HOW DEADLY SHALL WE ALLOW A CITIZEN TO BE?

FOUND: A GUN ENTHUSIAST WITH THE COURAGE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. 
Ask your gun loving friends this question and watch them turn cowardly---hem and haw---wiggle and lie, evade and accuse.  Almost none of them have the courage to confront this question rationally.  But I found one---Here he is:

He was having his morning coffee---I asked the question---expecting the usual evasiveness.  BUT SURPRISE:---he answered succinctly and un-defensively: SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.  And he added:  There is no legitimate need for automatic weapons. (other than military)

I had stopped to photograph this provocative sign.  He told me  people stop often with their cameras.

 

In Prescott, Arizona---

 

This may be the biggest gun store in Arizona---

a veritable supermarket of deadliness.

 

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  The range of deadly weapons extends perhaps from a low of POCKETKNIFE to an absolute high of Atomic bombs.  The question at issue is where along this spectrum shall we draw the line legally.

 

 I salute this brave man---did you notice he is carrying a sidearm? (Arizona has perhaps the most permissive gun laws) He operates this store.

I think I agree with his answer----to draw the line between semi automatic and automatic weapons.  At least for now, It seems a reasonable middle ground between too much and too little--- until so many mass murders occur that it will seem logical to begin restricting them even more---as happened in Australia.  I feel safe in Canada because they have so seriously restricted firearms. 

Only twice in 8000 nights of boondocking I have  felt comforted by my weapons---outside Sheridan, Wyoming In a lonely place-- 4 (drunken?) teenagers roared up yelling and began to rock my rig.  I was not afraid--because I was armed---having a weapon comforted me---I waited quietly--- they soon went away-- no harm done.

More seriously, in Lafayatte, La I was accosted by a carload of angry youths--yelling and cursing me for some supposed traffic infraction.  I apologized profusely several times---not knowing what I had done---while just out of sight I held my equalizer.  Luckily they did not attack.

All in all my guns have caused me more trouble than they are worth.  In Concord, Massachusetts the cops took my weapon---disassembled it and gave it back the next day. 

TEMPORARILY HAPPY---IN A PERFECT CAMPGROUND

IT'S LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE COTTONWOOD, ARIZONA----5 miles from a super Wal-Mart---and close to an inexpensive gym, swimming pool and rec center.
Camping is free---my fellow campers are interesting---and longtime friends are within earshot.  The temperature is near perfect---the scenery magnificent.  What more could a full-timer ask.

The view from my door.  That cliff is 2,500 feet higher than here----and 10 degrees colder.  It's the famous Mogollon rim---7000 ft high---Flagstaff is up there.

Some of my fellow campers----one day I counted 30 total.  There are no official campsites---folks just find a spot that suits them.  No water or garbage or electricity-----NO PROBLEM for campers like this---we are all self contained or know how to deal with our necessities. 

 

 Having tea with my nearest neighbor---meet Nicole--a professional anthropologist---terrifically knowledgable about world cultures--fun to chat with.

Dave and his best friend. He lets it fly free around the campground---it comes back when hungry, thirsty or lonely. 

 Bob Parker (left) and helper---long time friend---re-engineering his automatic pop up solar panel array.

 Meet Bunny---new to the world of camping---and yes that's a Corvette she's driving.

Stan----he built his little home on the back of his truck---loves his splendid simplicity---thinks he's still too complicated---wants to sell the truck and go backpacking through Mexico and Central America.

 

Bob---a cowboy poet.  I asked for a poem--he delivered one on the spot---Invited me to perform for his group. 

 That's his group---"PHOENIX PHUN PHOLKS" having dinner together.  They have camped together---once a month---for 40 years.

 

 Meet Melvin----bought his pop up home for $200---has no vehicle to pull it with---gets his son to move him when he must---works at odd jobs for minimum wage.

 And you all know my favorite neighbor Laurie---here engaged in an interesting experiment:  Moved out of her rig into this tent for a month to reacquaint herself with the earth and the joys of simplicity.

 

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: I say temporarily happy--because  be-cause that is about the best anyone can do.  This wonderful place and these wonderful people are the best argument against settling down on a piece of land.  Traveling folks crossing paths are a hundred times richer experience that laboring away on your private nest.  YES, I KNOW----WE HAVE TO KEEP ON MOVING---EVERY 2 WEEKS OR SO.  I accept that inconvenience to reap the joys of ever-fresh scenery and personalities flowing through my life. With Thoreau I say "ENJOY THE LAND----BUT OWN IT NOT."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATED: THE FOUNDATION OF CIVILIZATION

PHILOSOPHICAL FARMER SHOWS ME THE GROUND ON WHICH WE ALL ARE STANDING .

An ordinary farmer checking his crop---that's what you would think---that's what I thought.

Meet "Little Charles"---He's very approachable---I hoped for an insight to share with you.  Got much more.

He agrees to show me some of his equipment---I follow him to his storage shed.

He owns two of these giant harvesters---cost about $250,000 each

 

All seems in tip top condition---said he likes it that way.

 

Assorted attachments for assorted crops.  He raises corn, soybeans, rice, cotton

 

He and his Son and an occasional helper farm an incredible 5000 acres.

In my childhood--that acreage would require about 120 families or about 500 people.

 

 

He sits down for an in depth interview and educates me about modern farming.

Here's a sampling of what I learned:

1. CHEAP FOOD IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CIVILIZATION.

 2. TECHNOLOGY MAKES CHEAP FOOD POSSIBLE.  For example:

                    a. Land is laser sculpted for optimal water distribution and drainage

       b. Conservation tillage minimizes cost of working the land.

       c. GPS technology guides his tractors--no steering needed. 

                     d. Equipment monitored by satellite at factory--telephone call alerts owner if--for example a water, fuel or oil level is low.

                          e. Weed control is done chemically--no expensive hand labor required.

                         f. Modern harvesters are fast and efficient--can quickly gather the crop---often in a single day--avoiding rain damage.

     g. A small number of people, with technology, can produce

enough food for a vast population.

              3. INSECT CONTROL: is COLLECTIVELY and REGIONALLY MANAGED scientifically---every farmer pays a fee and presto  the cotton boll weevil is defeated by a process too clever to detail here.
             4. CROP FINANCING AND INSURING are highly developed industries that make it possible for a farmer to "go big" and gain the economy of scale. 
             5. GOVERNMENT STABILIZATION PROGRAMS ARE A GOOD AND NECESSARY INTERVENTION TO PREVENT SPECULATIVE BOOMS AND BUSTS.
             6.HI-TECH MODERN FARMING HAS ---SURPRISINGLY---BROUGHT BACK THE FAMILY FARM. A single family can do it.
             7.  FARMING IS STILL SOMETHING OF AN ART---REQUIRING  SHREWD JUDGMENTS AND SOMETIMES GUESSES----WHEN TO SELL etc.  YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO SUCCEED IF YOU DO NOT LOVE GROWING THINGS.
             8. PATENT OWNERSHIP OF "ENGINEERED SEED" PUTS ENORMOUS POWER AND PROFITS INTO COMPANIES LIKE MONSANTO.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES:  I'm pleased to tell you that this likable farmer is Charles Vining III my Nephew who started with almost nothing but a great love of farming and built his empire to its current status.  Part of his philosophy is "every row counts" and "take pride in your crop".  If from the air he spots an "ugly" area--he will fix it. He knows the dangers of monoculture and is concerned that Monsanto is gaining control of the world's food supply.  I don't know how to react to all that I've learned---except to develop a fresh appreciation for the real foundation of civilization---cheap food---and for those who provide it.