On 6/4 on Indy radio show “Gun Guy” the host opened by recalling how, as a kid, he listened to the Indy 500 on radio. He pivoted to “causation” of mass shootings and says ppl 4 gun control or Democrats need to ask would what you advocate have prevented this particular outcome. 1/6

He then says, “If the answer to that is ‘no,’ then you’re an idiot.” He adds that the Uvalde shooter passed 2 background checks. The flawed reasoning of his conclusion that background checks don’t work has a relevant parallel in the 1964 Indy 500. Two drivers were killed on lap 2/6

Dave MacDonald exited turn 4, lost control, hit the inside wall, spun & his car exploded. Eddie Sachs hit it. Why MacDonald lost control: USAC required the car use 15-inch, not its design 12-inch, tires, impairing the car’s aerodynamics. Gasoline is more volatile than alcohol used today. 3/6

Because of the crash, USAC significantly changed rules for the Indy 500, including requiring fuel cells & at least 2 pit stops, plus limiting amount of fuel a car could carry. However, gasoline was not prohibited until 2006 and nothing addressed USAC’s authority to specify sizes of tires. 4/6

The rule changes improved safety, but weren’t specific to the causes of the 1964 crash. Only one driver (Swede Savage), since 1964, has been killed during the race. The causes of wrecks at the Indy 500 & mass shootings can be complex. Shooters in Uvalde & Buffalo used AR-15s. 5/6

A person does not have a right to possess any kind of weapon at any time for any purpose. D.C., et. al. v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570, 626 (2008). I’m Mark Small: pro-choice, pro-civil rts & anti-gun GOP candidate for Indiana House Distr 86. I approve of this blog. Hell, I wrote it. 6/6