Archie Bunker, created by Norman Lear for
the 1970s TV show All in the Family,
is the classic liberal caricature of a Jacksonian as boobus americanus. Yet
Archie shows an instinctive understanding of the Jacksonian concept of
masculinity and its connection to gun ownership. Here in his inimitable way,
Archie (Carroll O’Connor) explains his objection to gun control on grounds of Jacksonian manhood
to his son-in-law Mike, aka “Meathead” (Rob Reiner), referencing Jacksonian film icons John Wayne, Gary Cooper, and Clint “Westwood.” This scene, which starts at 5:46 in the
video, is from Season 3, Episode 1, “Archie and the Editorial,” first shown on
September 16, 1972.
TV: Only by enforcing even tougher gun laws can the tide of violence and death be halted. Guns must go, before more of them go off.
Archie: Well that’s where you’re going buddy boy, off!
Meathead: Hey, what are you doing that for? I wanted to hear what he had to say there.
Archie: He’s a fairy like all them gun control guys.
Meathead: I’m for gun control.
Archie: Tell it to her, maybe she’ll get the marriage annulled.
Gloria: Daddy!
Meathead: Archie, what do guns have to do with maleness?
Archie: What do guns have to do with maleness? Duke Wayne buddy!
Meathead: What?
Archie: Clint Westwood there buddy.
Meathead: What are you talking about!?
Archie: Gary Cooper, Sergeant York. I could go on and on and on, but it’d do do no good because talking to you is like casting pearls into wine.
Meathead: Huh?
Archie: Tell that to old lady Heidgeger down the street no guns. She’d have been glad to have a rod when her two burglars bust in on her last week, huh Edith.
Meathead: Archie, how do you expect an 88-year old woman to go around carrying a gun.
Archie: I don’t know. She can carry it in her elastic stocking next to her very close friend. All I know is as an American it’s my right to pack a rod!
NRA Gun Control Arguments Predicted by “All in the Family” (Video). By Seth Abramovitch. The Hollywood Reporter, December 21, 2012.
All in the Family: Archie and the Editorial Part 1. LaughVids2, January 27, 2012. YouTube.
All in the Family. Archie and the Editorial Part 2. LaughVids2, January 27, 2012. YouTube. Complete episode in one video here.
