The rise of the 2nd Amendment and the fall of the NRA. Everyone wins (statistically, anyway).
(A career move I never considered...)
I love technology. I really do. I'm using technology to avoid tobacco. I'm writing to you via technology. In fact, I'm banking on technological advances to keep my family together for the rest of my life, beginning with my departure to McAllen on Saturday.
The band, Everclear, begins on of their most popular songs with these words:
The VCR and the DVDAmazing that just a few years later, these "new" innovations are now dinosaurs. How do you rhyme iPhone or Android or Netflix with anything? Feel free to offer suggestions in the comment area.
There was none of the crap back in 1970.
One of the most promising advances in technology is the rapid evolution of the 3-D printer. I've always wondered how the first plastic gizmo gets made. I understand the factory pouring out all of the mass-produced plastic spatulas; I just don't really understand the mechanics behind the prototype.
A 3-D printer takes care of that. Take one of the first examples, from Ericsson 2020 Project:
The RepRap Machine runs about $750, and it primarily makes other RepRap Machines using open-source formulas. Instead of spraying ink, it sprays a sort of plastic. For lack of a better analogy, consider a set of hot glue guns instead of toner cartridges.
This is interesting, but how does it relate to GUNS, you ask? Well, a fine gentleman from Texas has developed similar instructions for "printing" a handgun using a 3-D printer. The feds have "scrubbed" these plans from the internet, but it doesn't matter. Once it's up, it's never really down. Guns.com has a story on this. Pirate Bay is also involved.
I love technology, and I love this whole idea.
You see, I HAD a senator from Texas, once. Kay Bailey Hutchinson was a "moderate" Republican that could be reasonable at times. Her record, according to the NRA, was perfect. She ran for governor against the prettiest man in politics.
A senator with a perfect NRA record should be precious to the NRA. The NRA her for that perfect record; then they endorsed Rick Perry for reelection.
"WHY?" you ask. The answer is simple, really.
It's not about the guns; it's about the money. The NRA has a lot of it, and that endorsement swayed things in the Republican primary. The NRA isn't about guns. Rather, it's about Tea Party politics and tax cuts for billionaires.
The guns? That's just how they get the money to fight for tax cuts.
Technology will kill that money flow. In 7 years or so, it will be fairly common to have a 3-D printer of some sort. Suddenly, you can make your own damn gun for about $25 worth of plastic filler. Better versions of pistols are out there, as well as rifles. All on the cheap. All plans are getting better and more effective. All of this is devoid of ANY gun dealer or gun show.
Suddenly, people who just want a gun needn't pay $3000 to a "dealer" at SAXET gun "shows." The internet wins again, and the NRA sees it's key contributors, gun manufacturers, take a huge hit. The money dries up, and we see two glorious things happen:
1. The rise of the 2nd Amendment, as it was meant to be.
2. The collapse of the funding behind the National Rifle Association, which is not what it is meant to be.
Enjoy these last days, Frenchie. You'll be the one at the helm when it all sinks into the depths of Hell. As it sinks, just remember that Charlton Heston would have been able to stop it. After all, he could part the Red Sea.
