The Advertising of Yesterday Part XXI

When Ted goes hunting NOW, he has all kinds of political pressure and government regulation to deal with. And running into Sears to pick up a shotgun and a box of shells isn't quite that simple anymore.

I have a collection of antique shotgun shell boxes that I have picked up over the years. Some of my favorites are from Montgomery Wards, Holiday Gas Stations, Sears and other similar retail establishments. These were the days when you could order a gun from a department store catalog and they would actually ship it to you. These were also the days where a shotgun was considered a "sporting good." Notice the logo, it says Sears Sports Center. Now, regulation has overtaken the firearm industry. Waiting periods, permits and licenses abound. But what came first, the chicken or the egg.

In the glory days of Ted Williams, there was little gun crime. People were responsible, and parents taught their children to hunt, shoot and respect firearms. This was also the time of the least amount of regulation. Today, it's cool to turn your hand gun to the side and quip about "bustin' a cap" or something. Today we have the most gun crime and the MOST regulation. Is there a correlation?

Here's the question. Is the regulation a function of society's breakdown or is gun crime due to the regulation of law abiding citizens acquiring guns? Perhaps gun crime is due to the natural development of a violent society and the regulations were too little, too late. What are your thoughts?

 

Hiatus

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