The Gun Debate. Who is Telling You What to Think?

Another in a stream of mass shootings occurred this week and the media lit up like a Christmas tree.  A predictable burst of social media spats erupted, outrage was expressed, and the victim’s families were swept into the national debate.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

Please don’t read me as being unsympathetic. In fact, a feeling of deep empathy drives me  to examine the gun debate to see what’s working and what’s not.

On CNN.com there is an article about the current policy debate. One of the sub titles is telling. It declares the “Stage set for [a] partisan fight.”  Sadly, it’s depressingly accurate. The gun debate is all too scripted. The Gun Control Lobby and the NRA have successfully commandeered America’s dialog on the issue. The comment threads are dominated by the talking points dictated by the two groups.

Are All The Gun Debate Ideas Used Up?

One might argue that the problem has already been thought through and all the options explored. What the NRA and Gun Control lobby propose must be the best options. We just need to choose.

In my humble opinion, that’s just lazy.

I’ve written about this topic before in election years and the same argument applies. When we adhere to an ideology we give up our freedom. When we parrot the talking points of  lobbyists, we give up our voice in the debate.  In a country founded on freedom, we’re quick to give it away.

Our polarized two-party system  is proof  of our laziness.  If the citizen’s of this country are willing to accept that there are only 2 choices, the hook is in our mouth. We deserve what we get.

Wake Up

So why is this Buddhist blogger ranting about politics?  Have I strayed a little too far from the cushion? Not at all.  The gun debate is a perfect illustration of how suffering is perpetuated.

Suffering comes in three flavors

The suffering of suffering – that’s actual pain, sickness, and death.
The suffering caused by change  - what comes from denying that all things are impermanent
Suffering of conditioned existence – what happens when things don’t live up to our expectations.

The consequences of political dogma are a prime example of the suffering of conditioned existence.  How does it play out? Its starts with delusions and it ends in disappointment.

Both sides of the gun debate offer indefensible positions.   The gun control lobby, by ballot, managed to ban all weapons in the city of San Fransisco through Proposition H.   It’s a blatant Second Amendment breach. The NRA has thrown its support behind sharing the personal data of people with mental health issues with the federal criminal background check system.  Apparently in this case we can forego due process.

Setting aside constitutional issues, experience tells us that neither of these solutions are viable. Both are impractical distractions from what could otherwise be a  useful national dialog. Yet both of these solutions have seen ballot boxes and legislature floors.  Both solutions garnered enough public support to become law.  We asked for it!

This binary format for debate is unproductive.  The fact that we all fall for it, is a prime example of how we blindly embrace suffering. We adopt untenable positions and we’re surprised and disappointed when they fail.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

Sandy Hook to Isla Vista.

How the Gun Debate is Working

Quietly though, we see effective work being done nationwide.  A recent study by Boston’s Children’s Hospital found that states with more gun laws have less gun violence. Beyond the flashy limelight of the media headlines  America is getting safer and it’s happening without banning guns or invading privacy.

       

 

So, as the Buddha might say, progress comes as one part compassion and one part wisdom. It comes from compassion for the victims families and the wisdom to reject the two solution delusion. Claim your voice. Think for yourself.  Don’t let someone else think for you. Otherwise you end up loosing your freedom.

About Latest Posts Follow meAndrewAuthor of the new book Western Lights,Meditation Teacher, Buddhist blogger, yogi, backup guitarist for his teenage boys, lucky husband and technologist Follow meLatest posts by Andrew (see all) The Gun Debate. Who is Telling You What to Think? - May 31, 2014 One Minute Meditation – The Heronry - May 29, 2014 What Got Done Today? Kindle Version of Western Lights - May 27, 2014 Powered by Starbox

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