Tom Toles for September 04, 2019

Small mag version.

Land of the Open Carry / Home of the Scared Silly.

Anybody who feels some compelling need to parade around in public openly carrying a firearm is clearly afraid that they are, in fact, a feckless if dangerous nobody. That goes X10 for anyone who feels a need to own some kind of military style murder machine.

Have noticed that these mass murderers have been found to have mental problems.

It may be in the shape of another, much much larger, ballistic weapon.

When the winds get very strong and the rain brings the water up to… or beyond your doorstep and you have to decide what to carry away as you flee… That’s when you are going to realize just exactly how useful an assault rifle really is.

PS: I certainly hope you bring your photo album, computer, phone, spouse, children and pets, blankets, jackets and several days supply of water and food. I doubt you’ll find the energy or time to bring ammo and an assault weapon.

I like the small caption in the lower right about “the shape of things to come.” The expression is most often associated with the H. G. Wells science fiction novel of that name. But it always makes me think of the song of the same name from the 1968 movie “Wild in the Streets.”

The movie is intentionally a wild exaggeration of an imagined “youth movement” out of control. Ultimately, an eighteen year old rock star ends up being elected President of the USA. It’s silly but fun to watch, especially keeping in mind the situations in American society in 1968. It’s viewable for free on YouTube.

The song “Shape of Things to Come” is performed in the movie by our teen Prez.

But I think that the incomparable Ramones version is more fun. Here it is…

https://youtu.be/HhX69jRTN9Y

And the lyrics…

Shape of Things to Come

[as performed by Max Frost & the Troopers]

There’s a new sun rising up angry in the sky

There’s a new voice crying but not afraid to die

Let the old world make believe it’s blind and deaf and dumb

But nothing can change the shape of things to come

There are changes lying ahead on every road

There are new thoughts ready and waiting to explode

When tomorrow is today, the bells will toll for some

But nothing can change the shape of things to come

The future’s coming on sweet and strong

And no-one’s gonna hold it back for long

There are new dreams crowding out old realities

There’s revolution sweeping in like a fresh new breeze

Let the old world make believe it’s blind and deaf and dumb

But nothing can change the shape of things

Nothing can change the shape of things

Nothing can change the shape of things

Nothing can change the shape of thingsTo come

[Songwriters: BRIAN CRADDOCK, ROBERT MICHAEL PELONI]

This image reminds me a little of a baby elephant, how appropriate.

Also the 2018 map, the 2017 map, the 2016 map, the 2015 map … but, I hope, not the 2021 map!

shameless re-post for the other day…..

“Guns are NOT the problem”…That is always the refrain from the right…and it always will be, and that is because it is right, meaning correct. The “gun” is not the problem because there are millions of people who are highly trained and responsible. If you can pass the background check for full auto, I don’t see any reason to “ban” assault rifles from you. There exist a curio&relic collector category all ready, so no more “what about…” rabbit hole. We classify all firearms now….. The issue seems to be classifying, high capacity semi-autos, identical to a single shot .22lr. Assault rifles need to be titled, similar to cars. Making the title holder responsible will halt other wise unacceptable “private” gun sales. I witness this type of thing at flea markets in Florida, all the time. These “private” sellers will ask way over market value, and not ask questions. If you dress like they dress, and talk like they talk, anybody can buy a gun. Take away the unanimity , just like with full-auto, and it will leave them in the hands of responsible owners, just like full-auto. Let not anyone think I am anti-gun, or anti- 2nd amendment. But as someone who Knows both sides, reclassifying assault rifles will stop most shooter, a yellow sheet call-in does not. 1934 solutions for 2020. -gnome

They use to have open carry in California until the Black Panthers started marching carrying rifles. The end came when they had a march to the State Capitol causing Governor Reagsn to have a sudden change of heart on gun control. Even today in open carry states it is often whites only-I would bet if a couple of Middle Eastern males were seen walking in downtown Austin carrying AR-15s they would be stopped/shot by a dozen cops within 2 minutes. Two large Afro-Americans males walking into a Denny’s carrying shotguns on a Sunday after church lunch would likely not be greeted with a smile and asked if they wanted a booth or table.

They have to carry. They’re not real men unless they’re armed to the teeth. The gun is their manhood.

I don’t see Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc. in the picture. They must the spare magazines.

The darker red color should be on the bottom of the illustration, and …dripping.

It is important to note that the vast majority of day in, day out, 30+ PER DAY, gun homicides are wih HAND GUNS! That’s why the Walmart to stop handgun ammunition sales actually make more sense than just banning short barrel (combat arms) rifles used in “mass shootings” that make the news. Long rifles (own several and shotguns) are far preferable for hunting, and are limited to five round capacity magazines, and that is where sense comes in, limit magazine size, despite rifle design, to FIVE ROUNDS maximum legal for hunting.

It doesn’t take too much distortion for us to see how we look to others and how we might well see ourselves.

new tourism slogan: “visit the u.s.a. and have a blast”…

Why do men with large guns have such small souls?