Artist's POV: Last week the Michigan House of Representatives passed a bill to allow most gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit or training.
The legislation is being pitched by proponents as an efficiency effort to align with constitutional rights. But it is widely opposed by law enforcement as a potential danger to communities.
I will leave it to the discretion of readers to jump into the viper pit of that debate. The very specific point I want to highlight is this: Gun manufacturers and NRA leadership have a disproportionate influence over our state legislators and the consequence of their brilliant but incredibly dangerous marketing effort is weapon sales to many Americans who are either not willing or not capable of being responsible gun owners.
It is, of course, in their best interest to do so. The decline in outdoors activities means falling sales of traditional hunting equipment. And the unfortunate durability of their product doesn't help either. Unlike, say, modern household appliances, guns don't have a planned obsolescence. With even rudimentary care, they last a long time. To sell more, they need new markets. To open new markets, they need to streamline the process. But is that necessarily a good idea for our state and nation as a whole?
I am asking the question, not trying to provide the answer. Obviously the topic is divisive. I actually got the idea last week when the House passed the bill — well before the awful incidents in Alexandria and San Francisco — and decided it would be needlessly contentious. (Ironically, I chose instead last week to draw a cartoon that touched on abortion issues.)
So, anticipating reactions, I don't think my timing here is either "spot on and proves the point" or "a disgusting display of opportunism." I'm hoping it's more "seriously now, how can we reduce gun violence?"
John Aucther is a freelance editorial cartoonist. His views are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Michigan Radio, its management, or its license holder, the University of Michigan.
