The Real Lesson of American Sniper

Absorbing the two narratives about Chris Kyle in today’s media landscape is a little like alternatively staring with great interest at a small desert flower and a uniquely colored rock while perched on the very edge of the majestic Grand Canyon. Simply put, we are ridiculously paying attention to the wrong thing.

True, the political and cultural underpinnings of “American Sniper” are somewhat interesting. Also true is the importance of establishing whether Mr. Kyle’s murderer was “sane” at the time.

However, let us not ignore the canyon-sized truth in front of us that must be reckoned.

Chris Kyle was one of the most skilled firearms technician’s in human history. Chris Kyle, along with the other victim that day, was armed.  Both man shared texts that demonstratively show they were aware of the murderer’s mental imbalance. Yet, both men died, and the murderer fled.

When the angry and bombastic voices of the National Rifle Association shout for all to hear that the only way to “stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun,” how do they square their logic with what happened at that Texas gun range?

If ever there was a “good guy with a gun” who could defend himself and his companion, would it not have been the most successful sniper in US history, Chris Kyle? And yet, he could not and did not.

Why then would anyone think that you or I or anyone else could realistically defend ourselves from an evil person with a firearm?

No. The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to stop the bad guy from having the gun in the first place.