America is a big country with lots of people. Right now, hundreds of thousands of Americans are cleaning their guns or bustin’ a few caps at the range. And? And nothing. This lack of news is not news to TTAG’s Armed Intelligentsia, who understand that the vast majority of Americans do nothing wrong with their guns. Hell, most of them do nothing at all with their guns. The firearms are just . . . there. That said, in a country this big, someone somewhere is doing something stupid with a gun right now. To wit: our Irresponsible Gun Owner of the Day series is never hurting for raw material. Gun grabbers can always find some firearms-related bad behavior with which to paint most if not all gun owners as gunloons and, thus, enable new gun control laws. For example . . .
MEMPHIS (AP) – Memphis police say a man brought more than a gift to a child’s birthday party.
Joseph Hayes, 48, of Memphis, has been charged with aggravated assault after police say he brought a gun to the party Saturday because his children didn’t get any ice cream or cake.
A police affidavit says Hayes became upset and began yelling at the victim.
Police say Hayes went to his apartment and returned a short time later with a small black handgun tucked into the back of his pants.
Hayes approached the host, lifted up his shirt and said, “I ain’t scared to go to jail, just take care of my kids,” The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported.
Obviously, we don’t know the whole story. What kind of cake? What flavor ice cream? But even if Mr. Hayes had more reason to brandish his firearm than a simple squabble over birthday party resources, responsible gun owners can’t deny the fact that there are people like this out there, somewhere.
The question is, so what? Given the “gunloons” statistical rarity, and the obvious (to many) advantages of an unabridged Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, does the existence of a tiny population of irresponsible gun owners mean we have to change our gun laws?