Aspen, Colorado is a liberal enclave. So it’s no surprise that The Aspen Beat columnist Glenn Beaton tries to have it both ways writing on the “debate” about guns. Literally. He divides himself into “Gunless” and “Gunny” and engages in a mock debate with himself on firearms freedom. It’s clear where Glenn’s heart lies: he’s an avid supporter of Americans’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. “Gunny’s” defense of that position tells the tale:
“You see, the reason they want to take our guns is not because they hate guns. It’s because they hate us. They mock us as bitter clingers in rusty pickup trucks praying to our God rather than to their government while chewing tobacco, throwing beer cans out the window and denying a woman her right to choose to abort her child any time up to and after birth.
“You have to tip-toe and word-mince around every other demographic but there’s no name too vile to hurl and no action too extreme to take against a guy like me for the crime of working a lifetime, paying his taxes, raising a family, obeying the laws and trying to do the right thing. It’s open season on us. And don’t tell me one election will change all that.
“This is not a gun war. It’s a culture war. The gun-takers are willing to accept that their schemes to take guns away will never take guns away from criminals who refuse to relinquish them, because it’s not the criminals they’re targeting. It’s you and me.
“It’s a war between the Enlightenment and the Dark Ages. I have no illusion that my little collection of guns can defend me against the thought police and social justice warriors who’ve pointed their arsenals of totalitarianism at my head. I’m too old, too blind and too outgunned.
“But it’s all I have. That’s why I own guns.”
Fair enough?