NRA: “Now is not the time to talk gun control.”
Aurora - 12 killed, 70 wounded
“Now is not the time …”
Columbine - 12 students and 1 teacher killed
“Now is not the time …”
Fort Hood - 13 killed and 30 injured
“Now is not the time …”
Sandy Hook - 20 children and 6 faculty killed
“Now is not the time …”
Tuscon - 6 killed and 13 wounded
“Now is not the time …”
Virginia Tech - 32 killed and 17 wounded
“Now is not the time …”
Washington Navy Yard - 12 killed and 3 wounded
“Now is not the time …”
STOP DODGING BULLETS … NO MORE EXCUSES!
The term "gun control" produces an instant reaction, but very often a change in terminology can be effective. Besides that phrase means different things to different people and the public has been trained to hear it as "confiscation." Half the country is quite sure there are nefarious plans to "Grab Your Guns" by Obama, Hillary and the "deep state.
ReplyDeleteLet's talk Bump Stocks. Let's talk Trigger Cranks. Let's talk Drum magazines, but let's not use hyperbolic and inaccurate terminology because after all, you're trying to convince someone who doesn't want to listen and will reject your entire argument if a T isn't crossed or an I dotted.
FYI: Years ago, the NRA lobbied Congress to cut funding for research conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Goal of this research? To learn how to reduce deaths via gun violence (a national epidemic by all accounts).
ReplyDeleteIn the state of Florida, the NRA sponsored a bill to prevent medical doctors from asking parents questions about safe gun storage (for the safety of patients' children). The bill was passed but later nullified by the courts as unconstitutional.
The NRA under Lapierre's leadership is about suppression of research, breaching the confidentiality of the doctor-patient relationship, and violating free speech.
Circa 1979, extremists took over the NRA in a coup known as the "Cincinnati Revolution." They immediately changed the bylaws to prevent rank-and-file members from voting them out. This is how Lapierre and his cohorts turned the NRA into a rogue organization.
It's not me that needs convincing, it's congress and now that there's attention being paid to specific devices, I think it's an opportunity to present it to our congressmen as a specific and simple idea -- banning these rapid fire devices. They are too practiced at vague evasions of demands for gun control. This device, that device and if not, and if not now - why not? These things are very hard to defend and there is absolutely no purpose other than to raise hell. Not for self defense or target practice or home protection, but to shoot up a crowd.
ReplyDeleteI shall be writing my congressman and our senators in short order - before they forget.
Beyond simple self defense or simple gun sportsmanship, there is a quantum jump in fire power that goes beyond decadence and crosses the threshold of criminal. I hold the NRA and gun manufacturers just as responsible for this massacre as the gunman himself.
ReplyDeleteYes, them and the cowards in congress whose only concern is reelection and the money that comes their way from extremists. I think that as concerns weapons of mass destruction, people who are willing to mob offices and hearings and meetings might just consider them as part of health care and use the same tactics. It does work, as I think we have seen.
ReplyDeleteWe can blame the NRA all we like, and yes, it is a huge propaganda machine for the rightwing as well as the firearm industry, however, the ultimate responsibility lies with the people and the gutless Congress they elect.
ReplyDeleteI'm betting this will be a discussion still waged LONG after I'm gone. Sigh...
The Texas clock tower sniper - 16 killed
ReplyDeleteI had enough
JFK
I had enough
MLK
I had enough
RFK
I had enough
50 YEARS LATER
20 grade school kids massacred
America not moved to change
Las Vegas 60 dead
Maybe we can talk about banning Bump stops
America likes to beat records. How many next time?
So many helpful suggestions for change informed by so few observations. So many unrelated and carefully selected observations. So many ignored variables. So much sophistry. Nice to know you've had enough though. It's really helpful in putting things in perspective. I've had enough of many things, but the list is too long to post here. But you're on it. You're one of the reasons there's no possibility of a productive dialog about violence and firearms.
ReplyDelete