And in the left corner of the "terrorism as technocratic opportunity" ring we have this 60 minutes report about every gun nut's favorite "too big to exist" toy:

"I just think there are certain occasions when we say in our society, [the Barrett .50 caliber rifle] is such a threat to our health and safety...our national security, we will not allow it," he tells Bradley. "Thousands have been sold to civilians and, as far as federal gun laws go, it is treated like any other hunting rifle."

Which is, of course, exactly what it is. Yes, it's gigantic. It's also gigantically expensive. This is no .38 special. The fact that the company probably employs dozens (if not hundreds) of people in an otherwise low-wage rural area of the country is just icing on the cake. But of course none of that matters, because they're making something someone disapproves of, and, far worse, they're selling them to just anybody.

I wonder how many police training sessions and gun safety classes could be paid for with the time, money, and energy 60 Minutes spent trying to promote a ban on what is essentially an esoteric and expensive tool? Of course that's not as sexy, not as interesting, not as self-righteous, as chasing after the ultimate elephant gun. Everyone knows "commoners" have no business with one of these things. Only unelected bureaucracies and their duly designated enforcement agencies should be allowed to make these sorts of decisions. They know best! Trusting the plebes with this sort of power... why, next thing you know, they'll be demanding to govern the country! The horror!

Next...