Guns and Butter. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Finley, Susan
• Is Part Of: Cultural studies, critical methodologies. Volume 21:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 88
• Page End: 89
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Autoethnography -- gun violence; Culture -- Research -- Periodicals; Popular culture -- Research -- Periodicals; 306.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1532708620939282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-7086

Abstract

The buzz about violence in schools has lightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, but without a plan or resolution to the problems of gun availability, pervasive gun culture and other issues of violence in U.S. schools and society. In recent, pre-COVID conversation with preservice teachers and school administrators (separate conversations), I was surprised by the support that was expressed for a highly-policed school environment that includes armed teachers, principals and other school personnel. At an intellectual level, I cannot grasp how increased policing in schools can promote any result other than the possibilities of increased racism and further inculcation of a police-state mentality in schools and society. As I mulled the issues around gun violence in particular, I realized that my objections go beyond a philosophy or an intellectual point of view, but are instead rooted in visceral, long-held feelings based in experience. In this autoethnographic essay, I recount my personal experiences in an attempt to illustrate through personal experience the folly of wide-spread gun ownership and to underscore the canard that guns can protect us in our homes and schools.