Critique of "Guns for Teachers"

Warren J. Bowe's epistolary essay "Guns for Teachers" is an example of good ol' American sarcasm. By pretending to be in support of legislature that would provide teachers the right to bear arms in schools, he questions the rationality of idea. It is strange to me, however, that Modest Proposal type of writing falls into the category of "essay." While it is non-fictional if the reader understands the sarcasm, the words themselves are fictional, not reflecting the author's sense of truth. Bowe is presenting a persona who sees logic in the idea of the gun-toting teacher.