Hindsight from The New Gun Week July 20, 1999

Meeting the 'Trenchcoat Mafia' and 'The Goths'
by Joseph P. Tartaro
Executive Editor

Probably more that earlier school shooting incidents in other states, the April 20 rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO, set off a wave of political and media attacks on non-conforming young people.

No one really knows why the two boys, one 17 the other 18, that are alleged to have killed 12 other students and a teacher, wounded more than 25 others and then turned their guns on themselves in Littleton did what they did.

Their act of terrorism and self-destruction may forever defy rational explanation, but that did not prevent some from immediately looking pointing fingers in almost all directions-at guns, movies, video games, teen music, television, parents and lack of school prayer.

The media, especially the television reporters who are always looking for unusual pictures to fill screens while they talk, focused almost immediately a report that the boys were non-conformists who were part of a sub-group within the school sometimes called "The Trenchcoat Mafia."

The fact that they dressed peculiarly was somehow supposed to suggest that abnormal behavior should have been suspected. Apparently, television and print reporters forget their own high school, and even college days, when most of the students dressed peculiarly by average adult standards. They also apparently forgot to look around them when they walk the streets, or into stores, and see how many people really dress in unusual fashions, whether or not their heads are shaved or dyed extreme fluorescent colors.

The trenchcoat label though helped film editors to seek out a film called "The Basketball Diaries," which features a school mass murderer dressed in a black trenchcoat who shoots down victims at random.

Before a week had passed after the tragedy in Littleton, the print and electronic media were overflowing with reports about a so-called Gothic subculture that dressed in black, with and without raincoats. Their music and other popular culture symbols were probed and it was suggested that this was a new subculture that the reporters had uncovered, one that was dangerous and ready to explode in similar incidents at any time.

New Labels

Before you knew it, "The Trenchcoat Mafia" had entered out lexicon, and youth in general were to be regarded with wary suspicion, but especially so if they were linked to black clothing or other symbols of the "Gothic" sub-culture.

(The fact that the Littleton shooters, as well as most of those at a half dozen other infamous school shootings, came from well-to-do suburban families was hardly pursued, because well-to-do suburbanites are supposed to represent a "normal" contemporary US culture. The fact that Benjamin Nathaniel Smith, the suspect in the Fourth of July racially motivated shootings in Illinois and Indiana, was also a product of a well-to-do suburban upbringing may suggest that someone take another long hard look at "normalcy" the next time they want to explain why some people go berserk.)

I've never been one to mass categorize anyone, especially young people, even though that seems to be a common topic of conversation as well as media space and time fillers.

But recently I had an opportunity to observe and/or meet and converse with some young people, some of whom wear clothes and listen to music that would cause others to label them as part of the Gothic subculture, or liken them to "The Trenchcoat Mafia."

I must say I was much more favorably impressed than you might imagine. My faith in our younger generation continues to be reinforced in many ways. But let me explain through three anecdotes.

First, when Bill and Hillary Clinton recently held a televised rap-session on violence with a hand-picked collection of young people in the White House, I was surprised and delighted to see a tall young teen-age boy and two girls of similar age, of various ethnic or racial origins, courageously step up to the plate and convey unusual wisdom.

The boy differed with Clinton for his blaming of video games and other entertainments for contributing to the Littleton shooting. The youth said, what gunowners or others might say, that millions of decent people, young and old, avail themselves of such pursuits without causing violence to others. He suggested that Clinton's proposals to ban or censor certain forms of entertainment were completely off base.

Another girl followed the same approach, suggesting imposing new rules on millions of honest people was an improper policy.

Lecturing the President

Then a young black girl put Clinton on the spot regarding the public and private need to reinforce traditional concepts of moral behavior in our society.

Unless you watched that broadcast live, you missed it, because the part where the kids shared uncommon wisdom with Clinton was never repeated in other broadcasts or reported in print. I'm sorry I didn't think to jot down the names of the young people at the time.

Then, recently, some "odd-looking" young 20-somethings moved into our neighborhood who have seemed to have a particularly "Gothic" wardrobe, with the young man and woman both disposed to wearing a lot of black clothing of unusual cut. Aside from the fact that they bring their pet ferret out for an airing on their porch from time to time, put up easels to daub paintings outdoors, and generally go politely about their own business in a friendly and courteous manner, their Gothic appearance is meaningless.

Finally, I got to attend a high school graduation party for the eldest son of a niece who lives across the state. At the party there were several of his classmates, including one who had graduated the year before. Although it was a graduation dinner, there were several odd outfits in black, including caps promoting the current movie "The Matrix."

But the clothing wasn't so surprising, it was the conversation.

These young people, ranging in age from a young 18 to the elderly 20-year-old graduate of the prior year were as interesting and engaging to speak with as most adults.

They discussed books, movies, television, conspiracy theories and their career goals. Most were pursuing studies in journalism, communications or political science. While most were interested in the gun issues and the whole Bill of Rights, none of them was an active gunowner/shooter/hunter.

They were all fascinated, however, by a common relatives also attending the party: my daughter Peggy, in addition to her work on Gun Week, is editor of Women & Guns magazine. Apparently, they thought that meeting a woman who was on the cutting edge of the publishing side of women empowerment, guns and self-defense was about the coolest thing that had happened to them recently, maybe even including graduation.

Political Interests

All of these representatives of what the media might call "The Trenchcoat Mafia" were interested in the political process but disdainful of many professional politicians. The oldest shared some sage comments in which he castigated both the Republicans and the Democrats on their relative gun control positions, and reported that he had already worked on one state legislator's successful last campaign, and planned to do more in political activism, especially with third parties.

I don't know when was the last time you had a conversation about how Congress really works, how the House and Senate rules differ, about recent legislation with a mixed group of 18-20-year-olds that lasted more than a few seconds, but mine was eye-opening.

Maybe I read too many magazines and newspapers, or watch too many pundits on television, but I was impressed with the intelligence and interest shown by these young people.

Now I can say I've met some of "The Trenchcoat Mafia" and I have I higher regard for them than the people who are trying to intrude upon and limit their lives and future. When you have an opportunity to talk with, question and listen to what America's young people are really saying, you get a different view than you do from the White House, from Congress, or from the media moguls of this country.

Certainly they make a lot more sense than Ted Turner-even if they do listen to his TV stations.

---

The New Gun Week is published three times a month by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) on the 1st, 10th, and 20th. Hindsight is a commentary written by SAF President and Gun Week Executive Editor Joseph P. Tartaro. This commentary may be reprinted so long as credit is given to the author and the publication. For more information or to subscribe, write Gun Week, PO Box 488, Buffalo, NY 14209, or call 716-885-6408 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, or inquire on Compuserve to John Krull, Production manager-JohnSAF@Compuserve.com or gunweeksaf@broadviewnet.net

Also, check out the New Gun Week at http://www.GunWeek.com