nra convention

It’s been years since I’ve mentioned Glenn Beck on this blog. There is generally no reason to bring him up. In my mind, you shouldn’t mention him in polite company. Although there are some Americans who believe that Glenn Beck is a “real American,” I think the data would show us otherwise. He is nothing more than an opportunist. He pedals conspiracy theories and plays to the fears of vulnerable Americans.

Glenn Beck was true to form when he delivered a speech that was over two hours long in Houston at the NRA. First of all, I cannot imagine anybody sitting still and listen to Glenn Beck for over two hours. Secondly, he went back into his old bag of tricks and pulled out the conspiracy declaring that “they want to fundamentally transform our country and they’re just about finished with the project.” Who are they? Glenn Beck never says. It is somewhat implied that it is liberals. He then launched into some misguided attempt at defining the Second Amendment as protecting our “natural rights” and throwing off the chains of tyranny. Have you heard this before? You should have. Glenn Beck says this type of stuff all the time.

I just don’t understand how the chains of tyranny can be defined as a background check before you purchase a gun. I simply don’t understand how not allowing Americans to purchase assault weapons equals tyranny. In order to sit still and listen to Glenn Beck drone on for over two hours, you have to believe that everybody is lying to you. This fight over gun control is not about limiting guns (and removing them from folks who have proved that they shouldn’t have weapons), but instead it is about actually taking guns away from law-abiding Americans. No one has seriously suggested this. No one. Yet, Mr. I Petal Paranoia is trying to stoke the fears of law-abiding Americans. Then again, the far right has been pushing this mantra for more than six years.