Gun(bo)s A-blazin'

The school where I teach is just a few blocks south of McCormick place, a huge convention center here in Chicago. I've seen all kinds of conferences. You can usually tell what kind of conference it is based on how many people are waiting for the bus afterwards and how many are trying to hail a cab. Doctors are always trying for cabs.

This morning when I was on my way into work, I noticed the bus was unusually full and realized there must be another big conference in town. I didn't see signs up anywhere or special tote bags that announced what the conference was for, but then I saw a nametag around someone's neck -- at the top it said NRA. I groaned inwardly. Gun control is a major source of controversy with my family. My sister married a hunter who owns various guns and mounts his kill on the living room wall. My father is a military man who, at least once in his life, has argued in support of the second amendment. Wes and I are more like the British -- all bobby sticks and the queen looking down at you for breaking the law. We are not fans of the NRA. I saw, and really liked, Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. He asks a valid question -- why are we such a violent nation? And how much does gun control contribute to that?

So I'm having this internal arguing match with the NRA people on the bus. We finally get to the stop at McCormick Place, and in my head I'm like, "Yeah, you get off and stay off." And then I saw the signs -- National Restaurant's Association.