.. retiring from your primary career is not merely an act of ending,
but, more opportunistically and relevant, an act of commencement and of the promise of a meaningful future.
Alan Spector, After the Cheering Stops
Okay, I said it. But, as I write these words a small clock stares back - one hundred thirty nine days, ten hours and change.
We've done the money prep, the social prep and had a meeting with someone who, with all of her dignity intact, calls herself a "shrink." My employer knows, my coworkers are getting the word... Now all that has to happen is for the date to arrive.
The common question to answer, both for myself and others, is - "What are you going to do?"
Do?
I get up early every morning as a matter of course, so sleeping in would only feel weird. There are a million things to do around the house, but the place was built in 1970 - there is always something to do around the house. We're in the pipeline for seeing the grandkids already.
So, with my humility in full swing (and knowing this is mostly for me) here is a list of things, in no particular order:
1. Writing. In addition to finishing the novel I'm still working on, I've never really gotten the chance to market what I've already written. That not only entails bugging people I know to buy something, it means a broader appeal, to find others who do not know that I write novels. I have a web site that has been dormant, a blog I haven't been especially attentive to and if I can get more diligent, it might turn into,
2. A part-time job. I'd love to write for a living, but that is entirely up to you! Amazon seems always to be hiring part time (shift work - yuck), which would be spent more likely than not on travel. I've been a teacher in the past, so a classroom assignment would be possible, since I'm a hideous on line teacher. As for law work - part time law work is 40 hours a week. Working to pay for,
3. Travel. Yup. We won't do anything crazy, since the dogs miss us whenever we are away. Yes, that reference is done intentionally. There are a lot of places we want to go, things we want to see (Lords cricket grounds in London, eg.). Travel is definitely on our list, but then,
4. Cycling. Nearly five years of a largely sedentary assignment has made me long to ride, ride, ride. Riding partners, are you listening?
A new phase, new purpose. One hundred thirty nine days, nine hours...
"We are aware of the problem of handgun violence in this country, and we take seriously the concerns raised by the many amici who believe that prohibition of handgun ownership is a solution. The Constitution leaves the District of Columbia a variety of tools for combating that problem, including some measures regulating handguns, see supra, at 54–55, and n. 26. But the enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table. These include the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home. Undoubtedly some think that the Second Amendment is outmoded in a society where our standing army is the pride of our Nation, where well-trained police forces provide personal security, and where gun violence is a serious problem. That is perhaps debatable, but what is not debatable is that it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct." Concluding paragraph, majority opinion of Justice Scalia, District of Columbia v. Heller (2008).
"These are bad guys. Air should be illegal for them to possess." A drug enforcement officer quoted by author PJ O'Rourke. A Parliament of Whores (1991).
More mass shootings, and the only thing moving faster than the bullets fired by the murderers are politicians racing for microphones, elbowing each other out of the way as they go. Looking for an advantage, anything that will help their career along. Saying whatever must be said, to signal whatever must be signaled.
"I'm against mass murder, so I spoke out in favor of gun control. Elect me and I'll continue to be against mass murder and speak out. I'll even advocate passing a law...against mass murder. Or, guns. Let's ban guns!"
Well, aren't you special.
Extremists on both sides of this - I really hesitate to call it a debate - are reading the wrong blog. Go, now. If you think a total gun ban is the answer, or if you think the words "shall not be abridged" is a blanket proscription to sensible gun control laws... You won't learn a damn thing here.
For those who have stayed, this isn't going to take long. It's a common lament for me, one I've addressed time and again. That is - no one with any political advantage to gain is serious about curbing gun violence.
The reaction after the latest shooting is predictable as a sunrise. "It's (fill in the blank with the politician you love to hate)'s fault. They did nothing, except stir up hate and discontent."
Fault? It's the guy lugging an AK-47 into a garlic festival. It's the asshole wearing ear protection (seriously?!) while he uses his AK to kill people in a store. It's a guy who shows up in a bar wearing body armor. It's two of the three who start shooting with law enforcement officers already present on scene. It's the shooter's fault. They of the twisted hatreds, the animosity against "them," whoever they are.
But, ask yourself. When was the last time you said to a friend "Wow, that's pretty extreme. Are you doing okay? You're talking about human beings, not objects worthy of scorn."
It is possible to argue a policy position ("unregulated, unfettered immigration is bad public policy") without calling desperate men and women "Invaders." It is possible to question how diligently government has respected human decency in a chaotic situation without branding empathetic professionals "Nazis running concentration camps."
And it is possible for everyone of good will to say that white supremacists are racists. Some of them are violent, dangerous people. There is reason to believe some are radicalized toward violence in an organized, purposeful fashion. That's what they do. It isn't just for radical Islamists.
This is not a new problem, but it occurs in a new era. The FBI is tasked with investigating these kinds of issues. They had great success with "The Mob." Hell's Angels. ISIS at home. They know how to get this done.
And, for the last three years, their leadership has been tied up in knots trying to influence the election of a president. They got a warrant to listen in on a political campaign based on flimsy (at best) evidence. This ought to be a piece of cake.
New laws don't solve anything, with one caveat. Colorado's legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a "Red Flag" law that allows a court, on a showing of sufficient evidence, to order a person to temporarily surrender their firearms, or be prohibited from purchasing new ones. The common complaint...well there are several, but the main one is the transfer of burden of proof to get weapons back. Ok - let's see if that becomes an issue when the lawsuits start. But, we can take someone into custody already if we have probable cause they are a danger to others. A law letting us impound their guns seems logical.
While we're on that subject - how about we stop demonizing good cops who are out doing the jobs their supposed to do. A few years ago I rode with a Baltimore officer who works a pretty tough neighborhood. He was talented, capable and dedicated (I've tried several times to entice him onto our little shop). The workforce was dispirited, did not have the support of their politicians for what were largely illusory and political reasons and were struggling to do good in their community. That narrative has been replayed all over the country.
The President, in an uncharacteristic burst of sensibility, made a number of valid points in his recent speech. I know - Orange Man Bad. But, he was right. He said things we can all embrace. Let's set aside our differences and tackle this problem.
Finally - damp down the anger. It's contagious.
