothing to fear. See how that works? People without guns are the ones to fear, not me and my good ole six shooter. This is 'Merica now. Here's hoping we can turn back.
