Pete Rose....... go the f*** away......

photo: USA Today (pitboss/hit king)

Man...... Fuck this guy.

Seriously. Every time I see him my head hurts. He's the only ex-player I ever see who acts, and speaks to others, as if he and his accomplishments are bigger than the game itself.

If Tony LaRussa could hit, he'd be Pete Rose......except Tony LaRussa is more humble. Hank Aaron comes across as a humble guy. Mickey Mantle in interviews was always pretty affable. Pete Rose is a fucking dick. Seriously, he's part of the studio group commenting on the MLB playoff for FS1, and TBS. He talks over Frank Thomas, Raul Ibanez, and Alex Rodriguez regularly like he's the only one whos opinion matters.

He looks like a casino pit boss. Appropriate considering he's been banned from baseball for life for betting on the game.

Fuck this guy.

"Guns don't kill people......."

photo Reuters/Jim Young

"Guns don't kill people. PEOPLE kill people."

I'm really tired of that trope. Not because there isn't an element of truth, but because it's presented as the end of the argument.

"Guns don't kill people. People kill people"

What does that mean?

It means a gun is an inanimate object, and the person handling it is the danger.

But, what does that mean?

It means some people shouldn't have guns. That's what the fuck it means. That's the only thing it possibly can mean. The logical conclusion of "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." is that some people should not have guns. Even gun enthusiasts by large margin know some people shouldn't have guns. And it's because they know guns are dangerous, and it takes responsibility it takes to handle them.

The other platitude; "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun." is also bandied about as if it's the end of the argument. It's bullshit too.

What does that mean? It means deadly force should be met with deadly force. Fair enough. But should deadly force be easily available to everyone?

The idea that anybody with a gun is capable of handling a live shooter situation is beyond ludicrous. Beyond. Professional police and military undergo an exhaustive training simulating these things. Even then anecdotally it's suggested that soldiers take a few instances of live fire to keep tunnel vision, time lapse under control and to keep from freezing up. That's also not even taking into account having the police show up to a situation, and the variable of multiple people shooting. Who's the good guy? How are police to know in a hot situation?

"It's a mental health problem." Bullshit.

Australia used to have mass shootings. Then they passed more comprehensive gun control - WHAM!!! No more crazy people. How about that?

Now, mental health is a problem. There are too many people who aren't getting treatment, taking meds, etcetera. However, the United States isn't the only place where there are mentally ill people. It is the only place that doesn't have universal background checks for every gun purchase with no exception.

I know. I know. Criminals don't obey the law, so gun laws are useless. Again, bullshit. People speed. Why have speed limits? People steal, and rob others. Why have laws against that. It's not about no limits. It's about setting the limits, and then enforcing them.

Want an assault rifle? Pass a background check. Want a handgun? Pass a background check. Want to conceal carry? Be a cop, or a soldier.