<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:dt =
"uuid:C2F41010-65B3-11d1-A29F-00AA00C14882" xmlns:m =
"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"><HEAD>
<META name="Microsoft Theme 2.00" content="Arctic 011">
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19393">
<STYLE>@font-face {
font-family: Helvetica;
}
@font-face {
font-family: Helvetica;
}
@font-face {
font-family: Calibri;
}
@font-face {
font-family: Tahoma;
}
@font-face {
font-family: Verdana;
}
@font-face {
font-family: inherit;
}
@page WordSection1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; }
P.MsoNormal {
MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt
}
LI.MsoNormal {
MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt
}
DIV.MsoNormal {
MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt
}
H1 {
PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; MARGIN: 24pt 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 1 Char"
}
H2 {
PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; MARGIN: 10pt 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 2 Char"
}
H3 {
PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; MARGIN: 10pt 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 3 Char"
}
H4 {
PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; MARGIN: 10pt 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 4 Char"
}
H5 {
PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; MARGIN: 10pt 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 13pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 5 Char"
}
H6 {
PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; MARGIN: 10pt 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 6 Char"
}
A:link {
COLOR: #9d454f; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
SPAN.MsoHyperlink {
COLOR: #9d454f; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
A:visited {
COLOR: #814e95; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {
COLOR: #814e95; TEXT-DECORATION: underline; mso-style-priority: 99
}
P {
FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto
}
P.MsoAcetate {
MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "Balloon Text Char"
}
LI.MsoAcetate {
MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "Balloon Text Char"
}
DIV.MsoAcetate {
MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "Balloon Text Char"
}
SPAN.Heading1Char {
FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 1"; mso-style-name: "Heading 1 Char"
}
SPAN.Heading2Char {
FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 2"; mso-style-name: "Heading 2 Char"
}
SPAN.Heading3Char {
FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 3"; mso-style-name: "Heading 3 Char"
}
SPAN.Heading4Char {
FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 4"; mso-style-name: "Heading 4 Char"
}
SPAN.Heading5Char {
FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 5"; mso-style-name: "Heading 5 Char"
}
SPAN.Heading6Char {
FONT-FAMILY: "Verdana","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; mso-style-priority: 9; mso-style-link: "Heading 6"; mso-style-name: "Heading 6 Char"
}
P.byline {
FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-style-name: byline
}
LI.byline {
FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-style-name: byline
}
DIV.byline {
FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman","serif"; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-style-name: byline
}
SPAN.EmailStyle25 {
FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: "Arial","sans-serif"; COLOR: #262626; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; mso-style-type: personal
}
SPAN.date {
mso-style-name: date
}
SPAN.apple-converted-space {
mso-style-name: apple-converted-space
}
SPAN.EmailStyle30 {
FONT-FAMILY: "Calibri","sans-serif"; COLOR: #1f497d; mso-style-type: personal-reply
}
SPAN.BalloonTextChar {
FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; COLOR: black; mso-style-priority: 99; mso-style-link: "Balloon Text"; mso-style-name: "Balloon Text Char"
}
.MsoChpDefault {
FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-style-type: export-only
}
DIV.WordSection1 {
page: WordSection1
}
</STYLE>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></HEAD>
<BODY lang=EN-US link=#9d454f bgColor=#ffffff vLink=#814e95>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>George: Great title for a book. I thing we need to
give it a shot. What do you think? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> Bill</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=m.george.walters@verizon.net
href="mailto:m.george.walters@verizon.net">M. George Walters</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=oe@lists.wedgeblade.net
href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">'Order Ecumenical Community'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, December 31, 2012 4:19
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Oe List ...] Fwd: more
Moore!</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">I
saw a NRA book title “More Guns, Less Violence” and immediately thought about
a book title<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">“No
Guns, No Gun Violence”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<A
href="mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net">oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net</A>
[mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Jack
Gilles<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, December 27, 2012 11:58 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
Order Ecumenical Community<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Oe List ...] Fwd: more
Moore!<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>I found this essay by Michael Moore on guns and
violence.<o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal>Jack<BR><BR>Sent from my iPad<o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=MsoNormal><BR>Begin forwarded
message:<o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt">
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=MsoNormal><B>From:</B> "M. Theophil"
<<A
href="mailto:weave.marga@gmail.com">weave.marga@gmail.com</A>><BR><B>Date:</B>
December 27, 2012, 10:47:59 PM CST<BR><B>To:</B> "M. Theophil" <<A
href="mailto:Weave.Marga@gmail.com">Weave.Marga@gmail.com</A>><BR><B>Subject:</B>
<B>more Moore!</B><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt">
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: windowtext"><image001.gif>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><STRONG><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in">December
24th, 2012</SPAN></STRONG><SPAN class=apple-converted-space><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
class=date><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; BACKGROUND: white; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in">5:13
AM</SPAN></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<H2
style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN
style="COLOR: red"><A
href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/celebrating-prince-peace-land-guns"><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; LETTER-SPACING: -0.6pt; COLOR: red; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">Celebrating
the Prince of Peace in the Land of Guns</SPAN></A></SPAN><o:p></o:p></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"
class=byline><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">By<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><B><A
href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/blogger/mmflint"><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">Michael
Moore</SPAN></A></B></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">After
watching the deranged, delusional National Rifle Association press
conference on Friday, it was clear that the Mayan prophecy had come true.
Except the only world that was ending was the NRA's. Their bullying power to
set gun policy in this country is over. The nation is repulsed by the
massacre in Connecticut, and the signs are everywhere:<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/jim-boeheim-gun-control-9000-wins_n_2321304.html"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">a
basketball coach at a post-game press conference</SPAN></B></A>;<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/joe-scarborough-newtown-shooting_n_2315100.html"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">the
Republican Joe Scarborough</SPAN></B></A>;<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/gun-seller-i-cant-do-it-anymore"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">a
pawn shop owner in Florida</SPAN></B></A>;<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-19/news/35914645_1_gun-owners-higher-ground-temple-church-camden-county-residents"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">a
gun buy-back program in New Jersey</SPAN></B></A>;<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/watch-tribute-newtown-voice-article-1.1222795"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">a
singing contest show on TV</SPAN></B></A>, and<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/loughner_judge_conservative_gun_control.php"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">the
conservative gun-owning judge who sentenced Jared
Loughner</SPAN></B></A>.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">So here's my
little bit of holiday cheer for you:</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">These gun
massacres aren't going to end any time soon.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I'm sorry to
say this. But deep down we both know it's true. That doesn't mean we
shouldn't keep pushing forward – after all, the momentum is on our side. I
know all of us – including me – would love to see the president and Congress
enact stronger gun laws. We need a ban on automatic AND semiautomatic
weapons and magazine clips that hold more than 7 bullets. We need better
background checks and more mental health services. We need to regulate the
ammo, too.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">But, friends,
I would like to propose that while all of the above will certainly reduce
gun deaths (ask Mayor Bloomberg – it is virtually impossible to buy a
handgun in New York City and the result is the number of murders per year
has gone<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/reported-shot-stabbed-slashed-nyc-monday-article-1.1209204"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">from
2,200 to under 400</SPAN></B></A>), it won't really bring about an end to
these mass slayings and it will not address the core problem we have.
Connecticut had one of the strongest gun laws in the country. That did
nothing to prevent the murders of 20 small children on December
14th.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In fact,
let's be clear about Newtown: the killer had no criminal record so he would
never have shown up on a background check. All of the guns he used were
legally purchased. None fit the legal description of an "assault" weapon.
The killer seemed to have mental problems and his mother had him seek help,
but that was worthless. As for security measures, the Sandy Hook school was
locked down and buttoned up BEFORE the killer showed up that morning. Drills
had been held for just such an incident. A lot of good that
did.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">And here's
the dirty little fact none of us liberals want to discuss: The killer only
ceased his slaughter when he saw that cops were swarming onto the school
grounds – i.e, the men with the guns. When he saw the guns a-coming, he
stopped the bloodshed and killed himself. Guns on police officers prevented
another 20 or 40 or 100 deaths from happening. Guns sometimes work. (Then
again, there was an armed deputy sheriff at Columbine High School the day of
that massacre and he couldn't/didn't stop it.)</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I am sorry to
offer this reality check on our much-needed march toward a bunch of
well-intended, necessary – but ultimately, mostly cosmetic – changes to our
gun laws. The sad facts are these: Other countries that have guns (like
Canada, which has<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/canada"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">7
million guns</SPAN></B></A><SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>–
mostly hunting guns – in their 12 million households) have a low murder
rate. Kids in Japan watch the same violent movies and kids in Australia play
the same violent video games (Grand Theft Auto was created by a British
company; the UK had<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb0212/"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">58
gun murders</SPAN></B></A><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>last year in a nation of 63 million
people). </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">They simply
don't kill each other at the rate that we do. Why is that? THAT is the
question we should be exploring while we are banning and restricting guns:
Who<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN><EM><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in">are</SPAN></EM><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">we?</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I'd like to
try to answer that question.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We are a
country whose leaders officially sanction and carry out acts of violence as
a means to often an immoral end. We invade countries who didn't attack us.
We're currently using drones in a half-dozen countries, often killing
civilians.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">This probably
shouldn't come as a surprise to us as we are a nation founded on genocide
and built on the backs of slaves. We slaughtered 600,000 of each other in a
civil war. We "tamed the Wild West with a six-shooter," and we rape and beat
and kill our women without mercy and at a staggering rate:<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/homicide/tables/vsextab.cfm"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">every
three hours</SPAN></B></A><SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>a
women is murdered in the USA (<A
href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,164707,00.html"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">half
the time</SPAN></B></A><SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>by an
ex or a current);<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/09/cbsnews_investigates/main5590118.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">every
three minutes</SPAN></B></A><SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>a
woman is raped in the USA; and<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/factsheets/dv.htm"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">every
15 seconds</SPAN></B></A><SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>a
woman is beaten in the USA.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">We belong to
an<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.amnesty.org/en/death-penalty/abolitionist-and-retentionist-countries"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">illustrious
group of nations</SPAN></B></A><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>that still have the death penalty
(North Korea, Saudi Arabia, China, Iran). We think nothing of letting tens
of thousands of our own citizens die each year because they are uninsured
and thus don't see a doctor until it's too late.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Why do we do
this? One theory is simply "because we can." There is a level of arrogance
in the otherwise friendly American spirit, conning ourselves into believing
there's something exceptional about us that separates us from all those
"other" countries (there are indeed many good things about us; the same
could also be said of Belgium, New Zealand, France, Germany, etc.). We think
we're #1 in everything when the truth is our students are<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-12-07-us-students-international-ranking_N.htm"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">17th
in science and 25th in math</SPAN></B></A>, and we're<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/15/nation/la-na-womens-health-20110615"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">35th
in life expectancy</SPAN></B></A>. We believe we have the greatest democracy
but we have the lowest voting turnout of any western democracy. We're
biggest and the bestest at everything and we demand and take what we
want.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">And sometimes
we have to be violent m*****f*****s to get it. But if one of us goes
off-message and shows the utterly psychotic nature and brutal results of
violence in a Newtown or an Aurora or a Virginia Tech, then we get all "sad"
and "our hearts go out to the families" and presidents promise to take
"meaningful action." Well, maybe this president means it this time. He'd
better. An angry mob of millions is not going to let this
drop.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">While we are
discussing and demanding what to do, may I respectfully ask that we stop and
take a look at what I believe are the three extenuating factors that may
answer the question of why we Americans have more violence than most anyone
else:</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">1. POVERTY.
If there's one thing that separates us from the rest of the developed world,
it's this.<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.nbcnews.com/business/49-7-million-americans-poverty-census-bureau-says-1C7073315"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">50
million</SPAN></B></A><SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>of our
people live in poverty.<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/156806/one-four-mississippi-residents-struggle-afford-food.aspx#2"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">One
in five Americans</SPAN></B></A><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>goes hungry at some point during
the year.<SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-usa-survey-paycheck-idUSBRE88I1BE20120919"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">The
majority</SPAN></B></A><SPAN class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN>of
those who aren't poor are living from paycheck to paycheck. There's no doubt
this creates more crime. Middle class jobs prevent crime and violence. (If
you don't believe that, ask yourself this: If your neighbor has a job and is
making $50,000/year, what are the chances he's going to break into your
home, shoot you and take your TV? Nil.)</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">2.
FEAR/RACISM. We're an awfully fearful country considering that, unlike most
nations, we've never been invaded. (No, 1812 wasn't an invasion.<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812#Declaration_of_war"
target=_blank><B><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; COLOR: windowtext; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0in">We
started it.</SPAN></B></A>) Why on earth would we need 300 million guns in
our homes? I get why the Russians might be a little spooked (over 20 million
of them died in World War II). But what's our excuse? Worried that the
Indians from the casino may go on the warpath? Concerned that the Canadians
seem to be amassing too many Tim Horton's donut shops on both sides of the
border?</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">No. It's
because too many white people are afraid of black people. Period. The vast
majority of the guns in the U.S. are sold to white people who live in the
suburbs or the country. When we fantasize about being mugged or home
invaded, what's the image of the perpetrator in our heads? Is it the
freckled-face kid from down the street – or is it someone who is, if not
black, at least poor?</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I think it
would be worth it to a) do our best to eradicate poverty and re-create the
middle class we used to have, and b) stop promoting the image of the black
man as the boogeyman out to hurt you. Calm down, white people, and put away
your guns.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">3. THE "ME"
SOCIETY. I think it's the every-man-for-himself ethos of this country that
has put us in this mess and I believe it's been our undoing. Pull yourself
up by your bootstraps! You're not my problem! This is
mine!</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Clearly, we
are no longer our brother's and sister's keeper. You get sick and can't
afford the operation? Not my problem. The bank has foreclosed on your home?
Not my problem. Can't afford to go to college? Not my
problem.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">And yet, it
all sooner or later becomes our problem, doesn't it? Take away too many
safety nets and everyone starts to feel the impact. Do you want to live in
that kind of society, one where you will then have a legitimate reason to be
in fear? I don't.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I'm not
saying it's perfect anywhere else, but I have noticed, in my travels, that
other civilized countries see a national benefit to taking care of each
other. Free medical care, free or low-cost college, mental health help. And
I wonder – why can't<SPAN
class=apple-converted-space> </SPAN></SPAN><EM><SPAN
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: inherit; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt; PADDING-TOP: 0in">we</SPAN></EM><SPAN
class=apple-converted-space><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">do that? I
think it's because in many other countries people see each other not as
separate and alone but rather together, on the path of life, with each
person existing as an integral part of the whole. And you help them when
they're in need, not punish them because they've had some misfortune or bad
break. I have to believe one of the reasons gun murders in other countries
are so rare is because there's less of the lone wolf mentality amongst their
citizens. Most are raised with a sense of connection, if not outright
solidarity. And that makes it harder to kill one
another.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Well, there's
some food for thought as we head home for the holidays. Don't forget to say
hi to your conservative brother-in-law for me. Even he will tell you that,
if you can't nail a deer in three shots – and claim you need a clip of 30
rounds – you're not a hunter my friend, and you have no business owning a
gun.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P
style="OUTLINE-STYLE: none; OUTLINE-COLOR: invert; OUTLINE-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 8.65pt; BACKGROUND: white; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; WORD-SPACING: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Have a
wonderful Christmas or a beautiful December 25th!</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: windowtext; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>OE mailing
list<BR>OE@lists.wedgeblade.net<BR>http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net<BR>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P><A></A>
<P align=left color="#000000" avgcert??>No virus found in this
message.<BR>Checked by AVG - <A
href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</A><BR>Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus
Database: 2637/5998 - Release Date: 12/30/12</P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>