How many pro athletes wander around with guns? My guess is more than should. This line of thought was brought about by the indictment Plaxico Burress, formerly a very well paid member of the New York Giants. Plaxico wandered into a New York nightclub on November 29th of 2008 carrying a handgun tucked into the waistband of his pants (a dumb thing in its self). The gun slipped down and when he retrieved it he shot himself in the thigh.

Burress now faces a minimum sentence of 3 1/2 years. If his name were Paul Burress and he was an unknown factory worker with no criminal record there would be no-doubt that he would get the minimum. And that is what he should get.

For all of the other athletes or ordinary Joes out there I hope you learn from this.

The first thing you should learn is that there is no place in a bar or nightclub for firearms. Alcohol and guns don’t mix.

Second, if you are in such fear that you think you need to carry a gun into a nightclub or bar, maybe you should reconsider whether you really want to be in such a place. If you “need” to carry a gun you don’t need to be where alcohol can spark violence in a heartbeat. You may not be drinking (ha) but others are and they may not be the cool-headed type like yourself. If you frequent places where you perceive that there is the possibility of violence, even if you just go to that place once, you are asking for more than three years in the can.

Third, if you think that your celebrity makes you a target, think again. Have celebrities been murdered? Sadly, yes. John Lennon jumps to mind. But the instances of celebrities and athletes being killed are few and far between. If you have been threatened and the threat is credible – notify the police. Your team and league have an interest in seeing you protected and they will probably provide professional bodyguards. That is a perk that us average folks don’t have.

Fourth, remember: “The first thing you should learn is that there is no place in a bar or nightclub for firearms. Alcohol and guns don’t mix.”

It is sad but Burress will be spending 42 months in jail. The good thing is that neither he nor anyone else is dead because of this. And maybe, just maybe, someone will learn from this and other lives will be saved. Even if it is simply saved from jail.

Monson, the Mixed Media Artist

So now the Anarchist hero is worried about the consequences of breaking the law. Monson has a master’s degree in psychology and is an outspoken Anarchist. Apparently he thought that tagging the Washington State Capitol with the anarchist symbol would advance the cause. Just like it it has when thousands of teenagers have tagged other buildings that did not belong to them. That, of course, is the public face of Anarchism. No reasoned argument about the power and evil of the state – just juvenile vandalism and rebellion against anything that gets between the juvenile and whatever he desires.

Monson invited ESPN the Magazine along on his Mixed Media Arts adventure. This makes me think that he wanted some publicity (duh). And so the price of this publicity stunt is a fine for $21,894, 90 days in the can, and the restricted ability to travel. And this really surprises him. So surprised that he whines to the prosecutor, “Are you going to support my family now?” I find this comical.

I am sure that Monson has the ability to rationally argue on behalf of Anarchism. Maybe the publicity he got from this stunt caused some people to seek out more information. Maybe some teenager with a can of spray paint will try to understand what Anarchy is all about. Or maybe they will just vandalize other peoples property, break whatever rules suit them, and pretend that that is what Anarchy is all about.