Stephen King risks wrath of NRA by releasing pro-gun control essay

[babylonsister]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jan/25/stephen-king-gun-control-essay-amazon-nra


Stephen King risks wrath of NRA by releasing pro-gun control essay

Bestselling author and gun owner says 'autos and semi-autos are weapons of mass destruction' in 25-page work for Kindle


snip//


"Autos and semi-autos are weapons of mass destruction. When lunatics want to make war on the unarmed and unprepared, these are the weapons they use," King wrote.

He said blanket opposition to gun control was less about defending the second amendment of the US constitution than "a stubborn desire to hold onto what they have, and to hell with the collateral damage". He added: "If that's the case, let me suggest that 'fuck you, Jack, I'm okay' is not a tenable position, morally speaking."


snip//

In folksy, salty prose which blends policy prescription with dark humour, King alternately cajoles, praises and insults gun advocates in what appears to be a genuine pitch to change their minds. King kept Barack Obama out of it.

"Here's how it shakes out," the essay begins, before describing 22 ritual steps in which the US experiences a school massacre. Excoriating the media and television voyeurism, he writes: "Sixteenth, what cable news does best now begins, and will continue for the next seventy-two hours: the slow and luxurious licking of tears from the faces of the bereaved."

snip//

In a line sure to affront the NRA, and delight the gun-control lobby, he added : "Plenty of gun advocates cling to their semi-automatics the way Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson clung to the shit that was killing them."

The essay was published as a Kindle Single, a format launched in 2011 for pieces too long for magazines but too short to be books. In a statement following publication, King said every citizen needed to ponder the fact the US was awash with guns. "If this helps provoke constructive debate," he said, "I've done my job."

[RobertEarl]

1. Guns are their gawd

They trust their guns more than they trust anything else.

As a Liberal, i feel sorry for the gun nuts. They really don't know what life is all about. They think their one puny little life here on this planet is all that matters.

[former9thward]

2. Is King going to give up his guns?

[babylonsister]

3. He doesn't own auto- and semi-automatic weapons...

King, who owns three handguns, aimed the expletive-peppered polemic at fellow gun-owners, calling on them to support a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons in the wake of the December shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school which left 20 children and six children dead.

[former9thward]

5. Handguns are the cause of most murders,accidental deaths and suicides in this country.

It is not surprising King does not want to give up HIS weapons of choice.

[babylonsister]

6. I have no idea what he wants to do; he didn't talk to me personally.

And yes, I have read about the dangers of handguns, but that is not what the issue is here. Handguns didn't rip those babies up.

[Duckhunter935]

8. they just rip up

the babies in Chicago, LA, Philadelphia, Detroit, and ........................................................

[Wednesdays]

10. Sounds like you'd like to get rid of those, too

Okay.

[Tagish_Charlie]

4. I really don't think that Stephen King

gives a rat's ass what the NRA says about his essay! What are they going to do? Call him names? Big deal

[pipoman]

7. Ding Ding

Some people, especially celebrities like King, are beyond caring because they have what has been referred to as 'fuck everybody money', while others who try this who aren't as well healed like maybe the Dixie Chicks, who have only 'fuck you money', find themselves regretting political activism..

[sheshe2]

14. With no disrespect,perhaps you should check into some of the..

Charitable work that he does. I have been a lifelong fan of Stephen King. So I would suggest that you do not judge a book by its cover. Some links...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/nov/10/stephen-king-donate-70000-maine

http://www.stkfoundation.org/

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/stephen-king

There is a lot more info out there.

I have the utmost respect for the man. His actions toward the NRA, have raised him up another notch for me!

[pipoman]

15. My only point was, at his level

he doesn't have to care who does or doesn't like him or his opinions...his career and work has defined his place in history. For those who have attained some celebrity, but are not at his level, can't afford to alienate any potential customers for their work by making political statements..sometimes their statements actually define them rather than that they wish to sell..

[sheshe2]

16. Thanks for that, pipoman!

With "The Stand" that he is taking once again, it will be a fight for good vs evil. He does it well.
I am happy that he is lending his voice to the fight!

Peace,
sheshe

[Odin2005]

9. King is a true Progressive and a great human being!

[progressoid]

11. wrath of NRA?

pffft. Whatever.

I doubt he's worried about their "wrath".

[Flying Squirrel]

12. And anyway, shit wipes off.

[graywarrior]

13. In his last few books, he goes after republicans so I doubt he gives a fuck

[farminator3000]

17. my 2 cents

i totally agree, but the gunners are even more pathetic because it is a fetish, not an addiction, and it is OTHER innocent people they are hurting, mostly, not themselves.

greedy bunch a wusses...

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

19. The concern of S.King (a man who writes make-believe stories all day for a living) is noted.

Another day, another worthless celebrity's opinion... or was that supposed to be 'celebrity's worthless opinion'.
I guess it's accurate either way you say it.

[jberryhill]

20. Versus the opinions of guys who sat on their asses while slaves worked their farms?

Unlike the authors of the Second Amendment, King actually worked for what he has.

[gophatercali1955g]

21. Stephen King is a great guy, and a man on our side

Go on King! Don't let the gun nut neanderthals try to silence you. Keep speaking out about guns, and how they should be regulated.