 |
| Twisted ending, but humorous moments |
For
the basic premise that there are certain places where it is out-of-place to
carry a pistol is one that no amount of politicking will overcome.
AND
YES, WE’RE going to continue to see fights about firearms-related issues.
Take
the far north suburb of Vernon Hills, where the Dave & Buster’s restaurant
chain wants to open another one of their video-game laced outlets.
It
seems that the municipal officials who run Vernon Hills want to make sure the
only firearms within the restaurant are those that are part of the video games,
and not those brought in by anyone whose view of the world is so paranoid that
they don’t feel they can set foot outside without their pistol at their side. Of course, if Dave & Buster's served more alcohol, the restriction would already be a requirement in state law.
Yes,
I write about this in a mocking tone because their viewpoint is so warped that
it would be a tragedy for our society if they ever prevailed. It’s as though
they want our society to become the real equivalent of the cinematic “The Road
Warrior” or maybe even “Waterworld.” (If you really need to see a
post-apocalyptic world on film, try “A Boy and His Dog” – which at least has
humorous moments mixed in with its message).
I
SUSPECT IF our society ever does get to the point where we decline into
anarchy, the people we’re going to need protection from are the ones who seem
eager to have their firearms now. Perhaps that’s the only way they can see
themselves succeeding in society – if it falls apart into rubble.
 |
| Sometimes, I wonder if these films ... |
But
back to the point of this commentary – village officials in Vernon Hills want
Dave & Buster’s officials to post signs in their new restaurant saying that
firearms are not permitted on the premises; even with a firearm owner
identification card and a concealed firearms permit.
The
Chicago Tribune reports that a final action by village officials could come
sometime next month.
This
issue is a matter of local officials expressing the will of the public – that in
a place meant to draw crowds, a firearm is probably not necessary and is a
possible threat.
 |
| ... are the firearms fanatic's dream come true |
AND
FOR THOSE people who are going to claim that the officials are overstepping
their bounds, I’d argue that voters can then dump those officials come the next
election cycle.
That’s
a true Democratic society at work. Even though we often have Election Day
apathy, it may also be that the majority just doesn’t get worked up over this
issue and sees some sense in telling people that there are places where the
pistols are not needed.
Of
course, the people who feel compelled to “pack heat” (what a silly phrase) are
also worked up over Gov. Pat Quinn these days. For the governor on Tuesday
signed into law a measure that requires people to report any private sales of
firearms, and also makes it an offense to NOT report to the police if one’s
firearm is stolen.
I
have heard many law enforcement-types say they like this idea. Because all too
often, when a firearm used in a violent crime gets traced back to someone, that
person tries to claim they didn’t do it and that the pistol was stolen from
them.
IT
MUST HAVE just slipped their minds that they didn’t report the crime. Or that
they own so many firearms that they didn’t notice the weapon missing.
The
new law is meant to crack down on the people who sell firearms in these private
transactions – which all too often is the way that the criminal element that
the ideologues like to rant about (and claim they need protection from) get
their weapons in the first place.
You’d
think that the firearms advocates would like anything that tries to seriously
restrict alleged criminals from being able to obtain firearms. But they don’t.
They
seem more interested in whining and complaining about themselves being abused,
when all too often it comes across as them being upset that they can’t pick on
other people.
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment