[RCL]

The Guns that Kill

Guns Don’t Kill People, People Kill People.
—NRA Bumper Sticker

To kids, the guns in TV’s shows
with cowboys killing Indians
say, White men’s guns beat red men’s bows.

First real shots from cool Red Ryders,
let children’s tiny BBs
kill small birds and sting bike riders.

Real guns, 12 gauge and 22,
teach white militias skills,
help killers know what they can do.

Guns urge cops on urban beats
to kill with high-tech specials,
in the country’s states and streets.

But these guns win the most renown:
war’s guns that kill and maim;
the racists' killing Black and Brown.

The original version, "Guns that Made Some," was put up by New Verse News. This version has been significantly revised.