JACTICTATION

May I shoot you?

When I was a boy you could
buy a rifle through a mail order
catalog without a permit.
In those days guns were good.
I had a pump action BB rifle
in my youth and a sling shot,
as well as, a bow and arrow set.

I never shot a squirrel or bird
or any living creature.
I shot tin cans and paper targets,
because I was fond of birds and squirrels.
Isn't that normal?

The police officer was your friend.
He kept the neighborhood safe.
We knew their names.
Everyone looked out for each other.
There were block parties.
Does this sound silly?

Things got sinister during the Vietnam
protests.
My brother volunteered to serve in the
Air Borne Rangers.
Some neighbors thought my brother was
committing war crimes.
We received threatening animus phone calls.
My mother told me to be careful going to
school.

There were attacks on recruitment offices
and solders were being assaulted by protesters
when they came home.
They were told not to wear their uniforms
in their own neighborhoods.
Then, the crazies popped up randomly shooting
civilians..
That's when guns became bad.

I think we should look at why people want
to be cruel and do evil.
That's my view on cause and effect in
mass murder.
There must be a malevolence pushing
people to do vicious acts.
I believe people are naturally good.
A community functions on goodwill..
I still don't wish to be cruel.

Why does God allow it?
Is poverty, oppression or religious
fanaticism the cause of murder?
How many wars can our country endure?
I like Charley Chaplin's GREAT SPEECH:
"If we do not stop it, who will?"

Just my two cents.

Muzzy