Michael Moore and Gun Control

I see Michael Moore is going on Piers Morgan’s show tonight to talk about the awful shooting in Colorado and gun control.

I’ve seen three of Moore’s films: Roger & Me, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine.  Bowling is technically speaking the worst one, but it’s also by far the most interesting.  Because unlike the other two, which are amusing but kind of simplistic propaganda pieces, Bowling is really more of an open-minded exploration of the issues.

It starts out as a propaganda, dark comedy sort of movie, but it actually turns into more of a examination of American culture.  At one point in the film, Moore says that people also own lots of guns in Canada , but they don’t have the same crime problems we do. Surely, this point contradicts any gun control agenda he may have.  The middle of the movie is very interesting; Moore seems to admit he doesn’t have all the answers, and is actually revising his opinions as he learns more.

Now, towards the end, Moore remembers that he is making a movie, and he reverts to his ambush/ask awkward questions style and it totally doesn’t work and it makes him look like a jerk.  It makes for a really uneven movie, but it’s still thought-provoking to watch.

That said, I think Moore is unfair in singling out America for violence.  His new line is to portray Americans as singularly bloodthirsty, but I think we know that’s not the case.  There are mad men and evildoers in every nation.

What's your stake in this, cowboy?