“Our culture today is trying to completely de-masculate(sic) all of the young men in our culture. They’re trying to de-masculate the young men in our country because they don’t want people who are going to stand up. All you moms here — the ones who I said are the most vicious in our movement — if you are raising a young man, please raise them to be a monster.” Those are the words of Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) excerpted from a speech shared on Twitter by the activist group Right Wing Watch. Cawthorn’s speech served as both prophetic and an epilogue in the wake of a 17-year-old double killer and a 15-year-old quadruple murderer. The moms, Congressman Cawthorn, called upon for aid in his make a monster quest each aided their sons in their killing sprees. One condoned her son being at the crime scene; the other warned her son not to get caught while perusing the internet for ammo.
When Jennifer Crumbley, mother of the latest shooter, was contacted by the school about her son’s disturbing behavior, she allegedly sent him a supportive text. Her message read, “LOL. I’m not mad at you,” she continued, “You have to learn not to get caught.” All of this is dangerous and unhinged behavior from children and, more disturbingly, adults. All their words and actions have been excused with context, freedom, and the 2nd Amendment. Cawthorn’s bizarre rant involving some pseudoscience about testosterone levels was met with raucous applause. The shooter of three men that killed two and left one permanently injured in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was offered jobs by right-wing legislators, not counseling.
Republicans like to throw around the words isolated incidents when egregious examples of violent imagery appear from their party members. Then when violence happens, they lament both sides do it or fault mental illness. I remember Sarah Palin’s gunsights campaign poster in 2011 urging the taking back of twenty Democratic districts. Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords was later shot in the head. In the wake of her shooting, the excuses flew like bullets, he had mental health troubles, and the Democrats are trying to blame innocent imagery. This past weekend, a mere four days after the murder of four high school students, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) thought it a good idea to pose for an online Christmas card with his family. Quaint in most cases, but Massie’s instincts for cruel trolling took over. He posed his family armed with everything from what looks like an M60 machine gun, AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, and a Thompson submachine gun.
Sure, Rep. Massie has the right—although one might question the legality of a machine gun—and it was probably appreciated in his ultra-conservative district in Kentucky. Still, it was inhumane, indecent, and insane. I live in a city that topped 500 [not five or fifty but 500] dead just a week ago due to gun violence. I worry about my safety when I go out; I worry about my family and friends; it is not a joke or meme for many of us. I am sure Rep. Massie would recommend I go out and buy an AR-15 and sling it over my shoulder while spewing from a chaw of tobacco. That is not the life I lead or wish to. The problem is not me being unarmed; it is Columbine, Sandy Hook, Aurora, Virginia Tech, Oxford, Michigan… and the corner of Main Street and Everywhere…
Continue to Vote for Change.