White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Fire Arms Safety Expert on Councilman King and Columbine

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. November 5, 2002. ELECTION DAY--GET ON OUT AND VOTE!Carl Albanese of White Plains responds to a recent King Komments column by Councilman William King who expressed a strong reaction to the movie Bowling for Columbine Mr. Albanese responds on rights, rifles, and governing:

Recently I read Common Council member Mr. William King’s Komments posted October 28, “Kings Komments: “Stop Selling Guns.”

I’m frequently impressed with Mr. King’s expert ignorance on subjects he fails to reasonably research for facts and truths before he settles on his irrational remedies. Mr. King’s personal commentary of Director Roger Moore’s Hollywood documentary, Bowling for Columbine, is one of the most ignorant emotional over reactions I have seen since Orson Welles Mercury Theatre radio broadcast War of The Worlds.

Like War of the Worlds in which the listening audience frantically reacts with hysteria and an imminent illusionary fear of death after hearing the live broadcast, Mr. King reacts quite similar after seeing Bowling for Columbine. Mr. King apparently suffers from the post film syndrome of illusionary public insecurity. His fear unquestionably is based on a lack of knowledge and understanding of many factors.

I have to question Mr. King's knowledge of the subject material and his inability to distinguish the difference between Hollywood film making entertainment and hard core true factual information as he applies his lack of rationale thinking to political decision making. To be so childishly influenced by a movie and then attack a legitimate lawful business, the civil liberties of Americans, and the gun culture that he personally disrespects. Holding these entities responsible with such disdain for the most unfortunate tragedies of Columbine manifests Mr. King’s weakness as a fair and reasonable political representative.

Mr. King, the movie is not about the over the counter sales of ammunition and the sale of guns at K Mart stores, or the guaranteed Second Amendment rights of Americans. It is specifically about a director’s personal perspective and commentary on an American cultural social illness of violence and crime in America. Columbine as an example of the most disturbing manifestations of teen violent psychological, dysfunctional behavior. Guns being the prevalent instrument of killing choice.

The movie poorly attempts to define the cause and effects of American violent aggression, prejudices, poverty, American political aggression and war. Apparently Mr. King, you missed all that information and focused on one simplistic, myopic issue you found upsetting. The legitimate sale of ammunition and guns, ammunition and guns you feel being the cause and effects of Columbine.

Mr. King, your ignorant comments about guns and ammunition being sold at Sports Authority in White Plains and your despotic proposed resolution to stop the sale of legitimate federally licensed consumer products in White Plains, is a desperate personal political attempt to garnish feel good political votes.

Votes on a subject you have absolutely no knowledge of. You single out so called animal hunters, and recommend the federalization of the sale, control and distribution of guns and ammunition from U.S. government owned and operated stores. Mr. King, in all due respect, prick yourself with a needle please, if you feel the pain, know you live in America not a communist nation dictated by individuals like yourself.

Animal hunters are not the only selective group of lawful citizens who purchase over the counter ammunition and guns. Law enforcement, females, recreational competitive shooters, politicians, mothers and fathers and all other lawful citizens of legal age purchase ammunition and firearms in White Plains and America. Bowling for Columbine is not about hunting deer in Westchester County or the sale of ammunition and guns at Sports Authority.

I seriously question Mr. King’s qualifications and understanding of federal, state, and local law of legal firearm consumer products. His ability to understand the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the protection of the citizens civil liberties. His knowledge of federal, state and local gun laws that require strict background checks. (NICS) All legal and in compliance with all laws.

Mr. King, know that Sports Authority is still selling ammunition and guns in White Plains and in the fifty states of America because this is America and it is their legal right to do so. It is not Mr. King’s political position to assume he can indoctrinate his personal political views on the public and control the civil liberties of lawful commerce in America to influence and win public opinion. Mr. King you’re viewing too many Hollywood movies with public relations media campaigns of sensationalism in them like the ones that affected you in Bowling for Columbine.

Perhaps you should view clinical medical films on abortion, teen drunk driving fatalities, prescription drug suicide and propose resolutions on the medical industry, pharmaceutical companies or our local Stop and Shop for selling legal alcoholic beverages. After all these are all legal lawful activities which account for an astronomical amount of deaths and disabilities. Much more deaths then the deaths caused by criminal use of guns and ammunition by psychotic dysfunctional criminals. Obviously an irrational comparison to make, but never the less I make my point.

No one would disagree with Mr. King’s emotional attempt to do something in an attempt to prevent such tragedies as Columbine, but don’t just do something, do the right thing, the most productive and effective thing. Explore alternatives and constructive solutions to address the cultural issues of violence in America, cultural crime, illegal guns, poverty, child safety firearm educational programs, law enforcement, and the real causes that lead up to the issues of Columbine. Educate yourself to the issues of violence from professional experts in all related fields, explore the facts and truths and only then come up with rational logical prudent decisions and resolutions to address the issues.

Mr. King, I extend an invitation to you as a professional curiousity to work with me constructively in finding more appropriate solutions to address the issues of gun violence in our nation. I have been involved in this specific issue long before the tragedies of Columbine. I, like you, am very concerned with this horrible cultural problem.

The cause and effects of Columbine, the Washington DC Sniper and the more recent shooting deaths at the University of Arizona are not simply the result of guns in America. It is a more complex social issue in our nation that requires more then your personal views and restrictive resolutions to correct. I look forward to hearing from you. Carl Albanese Founder Safety Association for Firearms Education & Training


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