Gun Bounty

When we were in Scotland this summer we wanted to take a tour of the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh to learn more about Scottish history and culture. The tour guide was a volunteer. As we waited for the tour to begin, he made several negative comments about the United States. These were followed in short order by his declaration that creationism, not evolution, was taught in the schools in the United States. And then the statement that, “In America, everyone carries a gun,” complete with a hand gesture, index finger pointing out and thumb up, signifying a gun. At this point we left the tour. Sue Sherwood, my traveling companion, told the guide that we had come on the tour to learn more about the history and culture of Scotland, not to hear his negative opinions about the United States. We reported the inappropriate conduct of the tour guide to the proper authorities at the museum. (Apparently, we were not the first.) Aside from this negative experience, we found Scotland to be a warm, friendly, hospitable country. Extremely delightful in every way!

This past month I sat down to pay our bills. I had read that the City of St. Petersburg had instituted curbside recycling for a nominal fee. I was looking forward to receiving the information about how to sign up in our monthly water bill. But I did not find an insert about recycling. I did not even find an insert about a civic event like the Festival of States, or the Blues Festival, or the Grand Prix, or the Santa Parade. What I found in my monthly water bill was an insert declaring, “Gun Bounty $1,500 Reward for an assault weapon $1,000 of all other firearms” complete with photos of an assault weapon and a revolver. This was in the city water bill that goes out to every household in St. Petersburg. And I was hoping for information about curbside recycling. I guess I’m naive and the statement of the tour guide in Scotland is closer to the truth than I had ever suspected.