The Winchester Mystery House
According to some sources, the Boston Medium consulted by Mrs. Winchester explained that her family and her fortune were being haunted by spirits – in fact, by the spirits of American Indians, Civil War soldiers, and others killed by Winchester rifles. Supposedly the untimely deaths of her daughter and husband were caused by these spirits, and it was implied that Mrs. Winchester might be the next victim.
However, the medium also claimed that there was an alternative, Mrs. Winchester was instructed to move west and appease the spirits by building a great house for them. As long as construction of the house never ceased, Mrs. Winchester could rest assured that her life was not in danger. Building such a house was even supposed to bring her eternal life.
New York Times Op-ed
I can’t help thinking of Sarah and her house each time there is a mass shooting or when Senate gun-control legislation fails, as it did last week. America has had, at various times in our history, common-sense regulations and controls on firearms, from the 1790s through the Wild West era and up until the assault weapons ban expired in 2004. Until the current Republicans acknowledge this, we will all continue living in Sarah’s haunted house.
Every time I think you've finally bottomed out, Mikeb, that you and your lot finally have sunk to the lowest level of thinking possible, you show us yet another depth of insanity.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Why?
DeleteBecause this article is an illustration of the non sequitur. You don't even realize that, do you?
DeleteNo, I don't. Please explain.
DeleteThe woman in question and her mental condition has no relevance to what gun laws are appropriate in this country. She was an interesting character, nothing more. But the author of the New York Times piece is trying to make some tortured metaphor about how we're all like her, and it doesn't work.
DeleteGreg, I think your paranoia is telling you there are metaphors where there are none.
DeleteIt was just an interesting historical story, nothing more.
Who cares that many of the early "common sense" regulations were laws forbidding giving guns to slaves--that's still classed as "common sense legislation." After all, we can't have the help shooting us in the back.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, all common sense went out the window, because the sunset in 2004 didn't just get rid of the newest law--one that studies showed was ineffective--it got rid of all the laws from before that time too! Blood flowed in the streets! The murder rate shot through the roof!
As for the Bullshit haunting, sounds like a great plot-line for Supernatural to play with (Could even tie it in with the characters being named Winchester).
What it doesn't sound like is something remotely relevant to a public policy debate.