Cold Steel
Let’s say, for instance, that in the last year alone
there were over 250 incidents where someone
hacked a person to death with a sword in public,
in front of multiple witnesses, in broad daylight,
and then were shot to death by police or, better yet,
they turned the sword on themselves and committed
hari kari, right there on the bloody floor of a Walmart.
How would America react? You know the answer.
The 24-hour news cycle would paint a relentless
portrait with their palette of talking heads, witness
interviews, and found footage that—they warn us—
some might find disturbing; the public would be
paranoid; and politicians would offer thoughts
and prayers, and then pass a law to ban all swords.
Obviously. Because swords can kill people.
Actually, that is what they are designed to do.
That is why it is illegal to walk around with a sword.
That is why this scenario will never happen.
Unless you replace the word “sword” with “gun.”
But then, of course, this becomes a work of fiction
because guns will never be illegal.
That’s just crazy.
