FIRST EL PASO, NOW DAYTON

   So the smoke has barely cleared from the horrific events in El Paso this morning to a second such event in Dayton. And of course, El Paso followed only a few days behind the mass-killing in Gilroy, California. Now, it appears these attacks are not only happening more than once a week---they're happening more than once per day. 

   The Dayton Shooting is, as of this writing, a breaking story. All we really know at this point is that at least one suspect attacked a swank nightclub district in Dayton with an automatic rifle of some kind and that casualties are believed to be heavy. So anything else at this point is speculative.

  However, what is not speculative is that we who believe in our Constitutional Rights as spelled out in the 2nd Amendment are going to have to start taking a hard look at these incidents and realize that we are going to have to start coming up with some solutions. As Conservatives, we're caught between two fires. The Left doesn't want an end to gun violence because it profits them politically by advocating gun control as well as financially by their likely involvement in arms trafficking. The Far Right doesn't want an end to gun violence---in fact they encourage it---because they desire to see the US plunged into another Civil War. 

  We here at this blog have pointed out many times now that the Left's political machinery in these large cities have failed to any proactive measures to rid the streets of both potentially and actually dangerous elements. And we've also pointed out that the Far Right 'Red Pills' have been radicalizing vulnerable, alienated, and wounded young men and egging on acts of violence. Solutions are going to have to come from Conservatives. 

   I've often said that we can learn more about Social Sciences from watching a few good Westerns than reading most volumes written on those subjects. I recently heard a radio episode of Gunsmoke from 1959---a year when public support for gun control was even higher than today. In that episode, Marshal Dillon was trying to stop a gunfight from happening. A man seeking revenge for his brother's killing was trying to provoke a fight from the men responsible so it would be self-defense. (This was fairly common in the Old West). Matt Dillon was frustrated at not being able to stop it and said:

   "I wish there was a way that I could take their guns and force them to talk to each other."

   To which Deputy Chester Proudfoot replied: "But you can't do that, Mr. Dillon. Carrying a gun is our Right as Americans."

   "I know that, Chester." Matt said angrily, "But it won't continue to be a Right if we can't do something to stop these pointless, stupid killings." 

   As usual, Matt Dillon was right. If matters continue on our current trajectory, the American people are going to become desperate enough to favor about any form of gun control that political opportunists can conceive of. That's why we as Conservatives need to face this issue squarely and start coming up with some answers before it gets to that point.