The Daily Dose/March 24, 2019
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Following two mass shootings at mosques in Christchurch on March 15, the New Zealand government has taken steps to restrict access to the weapons believed to have been used in the shootings where 50 people were killed. The government immediately banned the sale of the semi-automatic weapons used in the attacks – to prevent stockpiling – and other laws are being planned. These moves have the support of both the ruling Labour party and the conservative opposition, plus the support of New Zealanders themselves. Implementation of these laws is made easier by the fact that gun ownership is not protected by New Zeland’s uncodified constitution.
OK, it’s their country, and New Zealanders can do what they want with it. Here are three thoughts:
One, those in favor of the ban are probably right when they say no individual really needs to have weapons whose sole purpose is to slaughter large numbers of people. Proponents of the universal right to self-defense, and others, can say this and they can say that, but let’s be honest, they are neither particularly necessary nor practical for everyday use.
Two, the police and military, of course, will be exempted from these laws, meaning citizens will be going up against a government with weapons they don’t have. Be careful here. This is something that should be not done lightly or in haste. Unarmed citizens going up against an armed government was one of the fundamental tenets behind the Second Amendment.
Three, no criminal is going to obey these laws and those hell-bent on causing terror and mayhem will continue to do so. The only thing gun laws, or any law, really, does is restrict those who choose to comply with it. Those who don’t merely ignore the law and go about their business.
Of course, it’s normal to want to do something, especially after tragedy. In fact, for New Zealanders to have sat idly by and do nothing would have been completely contrary to human nature. However, we are never going to legislate a perfect society, a lesson History has been offering since time immemorial.
Today At The Site
The Diary of a Nobody: Sparrow is grateful for a slow night at the hotel, and he actually declines a refund at the retailer. Today’s Diary.
Another lady wasn’t thrilled with me when I would not accept a return on some hypodermic needles she had bought…She went out of her way to note she had her receipt and she had bought them for delivering insulin to her cat, but I had to tell her that despite those two compelling factors we do not accept returns on anything that is designed to puncture the skin…Intentionally, at least…
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On This Date
In 1958 – Elvis Presley enters the United States Army for a two-year hitch as a draftee. A lot happened to Elvis when he was in the Army. Declining an offer from the Navy to serve as a headliner in Las Vegas and a similar offer from the Army to play music for soldiers, Elvis served with the 3rd Armor Division in West Germany. Also, his mother died, he met his future wife Priscilla and he developed the drug habit that would later kill him.
In 1936 – The Detroit Red Wings defeat the Montreal Maroons 1-0 in six overtimes in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup semifinals. The only goal was scored by Mud Bruneteau 16 minutes and 30 seconds into the sixth overtime and at 176 minutes and 30 seconds, it remains both the longest 1-0 game and the longest game of any score in NHL history. The Red Wings would win the series in three games and would later defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs to earn their first Stanley Cup.
In 1958 – Tequila by the Champs is at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – a forerunner of the Hot 100 – for the second of five consecutive weeks. Like some hits, it was the last song recorded at the recording session and was originally the B-side of a single and would later spend four weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart. Tequila was the first Top 40 hit for the Champs and while they had three minor hits later, it remains their only #1 song. Tequila vaulted to #1 from #12, the first time a song jumped to #1 from outside the Top 10.
Quotebook
Each people is, I believe, inclined to believe it is the purpose of history, that all that has happened is leading to now, to this world, to this country. Few see ourselves as fleeting phantoms on a much wider screen, or that our great cities may someday be dug from the ruins…
Louis L’Amour
Education of a Wandering Man
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
The other teams besides UCLA (1964-65; 67-73) that have won consecutive NCAA Division I men’s basketball titles are Oklahoma A&M – now Oklahoma State – (1945-46), Kentucky (1948-49), San Francisco (1955-56), Cincinnati (1961-62), Duke (1991-92) and Florida (2006-07).
Today’s Stumper
How many Top 40 hits would Elvis have while he was in the Army? – Answer next time!
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