American History 1988
Chapter 73 - 68: The Gun That Can’t Be Banned

Chapter 73: Chapter 68: The Gun That Can’t Be Banned

"Dean, Wendy, and Kevin were all eager to try their hand at writing for Price’s List. Although there’s no pay, they think it’s a rare internship opportunity."

"Yeah~ I’m willing to accept them too. However, some sensitive topics, I don’t think Price’s List, as it is now, is suitable as a platform for discussing them."

After leaving Little Italy, Dean and Miranda started discussing the students they had just met with.

Ever since Dean had thought about opening up Price’s List on the NSF website to students at our school, Miranda had been looking for candidates for this.

But as Price’s List became popular in college circles, people started coming forward, volunteering themselves. People from the student council of Cleveland State University wanted to be freelance writers for the information section of Price’s List.

The dinner tonight in Little Italy was the first exchange about the possibility of collaboration.

However, the outcome of the communication left Dean with some reservations, "Miranda, do you know what they want to discuss on Price’s List? Gun bans! And same-sex relationships!"

Mother F*cker, hearing these two topics just made Dean a bit numb. It’s not even the ’90s yet, can’t these student council members be a little less radical!

Ohio is known for being an open carry state, where as long as you legally own a firearm, you can carry it on the street without any documents. Additionally, when Ohio residents trade firearms, there is no need for any registration or paperwork, pretty much like trading a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of liquor...

Because of the straightforward local customs and the support of the "Castle Doctrine" state law, Ohioans believe in doing things themselves, including self-defense.

This has led to almost every household owning a gun, and in case of a shootout, they are not obligated to retreat. In other words, if you wish, you can fight to the death and not be legally responsible in the end.

Under such social attitudes, about 70% of the black guns in the underground market of New York State come from Ohio.

Gun trade in Ohio is a business, involving the interests of too many people. Even the local citizenry wouldn’t support a gun ban, how is that not Ohio for you?

But now, these naive college students want to utilize the influence of Price’s List to promote their radical political stances. Dean doubted if they were too eager to meet God.

The current user base of Price’s List is nearing forty thousand, and even in the state capital Columbus, its influence has been gradually appearing.

In Cleveland, the influence of Price’s List has even surpassed some second-tier media outlets. If it took up the banner of gun bans, it might indeed stir up some waves.

But Dean didn’t want to get shot in the back for no reason; there were still so many domestic cars he hadn’t driven yet. So, there was only one stance for him regarding the student council people.

You can have freedom of speech, but no gun bans or same-sex issues!

"Dean, perhaps things aren’t as complicated as you think. The students just want to express their opinions; the big shots won’t take it personally," Miranda was still trying to persuade Dean, feeling that the student council’s demands were normal.

Gun bans are for peace and same-sex issues are for freedom, isn’t this what the mainstream media is advocating now?

"No, Miranda," Dean stopped, "when you hinder someone else’s interests, don’t expect their tolerance. Come on, it’s getting late, let me take you back."

Pop! Pop!

No sooner had Dean finished speaking than two crisp sounds came from the street ahead, along with dazzling sparks.

"WTF?!" Dean’s eyes widened; this couldn’t be such a coincidence.

"Dean..." Miranda, frightened, moved closer to him.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

This time, the sounds were even more intense, seemingly more than one group involved.

There wasn’t time to explain as Dean, realizing the gravity of the situation, pulled Miranda and started running back. He had been careless; Little Italy was one of the most dangerous areas in Cleveland.

But the group ahead seemed to be running in this direction too because the gunshots were getting closer.

No choice, bullets don’t have eyes. In a flash of ingenuity, Dean pulled Miranda into a phone booth by the side of the road midway through their escape.

Pop! Locking the door behind him, Dean held Miranda tightly against the side of the phone booth, motionless.

"That guy ran off!"

"Over there, chase him! Mother F*cker, that bastard stole our deal, we’ve got to teach him a lesson this time."

Whoosh! A gang of guys rushed past along the street.

Phew~ Seeing the figures pass by, Dean finally relaxed. Shit, in just a few months, this was the second time he had experienced a shooting!

"Dean..."

While Dean was checking out the situation outside, Miranda’s weak voice came from his embrace.

"What’s the matter, Miranda? You’re not hurt, are you?"

"No, I’m not," Miranda shifted her bottom, "you’re just too close."

Oh~ feeling that elasticity, Dean hardened.

"Miranda, I think it’s not completely safe outside yet; we should stay here a little longer." Having said that, Dean squeezed forward a bit more, "you know, it’s quite cramped in here."

Wow, this texture is definitely stockings~ Dean’s frontal radar had already detected the fabric of the garments Miranda was wearing inside.

"Dean, are you sure you’re not doing this on purpose?" Miranda felt her stockings deforming at her buttocks and couldn’t help but speak out sarcastically.

"This is for our safety," Dean defended himself righteously.

"Ah ha," Miranda tilted her head and gave him a sidelong glance, "Chivalry, ah? Are you still against gun control?"

Hearing this, Dean provocatively thrust his hips forward a few times, "This gun, I’ll never ban!"

"Dean, you’re such a jerk!" Miranda was pushed by him and ended up lying directly against the phone booth’s wall.

"You can’t blame me for this, Miranda, it’s a normal reaction for a man. Besides, who told you to be so enchanting?" Dean felt very innocent; after all, it was you who pressed so tight first.

"Fine, let’s not talk about the gun control issue for now. Can you get off me now?" Miranda turned her head while supporting herself against the phone booth, "I need to remind you that my face is getting intimately acquainted with the telephone dial pad. If necessary, it might dial 911."

Dean looked through the glass at the street outside, where it seemed everyone had cleared out.

"Maybe we should stay a little longer, after all, no one knows if they might come back." Dean loved this phone booth, Mother F*cker, he never realized before how cozy it was in here, ha.

"I’m afraid if we don’t leave now, another gun might go off. To ensure you can transfer smoothly to Stanford, I suggest you go back and hit the books now."

"OK~ Miss Miranda’s advice, I take very seriously." Dean let go of her reluctantly, this ride from Yale was a different driving sensation compared to the previous French model.

Oh no, he hadn’t even gotten into the driver’s seat of Yale’s car, at most he’d just rubbed against the bumper.

Fixing up her makeup, Miranda gave him a displeased look. "I should get going, or my dad will worry. I’ll contact the student council about that matter tomorrow. By the way, will you be in the office tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Dean, who was busy smoothing out his pants, looked up, "I have to go back to Youngstown this weekend; there are some things to take care of at home."

"All right then, we’ll talk about it when you get back." Miranda opened the door of the phone booth, and the distant sound of a police siren drifted in from the street.

"Miranda," Dean called out to her as she was about to leave.

"What is it?" Miranda looked back, puzzled.

Dean didn’t say a word, instead, he stepped forward and, under her surprised gaze, pinched her smooth chin and gently pecked her lips.

"Now I can say I’ve had a perfect day." Dean, now on the street, spread his hands and backed away from Miranda while speaking.

"Hey~ that’s not very gentlemanly," Miranda, who had just regained her composure, complained while touching her lips.

"To hell with chivalry! You’re right, Miranda, I’m a jerk. When I see someone who makes my heart race, I’m willing to abandon all composure and calm, and then face it with a burning heart, bare and raw. Okay, it’s time to say goodnight~" Dean waved back then his figure blurred into the twinkling street lights.

"Damn it, he’s an irresistible jerk!" Miranda rarely swore, then turned huffily to head towards the west of the river. But as she walked, the corners of her mouth curled up, like the crescent moon in the sky.

...

"Dean, what’s the deal with you going back this time? Is it trouble with your old man again? Or did Dean’s brain go haywire?"

"Bullsh*t! Simon, you idiot, can’t you think more optimistically about me? Do I look like I have a problem? If you think I do, then it’s your eyes that have a problem." Dean loaded his luggage and a computer into the trunk, the latter a promised gift to Jerry.

"Alright, Dean, I’m just feeling a bit uneasy. With you gone, what about Price’s List? I can’t handle that complex coding."

"Come on, I’m just going home for the weekend, not on vacation. Besides, Price’s List is already on the right track; for now, there shouldn’t be any extra issue emerging. With your capabilities, Simon, you’re up to the task. Remember what I told you?" Dean opened the car door and leaned against the roof, "I’m handing over the Price’s List of Cleveland to you. I’m off to California to expand the market; Price’s List will light up every city in America!"

"OK! I’m working on getting used to the role, but for a country bumpkin like me, it still takes a bit of time."

"F*ck you, Simon! Don’t make me lose respect for you; I’m freaking handing wealth over to you. Show the same effort you do when you’re chasing girls at parties. You gotta let those high-and-mighty girls know that the more country a student is, the bigger his assets and the fearlesser his approach!"

"OK~OK~" Simon closed the car door for him, "GO! GO! Keep charging down this road, and I’m about to blow the charge for the ladies."