NOVEMBER 17, 2018

There is no question America is at a crossroads when it comes to gun ownership and the Second Amendment.  In a rare move, Time Magazine chose to show the debate from both sides of the political and moral aisle on its November 5th cover – courtesy of the French photographer and street artist JR.

The initial cover depicted 245 people and took five months to shoot. It was truly both an artistic and physical feat. JR traveled across America photographing both Second Amendment supporters and detractors in their natural element.  The result was a once in a lifetime collage that depicted the differing attitudes towards guns in St. Louis, Mo.; Washington, D.C.; and Dallas.  Apparently, the people in these three cities represent the vast range of voices on America’s gun debate.

Photo Courtesy Meredith Corp.

Personally, I think three cities is a little thin. America is made up of thousands of cities. But I do understand how time and budget (and page) constraints would impact the ability to truly photograph people from every corner of America. 

Corners like Minnesota where the overwhelming majority of residents aren’t necessarily far right or far left, but more in the middle.  

Mike Whitelaw, owner of the Minnesota based Twin Cities Pawn sees quite a few firearms pass in and out of his shop. He is a layman’s gun expert.  

“I fully support the Second Amendment,” says Whitelaw. “I think anyone who does not has lost their mind. However, I also fully support background checks. No one buys a gun from my shop without a full and verified government issued-background check.”  

Perhaps fitting into the stereotype of middle America, Whitelaw was not aware of Time’s “Guns in America” cover before shown for this interview. Not fitting into the stereotype was his reaction. 

“I think it’s great,” says Whitelaw. “It shows how divided the nation is at the moment and it actually shows the right’s perspective without outright demonizing them. That’s rare.”

Contrast Whitelaw’s perspective with that of Fred Bates, a Chicago based academic and lawyer currently teaching law at DePaul University. He has dedicated the majority of his career to corporate raiding and liberal causes – most notably the fight to end gun violence. Part of the supposed “tolerant left,” Bates isn’t very tolerant when discussing people who see the world differently than him. 

“It’s the uneducated conservatives who own the guns.” says Bates. “They are the reason our country is going to ruin and why we can’t go more than two weeks without a shooting.”

Bates believes JR’s photography was too lenient on right-wing Second Amendment supporters and thinks the cover actually did a disservice in the fight to end gun violence. 

“I thought the cover was brilliant,” says Bates. “The photography and everything that went into it? Top-notch. But maybe he should have photographed all the people who have lost their lives to gun violence. Dead bodies. They’re the real people affected by all this.” 

On October 26th, JR pasted a replica of his Time Magazine cover up on the Houston Bowery Wall. A day later someone spray painted the number “11” over the mural to commemorate the eleven victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.  On November 8th the number 11 became a “12.” Twelve people were gunned down in a Thousand Oaks, Calif. bar the night before. 

It’s a sobering reminder of the reality of the time in America. As a country we have been broken and scarred by what can only be described by an unprecedented increase in gun related violence and death. But how much does lawful gun ownership really play into the equation? Is one person legally owning a gun one person too many?

The fact is there is no way to know the answer. Liberals are going to scream for stricter gun control laws while conservatives yell back just as loud that stricter laws do nothing but take guns out of the hands of good people who could stop the bad people with guns.

 “If you don’t want to own a gun, that’s fine.” says Whitelaw. “But don’t encroach on my or anyone else’s right to own one.” 

JR’s “Guns in America” captures exactly how America is feeling at the moment. Divided. Lost. Angry. Most of all, scared.