I have predicted more than once the past few years that America’s love for guns and using them to solve problems would continue to grow in frequency and result in terrible tragedy.

Over the past few years there has been an increase in gun violence in largely low-income crowded large cities, but it seems to be spreading to communities of all sizes and locations. The past few months the use of force by police officers against black people, with and without guns, has been highly publicized using both the media coverage and bystander smartphone video, which may or may not sure the complete story. However they have led to massive demonstrations and counter protests that sometimes ended and violence and vandalizing by persons who simply want to create trouble and chaos.

Two nights ago in Kenosha, Wisconsin, my worst predictions came true when a 17-year-old white male carrying an automatic rifle, seeing himself as a member of a militia, shot and killed two unarmed demonstrators and wounded another. I don’t think the complete story of this event is available yet, but what the hell was an out-of-town teenager doing there, and why did he believe he was being helpful?

I don’t know how, or if ever, these events will be brought under control. All the lobbying and court decisions that have removed all restrictions on the ownership of military style weapons and open carry laws have taken this country back to the fictionalized vigilante justice of the 18th and 19th centuries.

So here we are today: Groups of mostly white men strutting around carrying automatic weapons during peaceful protests, supposedly to protect private property.

What could possibly go wrong?

Ken Kaiyala
8-29-2020