Issues Under Fire: Stop Gun Violence, Arm the Homeless

Issues Under Fire: Stop Gun Violence, Arm the Homeless

It's Friday. And believe it or not, I was prepared to Podcast and post some serious content for your consideration. No, really. Some serious sh*t is going down around the world. Sh*t like China's Xi Jinping retaliating against Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports. Hell, the stock market plunged 724 points on the news. U.S. consumers and businesses are justifiably worried, to say the least. Also, sh*t like Donald Trump replacing National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, with a warmongering, xenophobic, Iraq war supporter, who's spoiling for a fight with Iran and North Korea right now. John Bolton is his name, and he may very well be the biggest threat to international peace the world has ever known. No sh*t!

Unfortunately, arming the homeless is the issue today. Why? Because it's Friday and this writer is easily distracted at the week's end. Besides, this is the craziest sh*t to come across my desk in years. I just couldn't resist. Yet, don't be fooled. This is not Click Bait or Fake News. This is the real sh*t. Brian Ellison, a Libertarian candidate for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat in the upcoming midterm election, is proposing arming the homeless with pump-action shotguns and ammunition to defend themselves. In addition to stating statistics supporting the notion that homeless people are more often the victims of violent crime than other members of society, he had the following to offer: "Not only are the homeless constantly under threat from would-be-criminals, but they are also under threat from governments at various levels that criminalize activities that homeless people rely on for survival." Obviously, Mr. Ellison is seeking the homeless vote, but the homeless don't have an address. And even if they did, they can't afford a campaign contribution. This is total madness, so you know we've gotta breaks this sh*t down.

Firstly, I wonder if Mr. Ellison realizes, the only people robbing homeless people are other homeless people. I live in New York and I've seen every kind of homeless person there is. I've seen every race, all the genders, and most ethnic groups represented. But I've never seen a homeless person with anything worth taking. Homeless people don't wear expensive watches or use iPhones and tablets. It's not like they can be car-jacked. Box-jacked maybe, but another box to fit a family of four can easily be found behind any neighborhood supermarket. And God knows, nobody but another homeless person wants a homeless person's clothes. That thought alone is enough to give you the cooties. 

Secondly, what about the "authorities"? Is Ellison advocating the homeless defend their right to assemble in doorways to sleep, loiter and litter with a pump-action shotgun? How well do you think that's gonna go over with the cops? And as mad, crazy as this story sounds so far, it gets worse. What about panhandling? Homeless people are always bumming a buck or two whenever and wherever they can. And while I must admit a fully loaded pump-action shotgun is one hell of an incentive to give and give all you got, I don't see the general public being any happier than the cops having to tell some bum to move along. And by the way, I forgot to mention the mental health issue. So, I will.

While I want to be sensitive and avoid stereotyping the homeless, my nature compels me to keep it real. And in the real world, many in the homeless community are straight-up nuts! That's a fact. Again, I live in New York. I've seen homeless people sleeping on a bed of ice on the steps of a homeless shelter in 20 below zero temps, yet angrily refusing to accept a warm space for the night. When asked why not, the answer was always the same. They think there are crazy people inside. Add drug and alcohol abuse to the mix and we got a party starting that'll make the evening news every night. Still, despite my concerns, Mr. Ellison had the following to say in defense of his proposal:

 "I don't know why the homeless are viewed as such different type of people as the rest of us. I carry a gun with me all the time and I don't victimize anyone. I wouldn't expect that the homeless would use their weapons to fight off the police who are asking them to leave. I think the homeless would use their weapons to protect themselves from being victims of violent crimes." I kid you not. Mr. Ellison said all these things with a straight face. But, having the imagination I've been cursed with, I simply couldn't stop thinking about the homeless encampments popping up all over the country. California is overrun with them. Imagine drugged and drunken homeless armies armed and prepared to defend their spaces against local authorities. 

Bottom line: We all know this well-intentioned, but clearly crazy Mother-F*cker will never get past the primaries in Michigan. But still, it's scary as hell, knowing a regular looking guy, with an associate degree and military service, could slip through the cracks of mental normalcy without notice and be taken seriously. On the other hand, conventional wisdom predicted Donald Trump could never be elected and we all know how that turned out. What if there are more like him? Podcast below.