The 1970's saw many changes in US cities. Relaxation of traditional moral codes, widespread proliferation of illegal drugs and, for a very brief period, widely available aid to unmarried mothers. Conservative commentators have consistently identified all of these changes with "liberalism" and gone on to blame them for the sorry state of cities such as Wonks Anonymous almost home town, Oakland, California.

Wonks Anonymous would like to observe another change that started in the 1970's and continues to this day. When Wonks Anonymous was a boy, guns were rather rare and automatic weapons almost unheard of. Nowadays anyone - including many of Wonks Anonymous brothers - can and does own several lethal weapons.

This widespread dissemination of the means of mayhem can only be attributed to an social experiment promoted by conservative groups, led by the NRA. It is Wonks Anonymous impression that this experiment is motivated by a belief that we need a sort of "free market" police system where armed citizens - with noble motives and lots of firepower - enforce the law. He recalls reading the basic idea in a story by Robert Heinlein.

So Wonks Anonymous would like to inform the rest of the country just how this is working out. Which is to say miserably. Anyone who has lived in a poor neighborhood knows just how easy it is for thugs to drive law abiding citizens indoors using only their fists and the occasional knife. Give a thug an automatic weapon and the possibilities are endless.

And the problem only gets worse because, although our cops are good and dedicated people they are not everywhere at once whereas the well armed thugs are. Most of the people in the neighborhood may want to turn in the thug armed robber/rapist next door. The cops may suspect him and want to get evidence on him. Everyone also knows that the thugs are always around and some of his friends will exact vengeance on anyone who talks. Lately they also know that the thugs are better armed than the cops.

It's not Blacks or Latinos protecting other Blacks or Latinos. It's law abiding people living in terror of a well armed minority of thugs.

Now Wonks Anonymous does not see his dear brothers, or any other second amendment enthusiasts for that matter, going to Oakland to do a Rambo on the thugs. He does not know that this sort of experiment would have a good outcome anyway. He is concerned that people who live outside of our major urban areas have some information on the outcome of this grand social experiment which, for all that Wonks Anonymous knows, may be working out quite well for the folks in small towns.