The story “A Loaded Topic” surprised me this past recently but I am pleased to the amount of space The Recorder gave to the piece.
I am of the first class of Boomers who might also be called the “Disney Generation.” The movie “Bambi” was a powerful influence on me. It took me years of study and reading to understand the influence of all medium. I also grew up in the suburban world outside of Philadelphia as fields and woods disappeared through development.
Then in 1970, I moved to Marshfield, 30 miles south of Boston, where I occasionally heard about hunting trips to New Hampshire from residents.
But in 1991 I moved to Charlemont, a world totally different in culture, politics, weather, clothing styles and simple pleasures. Of particular note were all the volunteers, in schools, fire departments, ambulances, and town government.
I overheard a conversation in Avery’s store one day about a need for more EMTs and decided that perhaps I could do it. I say perhaps because nothing in my life challenged me so much. I have a tendency to over-think matters and that does not work in an emergency. A lot of training is around muscle-memory in doing the ABCs.
I watched my fellow EMTs and First Responders and so admired their efficiency and ability to focus only what needed to be done. I got the hang of it and also developed great respect for my colleagues. I also came to understand that most of them were hunters.
Initially this was a dichotomy in my mind. I knew nothing about a gun culture.
A turning point for me was a particular father who taught his daughters to hunt. I heard about their times in the woods — particularly the quiet times — just a father and daughter sitting in a tree stand. As a feminist I thought this was good. I also recognized that none of these gun owners were reckless folks; rather, they were highly involved community members.
I remember when Belchertown Hospital was closed due to atrocities. The atrocities were horrible and shameful but the pendulum swung away from institutionalizing mental health patients. Every time a mentally ill person goes on a rampage with guns, it is the guns that become the problem. No, it is a failing mental health system in Massachusetts and elsewhere. Also, it is generally a matter of illegal guns and the heavily armed, native drug/gun cartels.
Law-abiding citizens who support the Second Amendment are not the problem. It is a failure of government to correctly identify social problems and find realistic solutions. People are afraid to express any opinion that is counter-culture; yet, how often is the conventional wisdom found to be worthless?
Marguerite M. Willis is a resident of Charlemont.