Assault Weapons & Mass Shootings

 The first mass shooting I vividly remember was the August 1, 1966 Texas Tower. There were plenty before that, but without the main street media coverage that now exists.. I've known two friends who died as the result of a mass shooting. One involved  an employee termination while the other person was simply in an office where the shooting occurred. 

While there are many elements, I believe 3 primarily contribute to our situation:

The shear number of assault weapons already in the United States along with fairly easy procedures for a person to acquire them. While there are many definitions of an assault weapon, there are millions. We are a well-armed nation, and I am not counting guns in general.

The mental state of most of the individuals who decide to kill multiple random individuals including a willingness to die during or after the event. Both shooters of my friends committed suicide before being apprehended.

Coverage of these by MSM and the divided opinions of individuals over gun rights v gun control.

I do not have a solution because:

With millions of assault weapons already out there, the proverbial horse has already left the barn. Banning assault weapons won't eliminate those, and I suspect asking owners to surrender them would not create a very long line. Given the mind state of many owners aggressively going after them could result in more shootings.

Since most states shut down many mental institutions there are lots of individuals with severe mental problems that do not receive care or counseling. If you don't believe me go start interviewing the homeless. In addition, mass shooters may not show any discernible clues as to their intention.

The United States has a long history of violence dating back to our founding. Duels, old west gun fights , lynchings that continued  into  the 1930s and 40s, protests resulting in violence, etc. We are a divided nation and more prone to employing violent methods to settle disagreement.

Since I do not have a solution, I worry less about being the victim of a mass shooting--or any shooting--than I do about being hit by a car while cycling. 

It's also interesting to note that in the Texas Tower incident,  the shooter had 7 weapons. The closest one to an assault-style weapon was a 30 M 1 carbine rifle. His advantage was location and a multiple variety of rifles to choose from. 

Bill Hicks

 I just learned that my friend Bill Hicks had passed away in April last year at the age of 92. Bill and I had been friends since 1968. Like many long lasting inter-generational friendships, it began through a formal channel and over time became something more. I first met Bill during my early career at Chubb when I was sent to the Atlanta office to work on a 3 month assignment. I was brand new to the insurance business and Bill was the branch office claims department manager. Our departments were next to each other and I probably learned more about insurance policy coverage from him than anyone else. I was sent back to Atlanta in 1970 for several years, and our friendship continued. After several promotions/transfers I returned to Atlanta in 1982, and that's when our friendship and mutual love of cycling and canoeing really became cemented. 

I don't remember the date but Bill and I decided to canoe the Chattahoochee River. Early on A Saturday morning we left a car at the park on Azalea Drive and then had a friend drop us off at Bowman's Island just below the Lake Lanier dam.  As we were preparing to embark we encountered a boy scout troop also planning to canoe the river. The scoutmaster asked how far we were going and when we told him, he then asked where we would be camping since that was too far to canoe in one day. We had only prepared for a day trip and our drop off driver was gone so we had no choice but to head down river. I suppose it was a combination of adrenaline and river water release, but we were done by mid-afternoon. That was the first of many canoe/kayak adventures that Bill and I shared.

In 1984 we decided to register for the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG), which was a week long ride following Sherman's march to the sea. Bill wanted to have his van available, so we indicated we would have it when we registered. When we showed up to start the ride it turned out we had been designated as the only SAG support for the entire ride which consisted of over 300 other cyclists. It worked out fine and I had a chance to cycle several side trips as I was reading a book by Burke Davis on Sherman's March which was a historical account of the route Sherman followed. Like canoeing that was the first of several more BRAG rides and many other cycling adventures.

I left Chubb in 1988 and Bill retired several years later, but our friendship continued. The last time I spoke with Bill was as the pandemic began . We agreed to get together once that was over. During the past year I drove or cycled past the retirement community where Bill lived and kept planning to at least check in with him by phone. The cruelest irony of the pandemic is how it isolates you from friends you don't see constantly. You tend to think, when it's over we'll..... Unfortunately, time can change things.

I will never do another bike ride or a canoe/kayak trip without remembering how valuable that relationship was for me. Godspeed, Bill Hicks.