Becoming gun evident

A commonplace saying for anarchists is an armed populace would be difficult to subdue.

It didn't happen after a sawed-off shotgun was pressed against my chest and a silver-plated revolver was pointed against my fellow worker's temple during a retail store robbery; or finding two burglars breaking into an adjacent office at my place of business; or the time I was threatened — "my friends will wait for you when you leave" — at a job I held; or having a convicted murderer and a two-time drug felon as good friends. And it didn't happen after getting a .25 caliber Beretta from the street — to see if I could — then tossing it a lake after a bout with depression.

But with Trump pardoning of the January 6 insurrectionists, I did.

Living in a country saddled with a governing megalomaniac convinced me that he, and the myrmidons belonging to his acrid cult, don't care about much of anything except revenge, money and power, and if you want to join in, check your conscious and intellect at the nearest Republican Party headquarters or mendacious right-wing rally.

I live in a state where only Texas has more gun owners, part of the 32% of Americans who report owing a gun, a statistic that is likely lower than the reality. The United States leads the world in civilian owed gun ownership.

Of the 91 Floridians charged with invading the Capitol building, fighting police and trashing the place, 11 were Oath Keepers and 16 Proud Boys. Overall, 22% of those arrested had a criminal record, according to a study done by Seton Hall University. Such thugs, wallowing in amoebic hatred and enigmatic self-doubt, worry law enforcement and anyone opposed to Trump and his policies. To me, and others, violence is on menu in Trumpland. One of the common elements of evolving authoritarian rule is the use of "private enforcers," as Nicholas Kristof pointed out in a New York Times column. The Oath Keepers and Proud Boys easily fit the role, along with the nearly 1,500 white supremacy, anti-government and militia groups in the country. Add to the volatile mix is the MAGA contingent once Musk takes an axe to Medicaid. Far right provocateur Steve Bannon has warned Trump that many in the MAGA movement are on Medicaid and other government support programs. How would they vent their angry at losing benefits?

Not surprisingly, Florida has permitless carry along with 28 other states (2023 statistic). A few states require live-fire training but as The Trace notes, ". . . removing the permit process effectively nullifies any training requirement." I decided carrying a gun without training was like taking a drug without knowing its dosage or side effects so I took a basic five-hour handgun and shooting range class for a conceal carry license. I plan to take more classes and spend more time on the range.

I was one of six in the class, all white and in ages from late 20s to mid-70s. When asked by the instructor why each was taking the class, all, including me, gave indistinct references to self-protection. The instructor didn't push the point.

Leering about being taught by a Rambo type, I was pleasingly surprised. He's a 30-year-old Marine veteran and former police officer now in private security work that enjoys teaching gun classes. Keying off a 38-page resource handout citing state statutes, he covered topics such as justifiable use of force and what is not and the castle doctrine (the use of force to protect one's home). He stressed other options such as running away and possible verbal skills. He peppered his presentation with "cop stories" about his confrontation with armed and unarmed suspects, including sovereign citizens who don't believe in any governmental authority and drug-addled homeless. He dismissed joining organizations such as the NRA, calling it only "a lobbying group," instead stressing organization that help in case of lawsuits. Though he regretted that there were no statistics concerning those taking gun classes committing crimes, he did say in his experience those involved in gun-related crimes lack any gun training. Overall, he broke stereotypes some would associate with gun adherents.

Owning a gun does not make me feel like I'm joining a club. The sheer number of gunowners in America makes such camaraderie fanciful. Nor would I feel particularly invincible when faced with trouble. I’m well aware that owning a gun can attract negative energy. Still, I never want to shoot another human (or animal) and will keep my aim on paper targets at the shooting range.

Would I have taken such a move toward being a gun owner if there was a more apparent opposition movement against Trump-Musk destruction of America’s democratic republic? Maybe.

But I find little solace in hearing Hakem Jeffries, minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, publicly lament that the Democrats have no power in Congress or with the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the Musk-Trump actions and nearly begging for "just three" Republicans to join them in fighting his cabinet nominees and federal worker firings. Good luck with that. Former Trump associate. Elaine Workman wrote on Substack: "The GOP now looks much like a battered wife who would love to quit Trump, but whoever also knows their financial security, personal comfort and social status would collapse if they ran away."

Jeffries and those who believe they can work with Republicans are just mouthing a pathetic defense of status quo norms, and present fear and lack of imagination. Trump. left the status quo behind and buried, so should the Democrats. Otherwise, take a gun class.