Art and Culture # 90
Why Writers Are Attracted to Firearms
-For the Uncensored!
While firearms are an extreme debate in the world of reality and fiction, the attraction to them requires forethought and discussion. More negatives are placed on firearms than positive outcomes. Literature, and fiction, including fantasy, crime, science fiction, and westerns, of all deal to some level, a society in which firearms, or swords, are part of a world that has either gone to shit or plays out in a military like fashion, when training a functioning society to use said weapons helps protect the individual, king, family, or boss like figure. Genres do explore positive and negative influence, but one special moment for this argument, will be discussed at the end.
As this might seem like an “old hat” for people who do know gun safety, and constantly criticize inauthentic action scenes, the idea of weapons are a powerful fascination upon thinkers. Hemingway, Hunter S. Thompson, J.R.R. Tolkien, all had their opinion on war and technology. The One Ring and the Palantir are modern interpretations of weapons of statecraft that occlude the mind, both physically and mentally, corrupting the physical and mental state, too. Hemingway and Thompson, were both hunters, and gun owners, who took pride in being men, too. Manliness is not always associated with thinkers, which begs the question, why are guns, knives, and weapons important to writers?
The perfect answer to this is, weapons, no matter what, have dominated both writer and individual, and tyrant, no matter what age being discussed. Tyrants are for censorship and freedom of speech is dangerous to tyrants. Weapons, to a tyrant, are worse than freedom of speech ever will be. You can censor people, but to take firearms away, is the final judgement upon a corrupt oligarchy, and a weak society.
While Tolkien’s pacifist like presentation of trying to break the One Ring with regular weapons didn’t mean the end of Sauron, or his legacy. In the titular chapter, The Council of Elrond, presents that answer. The ring cannot be destroyed unless thrown into the fires of Mount Doom.
(this scene still makes me remember how much I was amazed by the craft and power that a gifted filmmaker can do for a series, heightening the themes and power Tolkien cared so much for.)
Any lazy writer would have created a simplified justification of a weapon to destroy the one ring. This is just one example of storytelling that hasn’t been replicated or mastered since. This almost provides the antithesis to the question in general. But that’s one issue that had to be covered first in the realm of fiction. Weapons and the power they possess. And life is not always so planned as Tolkien would imagine the Lord of the Rings. And also, doesn’t reflect the complexities of real life, either, but is still important to discuss. On a final word on weapons in Lord of the Rings: I don’t think Aragorn could have reasoned with the Orcs, either, because the Orcs didn’t and do not care about reason, depth, or logic. Just cold obedience to Sauron and the means to execute everyone in order to find the One Ring. Just saying. Which brings us to the second notion of writers and weapons.
For literature, it was always meant as a way to deal with reality. And with the rise of modern society, literature, in some cases, does not always prepare you for what exist in modern society, let alone talented writers who are in tap with the dominant culture, these days. Which is why one such genre, westerns, do provide some solid arguments for weapons.
Sometimes it’s revenge, revenge is only one piece of the puzzle for why firearms are used. Ranchers have to protect their sheep, cows, and weaker animals from predators, like wolves or nefarious creatures. Using weapons do require the ability to handle a weapon, but also the distraction is when does vigilantism become too much? These are the questions asked in westerns, and it takes a good person with a gun to defend his family, or a town being harassed by bandits. If a man, woman, or child, in a western, protects their property, it’s their right and often vindicated in the novel itself.
The complication with that is also, not having a firearm, or a sword, would only mean one more death to a family. Many stories use this trope and some are successful at creating fully fleshed out characters willing to commit to vengeance, and find other purposes in life, other than revenge. But firearms and swords are meant to protect as well as cause damage. Both are dangerous but require a strong willed person to use any weapon, and one willing to take the necessary risks, both in fiction and in real life.
What brings us to this final discussion of August 2022 is a disgusting, and rather upsetting topic to close off the final debate of gun protection in the real world: As I have covered before, Salman Rushdie, the author of Satanic Verses, released in 1989, was cancelled, because of publishers willing not to sell the book, due to the Fatwa placed on Salman Rushdie by Ayatollah Khomeini, then brutal piece of shit dictator/leader of Iran[1]. Salman Rushdie self-published the book, and since has gone onto enjoy a fruitful life.
Until August 2022. Mr. Rushdie was stabbed on August 16th, 2022 in Chataqua, New York, speaking about books and art. “Hadi Matar, 24, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the assault at an event in New York last week. In an interview with the New York Post from jail, Mr Matar said Sir Salman was "someone who attacked Islam.”[2] As Matar had also, “read two pages” of the Satanic Verses.
So, with all context given, the argument remains.
The consequence of having no fire arm in 2022 only makes me realize that I don’t support bans on the Second Amendment or government run buyback programs for firearms. Because of writers, like Salman Rushdie, who originally never used or trained with firearms, as he was protected by the British Royal Government from 1989 to 1998. He didn’t deserve what happened nor did he deserve to be stabbed for his words against Islam. So, it would be quite a curious question to ask if Mr. Rushdie would ever consider using a firearm from now on. He would detest the idea of course, but maybe this answers a question that people need to ask themselves.
Writers, aren’t the first to carry or use firearms, and they won’t be the last, either. And if more writers carried firearms, people would fuck around, less. But if butt hurt little babies can’t take an insult, don’t try to commit violence on writers either. But don’t sue me, at the same time.
The debate of violence in art is often misconstrued with the idiots who think violent video games creates effective killers. To end that debate, it doesn’t. It might influence you a bit, but real discipline, at maintaining anger, with either medication or a productive hobby, comes with owning and using firearms, too. And the whole comparison of “dick size” as equivalent to attraction/discipline of firearms is an flaccid argument for weak willed government workers who are paid too well and don’t question their own narrative. Jihadists without the balls, as Michael Malice, calls them. Cuck British people, as social media personality, Moon Dragon, calls them, and I agree.
With that aside out of the way, fiction itself, should still be a beacon for understanding, debating, and discussing the proper use, etiquette, and discipline of fire arms. No matter if it’s for a plot device, or a treatise on how humanity must survive. No matter the cost. Firearms, in fiction and in real life, aren’t going away. Go to Australia, I hear the gulags are nice in the Summers.
-Louis Bruno is the author of more than 19 books, including, The Michael Project, The Michael Project: Book 2: The Lost Children of Eve, Thy Kingdom Come, The Disintegrating Bloodline Part 2: Chaos, The Data Chase, The Disintegrating Bloodline part 3: Solvè, The Disintegrating Bloodline (and the original text re-released in 2019), Apocalypse Soldier, The Data Chase, Selection: The First Book of the Life and Death Saga, and Blinking Eyes: The Second Book of the Life and Death Saga, Hierarchy of Dwindling Sheep, The City of Sand, The God of Curiosity, To the Moon and Back, The Villain Lives and The Villain Lives: The Divided Pinpoint, Come Home, Young One. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Phoenix. His books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu. He can be found on Gab, https://gab.com/thereallouistbruno, Minds https://www.minds.com/lbruno8063/. Instagram @lbrruno8063 and @louisbrunoofficialbook. Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisBr88881650. He has written for the Intellectual Conservative and Ephemere. His newest book, The Voices Are Alive is out now: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/louis-bruno/the-voices-are-alive/hardcover/product-mvggdg.html?page=1&pageSize=4. Also, if you can’t subscribe so that you can get members only content, please be sure to share the articles, as well. If you do Subscribe, you have long term access to the paid articles that some readers won’t get to see or access after the articles/books go private. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle, I am also selling merch from t spring, if you want to help support me in other ways. I sell hoodies, shirts, phone cases, and trying to find something there loved ones would like. Link is here: https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/too-many-strings-not-enough. https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/duck-fuckery. https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/headless-corpo. Every little like, share, helps. Thanks for reading.
[1] Rest in Pieces asshole. You and Kadahfi can bare back fuck each other in the ass all you want now. You deserved to be hung and destroyed on national television.
[2] https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-62588666. Found 08.18.2022.