THE BASIC PREMISE FOR OUR NEED TO BEAR ARMS OR REGULATE ARMS ISN'T TRUE Every time there's a mass shooting, or a noteworthy event that makes it into the mainstream media involving gun violence the response is almost visceral, but certain. First, the "gun rights" advocates and their NRA pushers take to the editorial pages... Continue Reading →
OR THE DIFFICULTIES OF ACADEMIC HONESTY The last couple of semesters I've had the unfortunate opportunity to talk about American gun culture and its associated gun violence in real time. It's actually a great topic through which to understand the sociological imagination and to offer relevant lessons on how sociologists do our work. I try to... Continue Reading →
With clear winners and losers…played every day! If you answered, "the twelve year old boy, of course!" then you are pre-qualified for a position on the Cleveland Police Department.
To the Police Note: I was planning this post for a few days, but in light of the despicable murder of two police officers in New York I feel that a caveat is in order. Violence is only justified in terms of self-preservation or protection of the innocent. And this only if no other options... Continue Reading →
In fact, look here and there and everywhere. But whatever you do, don't look at the larger, more entrenched, more complicated issues. Keep buying our papers, but don't take what is revealed too seriously. Let us, the fourth estate, do the thinking for you. Here's a nice, feel good, picture.
there's a key question that I really wish someone would ask with regard to the Trayvon Martin trial.did Trayvon Martin have a right to stand his ground?this isn't just a key question fis probablyr the case, but also a clear weakness in the concept of a Stand Your Ground laws. few conflicts are so simple... Continue Reading →
And how the revolving door to the criminal justice system is greased Yesterday, I had the privilege of performing my civic duty by serving on a jury. I'd always wanted to serve on a jury, but, despite being called almost every year, I never actually got on oneuntil yesterday, that is. It's a good thing.... Continue Reading →
When tragedy strikes our own children, we collectively mourn. The world would be a better place if we did the same for the children of others. Figure 1: Pakistani Children Keeping Vigil for the Sandy Hook Victims Click image for the source In my novel, The Revelation of Herman Smiley the title character is... Continue Reading →
There's no reason to let this group steer the debate and silence alternative voices According to the New York Times, the NRA has a plan for preventing gun violence. "The N.R.A.'s main answer to school violence was a model program it unveiled called National School Shield, which would train and arm security guards at schools... Continue Reading →
