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Gun control: unanticipated problems [1]

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Date: 2022-11-21  

When we started our Community Supported Agricultural group on a bit of my family farm, I volunteered for the small scale vegetable farmer around the corner. On day looking for a hoe to work the beans I opened a shed door. Imagine my surprise when I encountered a pile of 20 or more weapons, mostly long guns and some obviously weapons of war. I said nothing but put it out of my mind; at least for a while. As I got to know this “farmer” a little better he opened up to me enough to tell me that the only “public work” he had ever done was selling guns. Of course these guns were never going to be sold legally.

Like many of the denizens of this dark corner of the southern appalachians this fellow, known to all as Dogleg Don, did not believe in banks. His total capital (aside from his inventory) was apparently kept in his back pocket. This is quite common here and makes a certain amount of sense now that banks don’t pay interest. As I understood the local culture better I found that many people if they had a few dollars would invest in beer and if they had a four figure sum they might buy a tractor for sale or swindle. But the most common investment is in guns especially semi-automatic rifles. These are obtained not by purchase from a licensed gun dealer (no profit in that) but from private sources most commonly by theft. A local deputy (who I got to know from my dealings with child support) even had his collection stolen from his trailer. Another retired deputy told me he had 30 firearms in his trailer protected by a locked gate and his reputation for being quick on the trigger.

It is clear that these weapons are an excellent investment. Properly cared for they never lose their value. Most importantly if this country ever institutes effective gun control the value of these guns will skyrocket. No buy-back program will ever take these out of circulation. It also sheds a whole new light on the “cold dead hands” trope. Their hard won capital will be surrendered only at the point of another gun. Dogleg Don is a community leader. He had the first Trump sign in the neighborhood. He is much admired for never having to work since he returned from Vietnam. Gun control will only enhance his wealth and standing and encourage others to take up his line of “work”.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/21/2134258/-Gun-control-unanticipated-problems

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