American individualism:

At the WSJ blog, we read:

Take your gun to school: The AP is reporting that trustees of the Harrold Independent School District, a tiny Texas school district, may be the first in the nation to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection.

Superintendent David Thweatt said the small community is a 30-minute drive from the sheriff’s office, leaving students and teachers without protection. He said the district’s lone campus sits 500 feet from heavily trafficked U.S. 287, which could make it a target. “When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that’s when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can’t defend themselves? That’s like saying ’sic ‘em’ to a dog,” Thweatt reportedly said.

“Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!” Back in Georgia, the AJC reported earlier this week, a day after Judge Shoob’s airport ruling state lawmakers began looking into making it legal for people with firearms-carry licenses to take their guns to church.

“I personally feel there are a lot of restrictions that should not be there,” said Senate Majority Whip Mitch Seabaugh, chairman of a Senate committee that began studying the state’s gun laws Tuesday. “People who get these [carry] permits are extremely law-abiding citizens,” Seabaugh said. “Those who have no regard for the law are carrying guns anyway.”

And in a comment (that appears to be genuine):

I couldn’t have said it any better.

“People who get these [carry] permits are extremely law-abiding citizens. Those who have no regard for the law are carrying guns anyway.”

My wife and I have both concealed carry permits in Texas and are both extremely law abiding. Not even a speeding ticket.

I hope/prey that I will never that have to use it, BUT it gives us great comfort knowing that we can take of ourselves.

As much as some try to deny it, there is evil out in this world. When & if it enters your world, you want to be able to defend your family.
Comment by Steve from Dallas - August 15, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Evil is out in this world. Seeking comfort. Don't trust the authorities. A gun will solve that problem.

These are people who feel isolated from the community they live in. Not only that, but they don't believe that the existing law enforcement agencies are able to protect them. As a result, they arm themselves. If someone is that removed from the community and its governance, then it's not surprising that they don't care for lesser programs (which often involve taxes and spending).

Speaking of disdain for the whole idea of working together, remember this?

The [New England Patriots} came out for the Super Bowl as a group, despite individual introductions, causing Rush Limbaugh to complain, "working together for the greater good is so close to 'the communist manifesto,' it's frightening."

To a large extent, this is fear-driven individualism. The press is a big factor - with sensationalistic reporting that magnifies the perception of crime or in touting the latest pseudo-terrorism threat. This fear reinforces itself and manifests itself in support for Republicans (screw government but fight! fight! fight!).


posted by Quiddity at 8/19/2008 10:43:00 PM