Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for March 26, 2010

I’d get out of there… fast!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp

What an interesting man.

Boot Hill, of course, is in Tombstone Arizona.

“Mamma’s…Don’t let your babies grow up to be Starbuck employees…”

Is this inspired by some news story? Otherwise it seems nonsensical.

its in relation to starbucks allowing guns in their stores in states where it is legal.

^If I understand correctly, Starbucks has decided not to post “no weapons” signs in communities that allow people to carry weapons. In my North Carolina experience where concealed weapons were (are still?) allowed, many churches began posting “No weapons” signs because that was the only way to make sure guns could not be legally brought into church.

Hey! I wonder if the rednecks will meet with Coffee Party members?

cdward: “In my North Carolina experience where concealed weapons were (are still?) allowed, many churches began posting “No weapons” signs because that was the only way to make sure guns could not be legally brought into church.”

Fellow NC dweller here. I don’t think there’s a sign like that at my church, so I carry concealed. Hell, I even read an article a few months back(after the Illinois church shooting) about a minister who keeps his .38 on his hip the whole time, and even had a slit cut into his robe so he could reach it if need be. And if puddleglum1066 shows up today, let me respond to your comment, sir. You implied that my postulating being “in a public place and some sociopath begins shooting and there are no cops or soldiers around” might indicate mental instability. First off, I didn’t say it was LIKELY, I simply raised the theoretical possibility. And if thugs or psychos are going to go into houses of God and start firing at random(just the most recent: Richmond CA in February of this year, Maryville IL in March 09, Colorado Springs in December 07) then it’s not out of the question that it might happen in other places as well.

How long are we going to spend on this story. A business says they aren’t going to put up no weapons allowed signs and Trudeau spends a week on it. How many other businesses out there don’t have signs. This is about using a high profile national chain to spread a point of view on the issue and trying to pressure them into changing a policy. BTW, a business posting a sign doesn’t make it illegal. Last I knew Starbucks, or any other business, doesn’t have the power to pass laws.

Actually, the first thing MOST law men did in the West was to ban guns in the town. The people and businesses who “owned” the towns demanded it. The gunfight was a Southern dueling tradition which fostered too much gun play. Residents could keep their weapons stored and bring them out in emergencies as when the James Gang was stupid enough to raid in Minnesota where they had no relatives to warn or help them. In that case mostly rifles and shotguns, also hunting weapons, were used by the locals…Milly, EVER cartoon, in one way or another, is about spreading a point of view,whether it’s to laugh or to consider issues. What you mean is you don’t like THIS point of view on THIS issue. We could consider the fact that many big lobbies like guns have people they pay to cruise all the Net sites and spout the lobby’s point of view every time the issue arises. Look how many extra poster are suddenly here , many we haven’t even see speak in this forum before. The old teabag shout down groups. Repeat the same legends or lies over and over until they become regarded as truth.

I would openly carry in Starbucks. However in the great state of Wisconsin I would likely get a ticket for disorderly conduct.

2nd Amendment or not.

Free-I’m not a tea partier or a member of a pro gun lobby posing as something else. I read this comic everyday because it’s usually entertaining and funny. I don’t own any guns and I don’t have a problem with people who do. What I do have an issue with is people trying to force their point of view on others because they feel they know better. It’s my suspicion that most of the anti-gun people posting on here are not from NC and people carrying guns into a Starbucks there would not affect them at all but they still feel the need to try to pressure Starbuck to change their policy because they know better. Does Duncan Donut’s or Krispy Kreme have signs? Why isn’t there a boycott against them? I haven’t seen anyone trying to boycott Kroger’s or Publx for not having signs. Maybe next we could pressure businesses into installing metal detectors and random body searches to be sure that the policy is being enforced. What a glorious day it would be when I can take my child through security check points to buy milk or rent a movie. Personally I would rather buck the rare odds of being killed by a terrorist or gun carrying Christian than to have my freedoms slowly eroded away by both sides of the politcal spectrum. Whether it’s done in the name of “protecting America’s national security” or “political correctness” (Pick your own label) The end result is the same.

TimeWeaver: Many Christians do own guns, and a few years back there was even a minister who was also a gun dealer. I suppose to them, in spite of “turn the other cheek” teachings, they still think they can legitimately defend themselves in a life threatening situation, and they likely don’t consider themselves violent or fearful just because they have a gun.

MovingtoMilford: I’m with you for wishing in your earlier post that GT would move on. This is the first time I’ve even bothered to read the comments since I’ve made my last post. I’m far more interested in what’s going on with Toggle or Melissa. I think Starbucks tried first to ignore the gun issue, and then find a manageable middle ground in this debate, only to get dragged into a theater of the absurd – not worth a week of strips.

this “stranger” behind the counter is an interesting new character.

wrote a poem about Tombstone AZ once: my favorite gravestone there read “Hanged By Mistake”.

Dodge city was safer than the average “christian” church in texas.

Timeweaver- The Jesus worshipped in America. is all about “shock and awe” bombing” and forget Giving all you git to charity, America’s jesus wants a flat tax of 2%

Jesus “fistfull of dollars” Christ lord and savior.

The cartoons by themselves are quite appropriate and amusing. It is just that the subject hits a nerve with the commentators.

Someone made a comment that open carry created a new source of weapons for the criminal element. It is true and it is surprising how many people are victims of their own weapons. If you have, you must be ready to draw. If you draw you must use or you are done for.

I think the Dodge City mentioned might have been the Dodge City southwest of Da Nang, ca 1967,68, and 69. Out there going armed with one chambered and the safety on was the rule. In my CAP on the western edge of the area my 12-gauge was locked and loaded 100% of the time and my Colt Python was unstrapped all the time.

Even when we put in the pump for our folks to pump water into the paddies, we were well armed and watchful. Gunfights were common, especially at night coming out of Mai Le’s place with a snootfull.

The downside was the overnight in December, ‘69 when Mister came down off Charlie Ridge and made our lives a little more miserable than they already were. Yes, Dodge City was a wonderful place…

Guns? You can have them. I would rather be going out feet first than to pretend I am more secure going under arms. Pretend living is not living at all, it is simply a wasteful use of time and energy.

I hope he remembered to brew it up in a galvanized trough over a wood fire, and didn’t forget the salt or the tar paper.

GT may indeed have a political motive this week: Not to shut down Starbucks and its redneck-stoking barristas, but to bring out the violence that occupies the minds of so many Americans even in our leisure moments–whether we’re drinking coffee or reading the comic strip.

And if puddleglum1066 shows up today, let me respond to your comment, sir. You implied that my postulating being “in a public place and some sociopath begins shooting and there are no cops or soldiers around” might indicate mental instability. First off, I didn’t say it was LIKELY, I simply raised the theoretical possibility. And if thugs or psychos are going to go into houses of God and start firing at random(just the most recent: Richmond CA in February of this year, Maryville IL in March 09, Colorado Springs in December 07) then it’s not out of the question that it might happen in other places as well. <

Okay… let’s have a look at this statement. Lots of things are “theoretically possible.” A big rock from outer space could obliterate all human life, for instance (it happened to the dinosaurs). But you don’t generally go around carrying survival gear you’d need in the event of such a disaster, do you? Because, while it’s theoretically possible, it’s in the realm that statisticians refer to as “not bloody likely.”

Now, let’s look at the probability of being gunned down in church. There are what, 300 million people in this country, and something like half of them claim to attend church. At, say, 100 people average per service, that’s 1.5 million church services every Sunday. And, since December ‘07, we’re looking at something like 110 Sundays, or 155 million church services taking place. You cite three incidents in that time, so the odds of experiencing a church shooting appears to be about one in 50 million.

What other one-in-50-million possibilities do you defend yourself against?

OK, short of banning all guns, what good do gun laws do? The shooters at Columbine High School broke something like 16 state and federal gun laws in procuring their weapons. Would one more have stopped them? Most folks who use guns illegally are criminals to begin with. Laws do not apply to them because they already don’t obey them. FWIW, I am for concealed carry and open carry, but do not carry. There are situations in which I would carry, but I tend to do my best to avoid such situations. I know that no amount of gun laws short of total disarmament would have saved my son from being shot to death by an armed robber, but in that case, the robber could have just as easily stabbed my son to death since he was shot point blank. I have to say I agree with people who say that the extremists on both sides of the issue are the ones who cause the problems. It’s just as applicable to say that about most issues, smoking in public for example. I am not and have never been a smoker, but I believe it’s a business owner’s prerogative to decide whether or not to allow smoking in his business. Civil discourse on issues, and not rampant partisanship is necessary to prevent the sort of anti-constitutionalism that both major political parties exhibit at this date.

Any clod can get facts, to form an over-the-top opinion is called art.

Don’t get me wrong folks. I used to enjoy Doonesbury immensely. It was brilliant satire, scathing criticism, often controversial - but always funny and thought provoking. But I guess with influence comes power - and without ever realizing it, GT also has become one of them who he regularly mocks. Oh, not to mention that his strips now are rarely funny.

Time for doonesbury to be buried may be?

Susan001, I wish I could have packed heat this past Winter. Zero degrees for so long was miserable.

If you don’t hang out with people who like to play with guns, you’re a lot less likely to get shot. Double for pissing them off. A gun ban would start a civil war & the opposition is armed. Not a good plan.

Not sure we’re talking about boycotting here – just leaving if we see a gun on display. And I think the comic has been hysterical this week – good job as usual GT!

attyush, You don’t think GT knows he’s mocking himself when he has Mike say things like “I’m in Dodge City” and “no offense, Stranger”?

Granted, this kind of satire isn’t as funny as some of GT’s more obvious humor. Still, Trudeau conveys very deftly his sense of wonder at our alarming, fascinating, and always confusing modern world.

attyush - if you think Doonesbury is no longer relevant or funny then stop reading it. I like it and will continue reading it, as, I’m sure, will many others.

@ palindrome:

I have a great collection of GT. His politics hasn’t changed, neither has his stance - the only thing that has changed is the tone. In 1981, he published a series against gun owners. One particular exchange goes like this:

Springfield: Duke…it’s me, Springfield! From the N.R.A., remember?

Duke: Oh…Springfield, what’s the idea of sneaking up on me like that? I coulda blown you away!

Springfield: I’m sorry. That would have been your right.

Contrast that with 1993 where a giant cigarette and a giant bullet are preparing to lobby the congress:

Mr. Butts: Still on a tear, Mr. Dum-Dum?

Mr. Dum-Dum: Hey! The N.R.A. never rests! The gun-control nuts keep trying to slip the Brady Bill past us! But it ain’t gonna happen! No way! We’ve been shooting our way out of tight squeezes since 1871! And look at the results! Over 70 million happy gun owners ready and able to defend our way of life!

Mr. Butts: Wow…are we safe yet?

Mr. Dum-Dum: Not yet. Tragically, many children are still unarmed!

And in 2010, the setting is Starbucks - a company, that ironically doesn’t want to take a position. You decide if there has been a change in his tone.

Also, when GT was in his 20’s college kids were smart. Today, other than Alex, all college kids are stupid morons. GT’s strips mock their stupidity constantly. Starting from Howard Dean’s campaign where a student asks why they should go to a foreign country (while talking about Iowa). Jeff and Zipper are portayed as thoroughbred idiots and I have never seen them utter a single thought provoking sentence.

Is it because he considers his generation to be superior than the current one? Even Zonker had his moments. I wish GT would bring back the original humor/commentary. I want doonesbury to be funny and pointed, not drab and annoying.

Hey..let’s not forget that “Doonesbury” & Starbucks have had an affiliation with merchandising together..So GT is in fact using his talents to bite satirically the hand that fed him.

Jack75287, I don’t know what you think you read when you saw my post, but you haven’t said anything in your post that’s contrary to it. I do not disagree with anything in your post until the end where you question my knowledge of Christianity. At this point I’d estimate that it’s a bit better than your knowledge of English.

This is just more evidence to support my belief that the national debate on guns is dominated by hysterical people on both sides.

@ attyush, Thanks for the history of GT’s evolution. I agree that his way of demeaning college students is a mark of senescence. You know you’re getting old when you start comparing young people with your idealized memory of your own youth. GT is bound to lose some readers who are young in spirit.

@NoBrandName:

So going by your logic, GT should lay off Starbucks since he doesn’t like their policy? Hmmm…

being “funny” in these times is like being a cut-up in the Warsaw Ghetto.

jack75,

It’s not bigoted against ALL christians. In texas they bring their guns to church. I didn’t do it. it’s a law on the books. And the christians I’m refering to are are only a portion, considering the christians i n America only make up about 4% of the christians worldwide. It’s not ALL christians,But the mega-chuch bapists, that pack heat, want to bomb “infidels” believe the earth is 6,000 yrs old and want to have that taught in PUBLIC schools is the christians iI’m refering too.

Are YOU that Myopic that the ONLY christinas are American bapists.