The Weight of the Law (1)
The original text of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution reads as follows.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"—that's the meaning.
Interpretations of this law split into two main camps. 1. Each state can maintain a militia to protect its autonomy, and that militia's right to arm itself cannot be infringed. 2. Literally, all citizens must be allowed to possess weapons.
In 1939, the Supreme Court went with the first. Gun regulations continued until 2008... when the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that it guarantees "the individual's right to bear arms." In other words, easing gun regulations.
This was actually a pretty thorny issue even for me. Easing gun regs wasn't exactly welcome news. Get shot in the head, and even I'd die. Even if it wasn't me, my subordinates operating in America could get seriously hurt. Just thinking about Si-hyun pulling off big jobs in lawless Russia made me groan inwardly...
But I had my own confidence. By 2008, it'd be my world completely.
'Fifteen years from now? Pushing aside the NRA would be child's play.'
With that judgment, I persuaded John Quinn.
"The media's been stoking tensions between Koreans and Blacks lately, right?"
"Ah, yeah. The police chief nearly lost his job over it... Honestly, even setting aside racism, it was a monumentally stupid move."
LA PD Chief Gates, who basically told everyone to "go kill each other," sadly didn't have the tech to implant nanorobots in vaccines for mind control. That might fly in Texas, but in Democrat stronghold California with a Black mayor? Political suicide.
But the problem was, while he couldn't control minds, he sure knew how to incite them.
"Thanks to the Korean community's active self-defense patrols, casualties were minimal... But the media's tearing into it as 'overkill defense'."
"Public opinion's still sour now, but the Korean response was pretty solid back then... Give it time, it'll blow over. With law enforcement totally absent, it qualifies as self-defense under the Constitution."
Exactly. Unlike civil law systems, common law broadly interprets legitimate self-defense. With a competent lawyer from the firm, acquittal was basically guaranteed.
"But public opinion is bad right now, isn't it? Not doubting your skills, but... we might get less compensation than expected. And once the judgment's set, it's hard to overturn."
First button has to be buttoned right. Waiting for opinion to settle without suing? Evidence would vanish.
I calmly offered my take. "It'd be good to check Republican judges' stances on gun regs. If they're favorable to Korean self-defense, better to draw one."
The representative nodded, impressed. "Definitely smarter. In this sensitive climate, even biased judges won't show it outright. Might not matter if Democrat or Republican... Easier to focus on self-defense too."
John Quinn mulled it briefly, then proposed. "Hmm, we could get NRA backing too. Not their usual jam, but political calculus changes attitudes. They prioritize money over petty politics."
I nodded slightly in agreement. When my money's on the line, politics fades fast. Black, white, Asian, Jew... Grow my money, you're a benefactor; take it, you're the enemy.
While the class action suit progressed, I made a quick stop in LA.
Koreatown in LA evoked the '90s—well, it was the '90s—with its unique vibe. Not much different from my past life, which actually made it freshly nostalgic.
But there were changes, and not good ones. The post-riot desolation was biting; gloomy Koreans wandering about sighed deeply at shattered storefronts.
"My hometown nestled in flower-filled hills, peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, baby azaleas~"
"My hometown nestled in flower-filled hills,"
"Peach blossoms, apricot blossoms, baby azaleas~"
A middle-aged uncle was moving stuff with this familiar tune playing; passersby paused at the sound.
"...Haven't heard this spring song in ages. Though spring's long gone."
Si-hyun wasn't immune either, scanning buildings with a wistful gaze. A bathhouse sign caught her eye—familiar, so probably one I knew.
-Screech.
Stepping inside confirmed it. I marveled inwardly.
'Still here... Korea developed so fast I couldn't remember anything.'
Feeling nostalgia for my "hometown" in Wall Street and Koreatown, not even my real one? Ironic. If America was my heart's home, fine.
"Hmm, tastes changed while I wasn't looking? You don't like places like this, miss."
Si-hyun, with guards at the entrance, tilted her head.
"True. Interior's meh... feels rundown. But it's been ages since a bathhouse. Looks empty inside."
She countered incredulously. "Riots just days ago—who'd feel like bathing?"
"That's why we should use it."
"Fair point."
-Click.
Inside was cleaner than expected. Empty as predicted... just the grandma owner dozing at the counter.
"Taking customers?"
I said we'd charter the bath for the day. She beamed, grabbing my hand in a firm shake.
"Aigoo, even a chaebol miss graces my shop! Cleaned spotless yesterday, no customers today—hygiene's fine, miss. Use it freely."
Perfect timing.
"Hmm, Si-hyun. Can you call the others?"
"Miss Ba-da?"
"Yeah, waste to use just us two."
"Got it. I'll have the guards handle it."
Seo Ji-yeon would've been fun too. I rarely hit pools or bathhouses outside... But inviting kids home for a soak? Nah. I'm not a perv.
While Si-hyun stepped out briefly, I stripped off my suit, folding it neatly.
'Detour somewhere else...'
As I edged toward another door, Si-hyun returned from orders, staring.
"Miss, that's the men's bath. What're you doing naked?"
Whoops.
"Hehe, busted. Just peeking."
"...You do this outside home too? Heard rumors, but..."
Why believe such nonsense? My image was wrecked.
"Tch, no one's here anyway. Share it."
...
In the end, Ba-da arrived soon, so Si-hyun and I shared briefly. Wanted guards in, but Si-hyun nixed it—still risky.
Let 'em later.
-Splash.
"Yeah, this hot bath's nice. Toasty. Hehe."
"Hngh..."
Si-hyun melted with a weird groan.
"Sounds like an old man. Age matches already."
"...Don't. No one manages like I do."
True. After that frozen hell, skin still clear, smooth. Impressive.
"..."
After minutes watching ceiling drips, Si-hyun turned to me.
"Lately, I'm feeling the weight of the law anew."
"Why?"
"Didn't grasp how scary 'lawless zone' is... Back-alley kid stuff was playground games."
My secretary-slash-Russian-mafia-boss spoke heavily. Her damp words, steeped in steam, seeped in like bath runoff.
"Poaching underlings was easy. Acquiring companies? Easier. Felt too easy."
"...Plenty of money."
A droplet fell from her lid.
"But people die just as easy."
Didn't look like crying. My chosen chief aide was tough.
-Splash.
"Hate guns? If you want, we'll make it so."
I caressed her submerged form. Scars and firm curves told of her fierce life.
She shook her head. Not that.
"No. Hating guns and defending Koreans here are separate. Without mine, I'd be permafrost in Russia."
"Then?"
"This is fine... Now I get why you shared those stories. Just listen to my gripes—that's enough."
I smiled faintly, stroking her shoulder.
"Yeah."
"...More hardship ahead?"
"Yep. Tougher, more stress. Quit if you hate it."
"Fine. I can endure."
The lawless-zone survivor rested, gazing at the ruined street from one moment's security void.