Roy Exum
As the worldwide debut of the much-anticipated “Hacksaw Ridge” is set for next weekend, it didn’t take long for the anti-gun fanatics to decry “a war movie.” Mel Gibson, the director of the film that focuses on a conscientious objector Desmond Doss who refused to bear a weapon but saved an estimated 75 lives, was asked about America’s gun problem as he toured to promote the film.
“Well, I understand where it comes from, the right to bear arms because the Revolution and that stuff and tyranny and the right to defend yourself, and I still agree with that,” he told Fox News, “but it’s kind of out of balance at the moment."
Gibson, who is trying to promote his movie rather than address social issues, added, “Something has to be done in order to stop some of the heinous violence that has (occurred) just like sporadically and shockingly..." yet admitted, “I don’t know what the answer to that is... It’s going to take someone smarter than me to figure that out.”
Andrew Garfield, who got his break in films with “Spiderman,” plays Desmond Doss, the Medal of Honor recipient who lived about 100 miles from Chattanooga prior to his death and is buried at Chattanooga’s National Cemetery, will probably avoid the topic of gun control, said Gibson.
“I think he’s smarter than I am. He’s not going to step in the same potholes,” the famed Gibson said. “The industry has changed. It’s like the kind of film has changed. If you want to make substantial stories and things that are profound and mean something you kind of have to delve into the independent realm..."
Gibson, who was enamored with the quiet, unpretentious Doss while making the movie, told reporters there are still people in America like the hero.
“These guys exist. They are in the armed forces and other things - sometimes they are police officers; sometimes they are social workers; they are around us. They are not grandstanding because they are humble.”
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FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE
(from the Internet)
1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
3. COLT: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
8. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.
9. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
10. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.
11. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand?
12. The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.
13. 64,999,987 firearms owners in the United States killed no one yesterday.
14. Guns only have two enemies; rust and politicians.
15. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
16. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
17. 911: Government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.
18. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
19. Criminals love gun control; it makes their jobs safer.
20. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.
21. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
22. You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.
23. Enforce the gun control laws we ALREADY have; don't make more.
24. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.
25. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.
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"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." -- Thomas Jefferson
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