Tag Archives: assault weapons
If Not Now, When?
I’m sitting here wondering what kind of bloody massacre will happen in this country before members of Congress do the right thing?
How many first graders will have to have their bodies ripped into shreds in their classrooms before Congress decides some weapons and magazines should not be generally available?
There are times when I’m ashamed of those who serve in Washington, and this is definitely one of those times.
Shame on Congress, but especially shame on the Democratic leadership for not putting up a fight. Shame on Senator Harry Reid, and the other weak kneed members of the Senate (Democratic and Republican); you’re cowards and don’t deserve the high honor to serve.
If you’re not going to ever fight the tough fights, step down and let someone step up who will, as Lawrence O’Donnell once said, “Some things are worth fighting for, even if you lose.”
Of drones and assault rifles?
Twelve people are gunned down and 70 are wounded in a movie theater in Colorado, gun nuts scream about their rights to own whatever kind of weapon they want and rush out to buy assault rifles and high capacity magazines; Twenty-six people, including 20 first graders, are massacred in an elementary school in Connecticut, the same gun nuts become hysterical about their Second Amendment rights and start throwing around words like “revolution”.
The United States Attorney General says under “an extraordinary circumstance” the government might use drone strikes against its own citizens on U.S. soil, and now suddenly the exact same whack jobs are anxious about enacting legislation concerning what weapons can and cannot be used in the United States.
It seems the right for people to own weapons capable of murdering 20 six and seven-year-olds in a matter of minutes is OK, but targeting domestic terrorists is an outrage? Both are offensive and wrong, it’s time for Republicans, Libertarians and Tea Party types to pull their heads out of their collective fourth point of contact, to grow up and start acting like adults. The Constitution no more guarantees your right to own assault rifles and high capacity magazines than it provides for the Federal Government to target citizens to a blazing death from above.
Image
I’m tired …
Don’t preach of Christ while standing against what He taught.
I’m tired of the self-righteousness from those who scream about defending the fetus, but who whine about paying for programs to prevent unwanted pregnancies or to bless those same children with healthcare.
I’m tired of those who will do all they can to protect the rights of the unborn, but who refuse to protect the rights of children.
I’m tired of those who bemoan that prayer was taken out schools, but who support cutting school lunches for the poor and the needy.
I’m tired of those who speak of America being founded on “Judeo-Christian” values, but who build fences to keep out the “tired”, the “poor”, the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.
I’m tired of those who will decry Shariah Law, but who force their myopic religious teachings into our public schools.
I’m tired of those who proclaim religious freedom, but who practice their intolerance as they denounce the building of Mosques in their towns.
I’m tired of those who preach of “family values” and that we’re all sons and daughters of God, but who lust for war and who support the torture of prisoners.
I’m tired of those who claim there’s too much hatred and violence in movies and video games, but who compare the President to Adolf Hitler, while carrying their assault rifles.
Four Step Plan to Prevent Senseless Gun Violence
This really isn’t rocket science; here are my thoughts on helping to prevent another Sandy Hook or Aurora.
Step one – get the right-wing to stop making excuses for needing assault weapons and high capacity magazines – of course if they don’t we’ll just move on to step two without them.
Step two – ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines
Step three – increase funding for school security throughout country, mandate federal standards for security, i.e., doors, windows, armed police officers etc
Step four – increase federal funding for mental health care, or simply fully fund it under the Affordable Care Act.
If the right-wing won’t police its own house – ie, the NRA – then the rest of us will; the Congress and the Tea Party oppose meaningful gun legislation at their own political peril; in case they didn’t notice they didn’t win in November. This isn’t about the adults rights to own whatever thing (gun) they want, personal property rights do not trump another individual’s right to life – as in 20 first grade students slaughtered at Sandy Hook.
The Liberty Tree 