Concerning Colorado and the First Amendment

When tragedy strikes, emotions run high. So does opportunity. When you talk about opportunity, does Texas Republican Louis Gohmert come to mind? Well, it should. He was one of the first (if not the first) from Capitol Hill to speak up on the tragedy in Colorado where over 70 people were wounded and 12 killed during a midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. Yes, he hit all the talking points his staff put together for him. Attack on religion. Founding fathers’ intentions. Gun control. All part of an opportunity to get firsties on proclaiming the real reason behind this horrible shooting in an Aurora movie multiplex. What struck me hardest in his asshattery was his closing statement in this Huffington Post article:

“It does make me wonder, with all those people in the theater, was there nobody that was carrying a gun that could have stopped this guy more quickly?”

Fast-forward to the next day where I am enjoying a lovely wine tasting in Leesburg, VA at the Corcoran Vineyard and Brewery.  It’s a nice afternoon with Pip, the Boom, P.J. Schnyder, and Or Draconis (her boyfriend) and good wine. In the midst of Wine #3, another small group joins us. I’m trying desperately not to stare, but one of the newcomers is wearing a tee-shirt nigh impossible to avoid. In huge, black block letters against stark white, his shirt reads:

Where’s Lee Harvey Oswald Now That We Need Him?

Then, on turning around, I get a look at the back design: a generic drawing of a man’s head, a gun sight, and the top portion of the man’s head exploding outward. Complete with blood splatter.

No. Kidding.

This shirt — this douchebag-du-jour shirt — really got to me. It was wrong on many levels, but to wear a statement like this the day after the Colorado shooting took that kind of tact where you cite at an elementary school PTA conference what an upstanding individual JoPa was back in the day.

But I digress…

As angry as this dipshit’s fashion made me, I swallowed my disdain. (I recommend a light dessert wine when chocking on bile.) Why? Because of this:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

That is our First Amendment. I love the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. I was always fascinated by it, but grew to love it when I spent a semester studying it at James Madison University. In fact I more than love the First Amendment, I respect it. It is, as my professor told me, the most important of all the amendments of the Constitution. “Why?” he said. “Because of all the items the Founders wanted to add to the Constitution, this one came first.”

So what does the shooting in Colorado, a political opportunist from Texas, and some wingnut whose equally-insensitive friends all looked at him that particular morning and said, “Yeah, that’s perfect to wear the day after a civilian massacre!” have to do with the First Amendment? Hard to see, I know, what with the rage on Facebook and elsewhere concerning our Second Amendment. This newly-fueled “gun control” argument we all had to see coming the moment it was reported that James Holmes legally bought the ammunition and guns used in the shooting.

Point of order here: That’s not what this blogpost is about.

I’m not outraged about my Second Amendment rights being threatened so much as I am outraged at the blatant disrespect people have concerning the First Amendment; and submitted as Evidence D (for dickheads): Westboro Baptist Church is threatening to protest the upcoming Aurora memorial service while praising Holmes’ actions online.

These isolated expressions are all protected by the First Amendment. Period. It’s truly a beautiful thing because there are countries and governments that would go out of their way to quash such sentiments, and it truly is an inspiring thing that we as a country have such a wonderful privilege. However, in light of these cited expressions, I find myself asking because we have that right to speak our mind, does that mean we should?

Even this is protected.

As Uncle Ben told Peter (in a much better Spider-Man film) “With great power comes great responsibility.” and I am astounded at the lack of responsibility with which people handle the First Amendment. There is this understood belief that “It’s there so I’ll use it…” but that’s a belief born of callousness. The truth is, cupcake, you really need to consider what words come flying out of your mouth — particularly now — at such a time when we’re reeling from the actions of one unstable individual. And when idiots from both sides of the political fence wrap themselves in American flags and start quoting the Founding Fathers, that should be the moment to stop and ask “Hold on — were the Founding Fathers smarter than me? After all, they wrote the Constitution and the Declaration. Maybe they knew something I currently don’t?”

I guarantee you: They did.

Speak your mind. Speak your heart. It’s your Constitutional right, but consider how responsible you are with your words. Practice your First Amendment, but practice responsibly. Do you need to choose and pick your words carefully all the time? Of course not. But when the cameras are rolling, yes, you might want to think “Am I ready to share this with the world?” Should I question my taste in clothes? What you wear is an expression in itself. You’re your own. Do you think, though, in the wake of a tragedy like Colorado, a mock-bloodstained tee-shirt that reads “But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?” would be appropriate? Exercise your First Amendment right, but have a care. It plays into the debate currently at large.

How so?

Jumping back to Gohmert’s quote:

“It does make me wonder, with all those people in the theater, was there nobody that was carrying a gun that could have stopped this guy more quickly?”

Allow me paint a scene for you: You are going out to see a movie. Midnight showing. You’re looking forward to the night out and, as it is your habit, you not only wear your best ensemble, you also strap on your Smith & Wesson 38. (It’s quite the conversation starter with your date, it turns out.) You and your date settle in for the movie with popcorn and soda; and, following an onslaught of trailers, the lights dim further. The movie begins. About 20 minutes into the feature, you hear from the front of the theatre a loud noise and few startled screams. Then smoke starts to fill your theatre, and that’s when gunfire starts. You draw your weapon.

You are in a darkened theatre. People are screaming and running for the exits. There’s gunfire, and your target is dressed in black. There is also smoke in the air. (Since no one can confirm tear gas was used, let’s just say it was a smoke bomb.) You don’t dare use your laser sight as it would give your position away…or maybe the laser sight clashed with your shirt —  regardless, you don’t have one. There is chaos around you, you’re in the dark, and all you know is the guy is at the front of the theatre, dressed all in black. That is all you know.

So I ask — Can you put him down without putting down innocent bystanders?

Now before you answer me or call me a “dumbass, tree-hugging, screaming anti-gun Liberal” know this: I have some weapons training. Limited. Less than the basics, and it’s been a while so I’m in need of a brush-up. (And I have a standing invitation to visit a friend’s gun range. Just have to set the date.) I don’t own any guns, but I do respect them. Could I make that shot? No. I most certainly couldn’t.

Now, I ask again — could you get in that clean shot?

Before you answer, check your I.D. right now. If you can’t tell me your name is either “Jason F. Bourne” or “James F. Bond” (you know what the “F” stands for), it’s a safe bet you can’t make that shot. I have friends in the military or have previously served (thank you) in the armed forces. Out of them, I would trust  “Wired Pig”  to make that shot. But I can’t answer for him, so I’ll call him out — Wired Pig, could you?

This is why I won’t be abusing my First Amendment right and screaming “WE NEED MORE GUN CONTROL!” or “GUNS ARE OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHT!” because put in that situation — a darkened theatre, smoke bomb, and a target dressed in black — neither answer makes this situation better. More gun control? Why? Because it worked so well earlier in Colorado, or closer to home at Virginia Tech? More guns? So we can turned a darkened theatre into a gunfight at the O.K. Corral? Yes, I have the freedom and the right to speak up, but should I? Maybe, instead of not knowing what the real solution is and just kicking a wasp nest, I should STFU and think of the victims. Yes, I have the freedom and the right to speak up, but should I, if I know I am talking about something I know nothing about?

So unless you are serving on Seal Team Six or have been under fire before and know without question you can make this call, consider the statements you want to make. Speak loud. Speak freely. Speak knowledgeably.

But above all, speak responsibly. As a writer, I know — words can carry a lasting impression.