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Aside from their proven indifference toward the lives of children, it’s the vacuousness and detachment from observable reality of their “arguments” that most vexes me.

“Guns don’t kill people.” Of course they do.

“You can kill people with a paperclip.” True. But you can kill a lot more of them in a much shorter time with an AR-15. And it clearly has emerged as the weapon of choice for mass murderers.

“These weapons have been around for sixty years! And they weren’t a problem then!” They are now. My lower back wasn’t a problem 60 years ago. It is now.

“That’s not an assault rifle.” A deflective distinction without a difference. We all know what we’re talking about.

“We didn’t ban airplanes after 9-11!” You didn’t really say that, did you?

“This is about hearts without God!” Yeah, that and easy access to killing machines for people who should not be allowed to get near them. Common sense gun regulation is more practical and effective than giving everyone a heart transplant, don’t you think?

“We’ll never stop all of these massacres.” Sadly true. So that means we should not try to reduce them, when we clearly can reduce them? So, because we can’t stop all of them we are under no obligation to prevent any of them?

“We can’t fix this problem by violating the rights of law-abiding Americans!” Who is suggesting that? Exactly no one. Waiting periods, red flag laws, better tracking of weapons sales, age restrictions, background checks and limiting access to specified classes of weapons violate no one’s rights. Do you have a “right” to a personal suitcase nuke? Or an ICBM?

“Criminals are going to break the law no matter what we do!” So, let’s do nothing? If laws are pointless, then why should we have any laws at all? You claim that’s not what you’re saying. But it’s exactly what you’re saying. You’re just cherry picking the laws you like and the laws you don’t like. Stop sign runners are going to run stop signs. So let’s take down all the stop signs.

“This is a mental health issue!” Yes, that’s part of it. And it’s why crazy MFers should not have these guns.

“Guns aren’t the entire problem!” You’re right. So, what’s your point? That guns play no role whatsoever in this?

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.