As Biden announces new executive actions on gun control, the Back in America team invites you to re-listen to an episode on guns in America, initially published on Oct. 23, 2020.
In his executive actions today, Biden restricted the sale of “ghost guns,” untraceable guns which are sold in kits.
Today’s announcements are less expansive than the president’s initial campaign promises. Yet, administration officials suggest that these measures are only the first steps of Biden’s plans for addressing gun violence. Further legislation will require Congressional approval and include a nationwide assault weapons ban (something that Australia successfully adopted 25 years ago) and universal background checks.
The following episode is an edited version of live interviews that were recorded on October 20th and 21st. 2020. You can watch the entire broadcast on Back in America’s YouTube channel.
A few weeks ago Jon, a good college friend, visited us for the weekend. At night, we were joined by a couple living next door and we started to talk about politics as we drank beers by the fire pit in the backyard.
In the backyard were two French nationals (my wife and I) joined by three Americans.
I can't remember exactly how or why Jon started to talk about gun rights, but the conversation became serious when he professed not only his belief in the right to bear arms but also that it was essential to the protection of civilians against the tyranny of the government. Historically, the people most affected by governmental tyranny (forced displacement, slavery) have been denied access to firearms and the ability to use them.
This made me dig further into the American gun debate. I've learned that many citizens support the idea of owning any type of gun and that some believe that it is a God-given right.
What has God got to do with guns? How can a democracy work when its citizens trust their guns more than their votes? And with the recent bankruptcy of the NRA, will gun control actually work?
To try to make sense of all this we are going to hear from three people: first, my friend Jon Phebus will clarify his views; then David Treibs, a Christian and gun activist, will talk about his God-given right to bear arms. Finally, SUNY Cortland’s Professor Robert Spitzer, an expert on constitutional law and gun control, will offer his interpretation of the constitution and bring some historical context to the debate.
Books and Movies Recommendations:
David Treibs
Love Letter to America by Tomas Schuman
The Persecutor by Sergei Kourdakov
Marx & Satan by Richard Wurmbrand
Professor Robert Spitzer
The Politics of Gun Control by Robert J. Spitzer
Casablanca (1942)
Witchcraft and Feminism: Three American witches share their experiences
Tricia Baker: "My Dog Saved My Life" - Inside Dog Therapy and Mental Health Education
Zionism, Mysticism, and the Law: Sam Shonkoff and his students on American Judaism today
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings: On her Late Husband Elijah Cummings, Black Feminism, Civil Rights...
The Promise of a Better Human: James Clement on our Transhuman futures
Divers from the EPIX/ BBC Docuseries “Enslaved”: Diving on Shipwrecked Slave Ships
Richard Heinberg: Has America Reached Its Limits? Biden, Climate, The End of Fossil Fuel
On the Frontlines of the 2020 Election with Poll-worker Josh Wagner
Listen Again: Sheri Kurdakul CEO of VictimVoice tells her story of abuse that started when she was a toddler (with Nov. 2020 update)
How do you feel about the election? Six Interviews with Democrats and Republicans
Listen again: John Michael Greer an American Druid on Americans Individualism, Societal Collapse, and the Values of the Frontier Period
Thierry Sauvage -- COVID, changement de vie : de Shanghai au Croisic
Guns, God & the 2nd Amendment in America - David Treibs Christian & Guns Activist - Prof. Robert Spitzer Constitution and Gun Control Expert, SUNY Cortland
BrooklynDad_Defiant: Liberal Online Activist Majid Padellan Talks About his Fight to Elect Joe Biden
Derrick Cobb - From New York Homeless Teen to Hollywood Music Star
Dr. Glenda Wrenn on COVID, Remote work, Mental Health & Corporate America
Don't miss the two live interviews on Sept. 14 and 16th
Part 2/2 - Eric Marsh, Black Activist on the George Floyd's Mural
Part 1/2 - Cadex Herrera Lead Artist of George Floyd's Mural
Trailer Back in America August 2020
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