And a Whole Lot Less American

"Try that in a small town," Jason Aldean sings in a new song.

"Cuss out a cop, spit in his face  / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you're tough / Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / Around here, we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won't take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don't / Try that in a small town," Aldean sings. 

And, that's when Aldean introduces the gun. "Got a gun granddad gave me." The video then goes on, filled with images of protesters and rioting. "Try that in a small town" the song repeats over and over.

The message that gets across is that you might just get shot.

If the idea is vigilantism, Jason conveys the message well. If it is a rally to guns as a response to protesters, Jason conveys that message, too. 

Spit on our flag, and we'll shoot off your head. No, the song doesn't say that. But, the point is, the song stirs people to anger and a self-righteousness that they should jump for their guns and kill the protesters.

Burning a flag is not a good thing, not American. But shooting someone for burning a flag is a whole lot worse.

And, a whole lot less American.

We listen to our heroes. And, if they suggest gun violence, we're on it like butter on toast. "You cross that line, it won't take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don't / Try that in a small town."