What are lawmakers waiting for, a gun-related disaster that’s so big, so gruesome, so horrifying that the NRA and its enablers won’t say, “How dare you politicize these deaths while the bodies are still warm,” and “What we need to prevent gun violence is more guns”? It will never happen. Never. The increasing number of horrific shootings and the continuous onslaught of less spectacular, daily gun-related deaths should be enough to make lawmakers who support common sense gun laws state their support boldly and unequivocally. There’s no sense in waiting for a better time. There will never be a better time. The financially well-armed opponents of universal background checks and the sale of assault weapons will continue to attack anyone who stands in the way of their agenda.
If there will never be a better time, if there never will be an easier time, then now is the best time. Timidity in the face of the gun lobby spells certain defeat. Elected representatives need to state their support for common sense gun laws boldly. And they need to say they know the NRA and its friends will come after them full force, and they consider attacks from people whose agenda increases the chances for gun-related deaths to be a badge of honor. They need to spotlight the attacks, show them for what they are, instead of cowering in a corner hoping the attacks will go away.
I expect negative comments on this post, some from people who never comment on my posts. The gun lobbyists always has their antennae out, and I’m sure their sensors are set at 11 right now with the latest shooting in southern Oregon. I expect the comments to be filled with vitriol, skewed logic and selective data. I will consider those comments a badge of honor.
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2015.
Sorry but nothing here to badge you with. Is it mental illness or pure evil? Is there a difference?
Chicago still leads the nation. And they have the toughest gun laws.
I wish I could say more laws would curb violence, but they won’t. It’s in their nature for some to be prone to violence. What would help is, if the media would stop making headlines with shooting deaths. They glorify the obscene for ratings. Unfortunately, the news people will do anything for a headline. Remember, the Press is free, if you own one.
Just the premise that liberals, specifically the ultra radical Obama can determine the standard for ‘common sense’ is absurd.
The distaste for the constitution by the left is disgusting.
A starting place would be LONG background checks, not 30 minute background checks. A long background check for all should take about 2 weeks and have all kind of mandatory checks. We also need to end private sales.
Sorry, but the cat is long out out of the bag. The number of privately owned guns in the US (over 300 million) exceeds our population. No new law will remove the stockpile of weapons that have been stolen, sold on the black market, and used daily to murder and maim. Each new massacre (now averaging one every two weeks) prompts predictable outrage followed by a polite amnesia and then – nothing. We are entering an election year so any thoughts of new profiles in courage – politicians standing up to the NRA – are fanciful at best.
This national breast beating after each mass killing is reactive and blind to the real problem the US has with gun violence. Victims of these horrible and tragic shootings are a tiny percentage of those killed and maimed EVERY DAY in this country. Let’s put it in perspective: last MONTH in Chicago (a city with tough gun laws) 6 times as many people were shot to death and 20 times as many were wounded compared with yesterday’s carnage in Oregon. Take a look at the rest of the stats for Chicago in the aptly named
http://heyjackass.com/
The daily slaughter in our cities goes on unabated and under reported with the weapons used typically stolen and/or purchased on the black market. Why is this not newsworthy? This is where the real action is.
When the latest mass slaughter “we need new laws” card is played, the obvious retort from the gun rights advocates is “you’re talking about a mental health issue.” And they are right when you argue for new gun restriction laws on these events. Think of Columbine, Virginia State, Tucson (twice), Sandy Hook, Aurora and then think of each of the perpetrators. All, each one, a mentally ill young man.
Yesterday, a beautiful five month old baby girl was killed in Cleveland in a gang related drive by shooting. This story appeared in a side bar to the Oregon shootings, otherwise, you would never have heard about it. Weeping and wailing at the sight of the tip of the iceberg is cathartic but this country has a problem with guns and crime that is far broader and deeper, lying just below the surface.
A month from now we will be agonizing over the deaths of more folks shot to death by a crazed gunman, an alienated young man with known mental health problems, murders that could have been prevented by expanding the disqualifiers to gun ownership to include the mentally ill and any immediate family members they share a domicile with. But those 10, 20, or 30 deaths will pale in comparison to the daily body counts in Chicago, LA and New Orleans. And that outrageous, unreported carnage requires a different, far more draconian set of gun laws than the mass killing that make the headlines and are deemed more worthy of commentary.
Hard to believe Tucson ‘progressives’ would be upset over this. After all, it was Christians that were executed.
The press reports so far have indicated that the killer systematically sought out and murdered Christians. When he asked the victims if they were Christians, those who said yes were shot in the head. Those who did not were not given immediately fatal wounds. Many (if not all) survived. The big story here is the anti-Christian hate-filled nature of this crime. An even bigger story is the incredible bravery of those victims — martyrs, actually — who refused to deny their faith and died for it.
Go ahead and focus on the gun(s), David. Wear it as a badge of honor if you must. But you’re missing the bigger story and the even bigger problem.
Blessings and peace to those who died and to their families who mourn them.
Hatred is the real problem. The gun is simply the current tool chosen to carry out their hatred. How many did Tim Mc Veigh kill in OK City without a gun?
What is driving this hatred? Politics and constant blaming of opposition of thought?
Take a look at responses right here in this on line publication. Every day posters spew hate towards each other.
…and then some act on it. Don’t be the problem. Start acting like the solution.
A citizen unarmed is a subject, subjected to oppression by those in power with decades long of a piss poor track record in protecting our inherent liberties. The govt in any form cannot be trusted once this line has been crossed and I nor millions of others in this nation will take that chance. Again govt cannot and should not be blindly trusted. Look at how those cops are treating all the students in the UCC shooting, it’s disgusting how these Rambo wannabes gear up in camo, plate carriers and ARs so they can get their rocks off in practicing their police state maneuvers. To the cops, we’re all suspects, no mental though power required.
Maybe when you start disarming and hold dirty cops and politicians truly accountable (prison) then maybe I’d consider more laws. Right now, your tired PC rhetoric about “common sense” gun laws are apt to enslave us all. Your hysteria doesn’t trump my right to self defense.
Just like the President you have a knee jerk reaction. You could have waited for one or two facts to come out. Was he medicated for ADHD as many of the past killers were? Did he acquire these guns legally before he was insane?
And now the best of all…he singled out Christians to kill them…and he was foreign born and supported the IRA.
We NEED tougher immigration laws. We must protect the Christians amongst us.
As a licensed pilot I had to go through extensive initial training, show recurrence and go through a biennial flight review. While there is no one single answer to gun violence, we simply cannot continue to shrug our shoulders when our (mostly) young people get killed in these school and public place shootings. We have 300 million guns in this country so more armed people is not the answer nor is confiscation. But we can (1) prohibit private sales including gun shows, (2) require a license, available only after some period of extensive training, (3) require recurrent training, like every two years, (4) sell ammunition, firearms and reloading components only to people with proper current licensing.
There will be a black market and bad people will still gain access to guns but we might slow this down a little.
Doing nothing but candle light vigils, hand wringing and prayers won’t work.
looking at the Likes and Dislikes of your article and why would anyone dislike the real answers? seems the same 9 folks who disliked the answers and comments above are the real ones laced with Vitriol, skewed logic and selective data. Better check your progressive readers and school them, they are the ones that need it. And another thing, where’s YOUR answer? New laws ala Chicago? Maybe a story on those laws that you seem to think would work so well. No hate here, just observations. Clear observations.
David, Democrats do not want common sense gun laws. They are too PC. And, the common sense gun laws that are proposed, are rejected by them because that would give legitimacy to people they hate.
All 14 guns were purchased legally from a federally licensed firearm dealer with background checks. We now await info on why he was discharged from the military in the first 30 days, for reasons of “non compliance.” Could the military been aware of mental disorder and not notified anybody?
“Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, was in the Army for a little more than a month at Fort Jackson — from Nov. 5 to Dec. 11, 2008 — spokesman Lt. Col. Ben Garrett said, but was discharged for failing to meet the minimum standards.
Garrett did not say which standards Harper-Mercer failed to meet. Generally, the Army requires recruits to pass physical fitness tests and to be generally in good physical and mental health. Recruits must also pass a multiple-choice test covering science, math, reading comprehension and other topics.”
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/crime/2015/10/02/army-oregon-gunman-failed-basic-training-2008/73222218/
Should military records be available to be used for background checks?
Military Records: Considered confidential under the federal Privacy Act. – See more at: http://employment.findlaw.com/hiring-process/pre-employment-background-check-laws.html#sthash.7rZUtFOL.dpuf
Manifesto starts by blaming unemployment status. No job, no life,…
https://news.yahoo.com/alleged-manifesto-oregon-shooter-reveals-155126291.html
You are going to have to outlaw everything with people this sick on the street. Nobody knew? Family, friends, teachers?
Turns out his Mom knew. She actually helped him with acquisitions.
The Onion says it best, IMO.
http://www.theonion.com/article/no-way-to-…
I’m beginning to think the reason gun owners are so concerned about having their guns taken away is because they believe that is the only way to fix the gun violence problem. Most of that kind of rhetoric is certainly coming from gun owners.
“When seconds count the police are minutes away.” Our schools need to trade something for armed guards. Some states have already approved legal carry for teachers and administrators. Let’s stop adverting that “we have no defense here.” It’s not helping.
Rat T, the problem with your argument is that these people have no use for facts, logic, or common sense.
They function strictly on emotion.
You are right, but it’s not my problem it’s theirs. I just don’t want their ignorance to make it my problem…as most federal legislation does. It eliminates our rights, one drip at a time, until we have a downpour that nobody can stop.
Peace through strength. Educate the masses that the gun is a tool and is to be treated with respect.
America does not have a gun problem, it has a mental health problem.
Address mental illness and mental health. We have not had a real discussion about this issue since Regan dismantled the foundation in the 80’s.
Video games and anti depressant drugs have robbed a generation of any amount of normalcy. Keep them drugged until they can behave? It looks like it’s not working.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/19/how-our-touchy-feely-feminised-society-creates-young-male-killers/
I would like to see government put money into Behavial Health System. Education is the best way to recognize persons needing help. Break down the barriers,stigma, and pyscratic care that provides a positive path to recovery.
El Chaupo in Mexico got his guns from Obama. Fast and Furious. And then Obama blames Americans? We do need mental health checks.
You know where.