The mass insanity of the past month has culminated in a “phenomenon,” according to Howard Kurtz in an appearance on Fox Business Channel. That “phenomenon” is the “astroturf” that was on display last Saturday.

It’s time to take a deep breath, look back and look forward.

The writhing frenzy that is the prohibitionist movement is tied to the elite statist agenda, “making America bureaucratic again” (MABA). Formerly called “liberals,” statist elites are behind everything in support of the agenda propagated through their media assets via a thing called “narrative.”

You can’t be anything before you are statist; it’s preeminent, the reason for existence. It involves control of others by use of propaganda and, failing that, government force. It’s just another totalitarian fantasy, nothing more. Labels like “communist,” “socialist,” “fascist” ignore the fact that the basis of the ideology of “everything for the group, nothing for the individual.”

“Dark humor,” it’s said in a meme featuring Old Joe Stalin, “is like food. Not everyone gets it.”

The primacy of the individual is a basis of the Natural Rights of Man. Care for minority populations is inherent in the original design of the Republic. Democracy is simply “mob rule,” according to my eldest offspring.

He’s right.

The Founders recognized that in the separation of powers, in the original method for appointment of US Senators and in the design of the federal judiciary. We’ve effectively lost 1/3 of that formula – did so in the early 20th Century – and “packing the bench” along with the unbridled power of statist media is doing damage to the rest of it.

So why the explosion of statist insanity, like calling for murder of NRA members, seizure of private property, jailing the mentally ill? Part of it is still reaction to the election of the 45th President – or, more to the point, the failure of the favored candidate in the race. This isn’t my first rodeo. I well recall the abuse and crazed fervor in the years of Ronald Reagan, as well as after the 1994 mid-term elections as well as the SCOTUS ruling leading to the presidency of George W. Bush; they do this every single time they lose.

Consider it a tantrum.

In that light, as pointed out by Kathy Jackson, the continuous vilification of NRA members via public media and their useful idiots will tend to drive some of the 40-50% of the population which owns guns back into the shadows and out of the public sphere. That has an impact on public opinion polls which are used as “news.” That affects the only critical polling – on Election Day.

That’s a critical issue: the bulk of the existing gun culture has come into being just since 1986 – due to historical issues I’ve written of before.

1986 – Florida passes “shall issue” concealed carry. Blood will flow in the streets – except that it doesn’t.

1994 – In the aftermath of the 1986 “Firearms Owner Protection” Act debacle and the Brady Bill, the feds pass the Clinton Gun (and Magazine) Ban, stupidly called “Crime Bill.” The run on firearms and magazines affected cause intense interest, huge price spikes, shortages – and, strangely, sees the “shall issue” movement spread across the continent.

2001 – 9/11, the Global War on Terror, military buildup and military service. More attacks on the “homeland,” concealed carry is nearly 100% while so-called “Constitutional Carry” (non-licensed legal carry of concealed firearms) spreads.

Meanwhile, free media – non-statist controlled – pushes content that turns masses of urban-suburban dwellers into gun aficionados. Those in rural areas without streaming services are already somewhat more into the gun culture. Alternatives to conventional (statist) media prosper – like talk radio which revives AM radio stations and pushes content over web radio.

Gun owners are in the mainstream of American life. It’s a fact of life that the wanna-be celebrities just hate.

Regardless of the firearm, Rule 5 is critical: maintain control of your defensive firearms and gear. Photo from Hornady.

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So, do you need an AR15 – or any “military style rifle?”

You mean like a Remington Model 700 or Winchester Model 70 – both limited use military rifles? The M98 Mauser (and the line that follows)?

I don’t know what you need. I know what you don’t need: a government that can tell you what to own and what you can’t own.

Responsibility? Sure, rights come with responsibility. And power comes with responsibility; the power of life and death carries all the responsibility there is.

For people to helplessly bleat that “only the police should have guns” while not recalling that just a few years ago those same people said “cops are racists,” tells me I shouldn’t be listening to them for public policy advice.

We need no new laws controlling the people’s right to choose. None. We had laws coming out of our ears that addressed the situation in Parkland before it happened. All those laws – and no one in government could be bothered to do their jobs.

Whether or not you need an AR15, you need to be telling your legislative types what you expect. The staged demonstrations spoke loudly.

Now it’s your turn. Speak loudly.

- - Rich Grassi