Save the relativity for physics.

       I've been debating getting back into writing and something today set me on a track.  For future reference, when anyone sees this, today is the day after a man, with no prior history and no indication of this sort of thing happening (so far, anyway) opened fire from a 32nd story window of a casino-hotel in Las Vegas and sprayed automatic weapon fire into a crowd attending a concert.  Then, because the day needed to be somehow worse, "Tom Petty Found Unresponsive".  He may, or may not currently be dead, depending on which news report has it right, but he is at least brain dead, and that is a fine hair to split.  (topic of a future post)

       At any rate, I had read a conversation on Facebook where one person was lamenting the death of Tom Petty, and another was railing against them for complaining about the death of one person, just because he was famous, when so many others had died.  I started a response, then decided it was too long to ever be read on that format.  So I took it here.  That's only half true.  My first thought was: "Because F--K you, that's how," poet laureate that I am.  But then I started the longer post.  If you know that person, or even someone else who said something similar, please show this to them.

       If I mention that people in India are starving, and you respond that people in Ethiopia have it worse; that doesn't mean that the people in India suddenly have food.

       If I say that there is a drought in Brazil, and you respond that it's worse in South Africa; that doesn't mean is started raining in Brazil.

       In physics everything is relative.  Jupiter is large, but not compared to most of the exoplanets we've discovered.  Those comparisons have meaning.  When assigning a value to the impact death has on your life, any such attempts are trite and sophomoric.

       -4 is more negative than -2.  That does not make -2 a positive integer. 

       59 people dying is more than 1 musician.  But that doesn't mean we'll be going to a Tom Petty concert next year.

Why I shoot.

       Recently a friend on Facebook decided to organize an outing to the range.  A group of people expressed interest that could be accurately called: "diverse".  In a hobby that was, in the past, dominated by old men, I was seeing a change.  Nothing unusual to me.  I grew up with my mother embarrassing the men at both the archery, and trap range.

       Having just been to the range  myself I can say this is no longer a hobby for old men.  About 25-35% of the shooters were female.  About 70% were under 50 years old.  This is a change welcomed by most shooters.  The more accessible the hobby is, the more accepted it becomes.

       I am not a gun nut.  I have a modest collection that is almost entirely comprised of gifts from the enthusiasts that I find myself related to.  I do enjoy shooting though.  Any means of conveying a projectile from where I stand to a point far away with the best accuracy I can muster is a relaxing way to spend time.

       I say any means because I started with a bow.  I am not the kind of person who works at things.  I know that about myself.  If I'm not reasonably good at it the first time around, I typically abandon the hobby.  Archery was different.  I needed to be good at it.  I practiced at least three days a week for years, just to be good enough to suck.

       I eventually became better than the league shooters at the local range who used comically long stabilizers, mechanical releases, and levels.  They would hold each draw for almost a minute before releasing.  I used a finger tab, hunting stabilizer (short), and I drew back and fired in almost one motion.  I was their equal on my bad days.

       When it came time to try pistols I was a fair shot my first time out.  Rifles, the same story.  I assume that the practice in archery taught me the basics of form, consistency, breathing, and most importantly, how to quiet the mind.

       There are countless movie quotes, and idiot celebrities that will tell you how firing a weapon is a "rush" because it gives you the power of life and death.  This is pure idiocy.  Make no mistake, one person shooting another is frequently fatal.  But a "rush" from shooting is counter productive.  Adrenaline makes you shake.  A small twitch at your end of the gun makes for a large miss at 100 yards.  The guy who yells after a good shot is laughed off the line, or told to calm down.

       So why do I shoot?  I shoot because for a second, just a second, there are no problems.  There are no concerns.  There are no other people.  There is nothing but you and the target and the beam of concentration between.  The entire world has been distilled into a perfect, clear, focus. The timing of the breath comes natural at this point.  The form is held, but completely forgotten.

       There is a reason the Zen masters chose archery as a means of achieving focus, rather than say, sweeping.  Either one would work, but the focus to send a projectile to it's mark makes this transition to pure "empty-mindedness" much easier.  The calmness achieved persists long after the guns are cleaned, oiled, and put back into their cases.  This too is part of the ritual.  This too can quiet the mind.

       In today's fast-paced, distraction-filled, mind-scattering world, it is no wonder that a more diverse group of people are taking up the hobby.  Word has gotten out.  We all need a break from the chaos.  Shooting meets that need.

       It also doesn't hurt that shooters have long considered themselves a persecuted out-group; and as such, are the most welcoming, friendly bunch of people you are ever likely to meet.  They are almost as free with lending tools and helping out, as they are with advice.  (Almost).  They make new shooters feel welcome.  In fact my first trip to the rifle range in Eagle WI. someone asked what I was shooting, only so they could give me a key ring made with the correct caliber round attached to it.

       So to the new people at the range: "Welcome.  Good to see a new face.  I hope you enjoy this hobby as much as I do."

Colorado Shooting.

       We have all heard about the tragedy.  We all know the young man with a degree in neuroscience was a little off in the head.  It is a shame that someone could do something like that.  But there is a worse crime happening in its wake.
       There are those (mayors of L.A. and NY notably) who are using this event, before any facts are known, as a way to further their anti-gun agenda.  Demanding that the President, and the man running against him immediately declare what they are going to do about this.  "How do we keep this from happening again?"
       They want, essentially, the cart before the horse.  We don't yet even know what exactly happened, or why this young man snapped.  Or even why he booby trapped his apartment (by all appearances).  Yet there are those who will use any tragedy to further their own agenda.
       Why not wait, find out the facts, and then, if necessary, act.  I say "if necessary" because this is obviously a determined, insane, person.  No law will ever stop a determined, insane person.  This type of knee jerk reaction is understandable from a grieving parent, or a wounded bystander.  From a politician it is unacceptably filthy politics.
       I would point out to that demand tougher laws based on the action of one person invites a host of troubles.  I will refrain from my normal, condescendingly simple, examples; so as not to play at the same petty politics that others so willingly foul themselves with.

       First, let's find out exactly what happened.  Second, we need time to heal.  Third, debate whether change to the law may be needed, or whether this was just an isolated incident.  (again, laws cannot be based on the actions of a determined, insane person.) Fourth, after all of this is done, and if it is determined that a change is required, we need to find the best course of action.
       Any politician, journalist, blogger etc., demanding immediate action after this,or any other tragedy, is merely attempting to profiteer from it.  Those people, no matter what side of the aisle they represent, should be charged with inciting a riot.  (Research what that entails before disagreeing)  They certainly should not be re-elected.
       To any who have kept their peace, kept silent, and are waiting for the facts to be known: bravo!  There is hope for you yet.

"Keep calm and carry on"