Let's Go Get a Cannon!

America's real divide is between mob talk and the truth

This morning The Hill newsletter was at the top of my emails. Biden had made a statement about gun control. He must have still been weeping after his visit of condolence to devastated elementary school parents at Uvalde, Texas.

In defense of gun restrictions he said,

The Second Amendment is not absolute. … You couldn’t own a cannon. You couldn’t own certain kinds of weapons. There’s always been limitations.

President Joe Biden speaks to the nation after visiting grieving parents at the elementary school, Uvalde, Texas

But when I read these words, I immediately imagined the next mass shooter of children bursting with purpose, on fire with a brand new idea: “Where can I get a cannon!”

My brief reaction to Biden’s statement shows how conditioned I am after years of the press quoting Trump’s mob language. Trump speaks in code. It’s not the truth, but it’s not lying. He’s giving instructions in a veiled way.

How does it work? In 2017 the Boss said,

I like Mr. Bannon. He’s a friend of mine.

Days later Steve Bannon was out of Trump’s organization. “A friend of mine” is the Boss’s kiss of death. And it leaves no record leading back to the Boss.

On the other hand, President Biden says what he means. This week when he said that our laws don’t allow people to use cannons against other citizens, he did not mean, “Go out and get a cannon.”

I’m shocked that I’m so used to listening for veiled instructions instead of hearing the truth.

Here’s the important thing.

I believe that as we get used to hearing the truth, it will be easier to for us speak it. When Biden speaks from his heart for gun control, for women’s rights, voting rights and for human decency, he’s showing how to speak simple truths.

Our own voices speaking the truth can our help our community and our nation get used to hearing it. Truth can lead to positive action. That’s powerful.

Photo of President Joe Biden after his and the First Lady’s visit to grieving parents at Uvalde Elementary School, Texas, May 25, 2022

“I like Mr. Bannon.”