GUN CULTURE

Guns don't kill people, it's people throwing bullets at each other at thousands of miles per hour, say the NRA (National Rifle Association). The NBA (National Bullet Association) on the other hand say "Bullets don't kill people; people firing guns at each other kill people". The NBA (National Bullet Association) isn't, of course, to be confused with the NBA (National Basketball Association) who say "Basketball doesn't kill people; ice hockey kills people." (The NHL in turn blame the Field Hockey Association, who blame the American Croquet Association). Most of them are in agreement that people play some part in it, which is no doubt why the National People Association is noticeably quiet. Quite.

So why am I telling you this I hear none of you ask? Because, dead readers, here I am languishing in prison, awaiting the first step - whatever that might be - in my trial for murder. The story goes something like this: early yesterday morning (don't even bother trying to figure out how that chronology fits in with other things I've told you about my life, or you may discover my sordid little secret) I snapped and went postal. I positioned myself on the roof of my house, with my trusty NRA-approved shotgun, my NBA-approved bullets, and my NBA-approved Nikes (who knew you could get armour piercing trainers/sneakers/whatever the hell you kraazy gangstaz call them?). Shortly after 7am, my postman turned up to deliver my letters. Shortly after shortly after 7am, he lay dead in a pool of blood that I keep ready at all times for just such an occasion. Exactly at 9am, people began ringing the post office wondering where their goddamn mail was. Another postman was dispatched to find the original postman, and finish his round if he was unable to do so. Another postman was dispatched to my pool of blood, replete with airbeds and inflatable pool toys. And again people complained, and again another postman was dispatched, and dispatched. After the sixth postman was lying dead in my pool, the post office called the police to check what was going on. By now it was after midday, so I'd better move on to another paragraph.

The police turned up with another postman in order to not arouse my suspicions, and I must admit, for a moment I ignored the wailing sirens and police hitmen all running around. I took out this seventh postman and a couple of policemen before a sniper took me out with a tranquilliser dart to the back of my testicles. Everything went black, and I guess I must have fallen off the roof on to the policemen's fists and boots, which is the only way my bruises can be explained. During the questioning process, I maintained my right to bear arms and bare arms and took out another twelve policemen. Then the Nazis said I no longer had any rights, took away my guns and bitchslapped me from the police station to the prison. I'm gonna complain to Amnesty about this shocking violation of my human rights and see if we can't get the case thrown out. If not, good ol' Chuck 'Scatmuncher' Heston has promised to defend me, and unless we hear from the American Croquet Association, we'll pin this thing on one of the NBAs.

Guns don't kill people, it's the people who allow the bullets to enter their personal space who are to blame. Or slightly effete men with mallets.