It is truly unfortunate that our nation is once again, struck by indefensible killings of students and their teachers. What’s even more horrific is the silence from those lawmakers who are more committed in their continuance of accepting donations from the NRA than in establishing and enacting Common Sense Gun Laws. To offer their, “thoughts and prayers” without doing anything concrete to stop the stupid is as insulting and heartless as one could possibly be. Exactly what are thoughts and prayers going to do to stop the senseless carnage and loss of life?
What our “elected” politicians seem to forget is that prayers without action won’t change anything. But the children understand this–they know thoughts and prayers won’t stop a determined shooter from going into a school and gunning down students who came to school to learn, not to die.
Emma González understands and those students in Parkland, FL understand— that it is the responsibility of lawmakers to change the course of events by enacting Common Sense Gun Laws–who at the moment seem frozen into complete impotence because they’re afraid to buck the NRA after taking millions in contributions to them. They are bought and paid for by NRA and nothing short of a miracle will cause them to mobilize and do what should have been done long ago.
How many times must we sit back and watch the news and see how children and other innocent people have been gunned down by those who legally purchased guns, in particular assault weapons, with more ease than some teens can buy cigarettes? This is totally unacceptable. The visit by trump to visit a victim in the hospitable was just as tasteless and inappropriate as his throwing paper towels to victims of the hurricane in Puerto Rico. Attempting to console people is not an opportunity for a photo op in which he comes off looking like a grinning fool. No one appreciates the “thumbs up” gesture in a time of sorrow and mourning. No empathy capable by him and his lack of compassion for the families is absolutely abhorrent.
I’m supporting the planned walk-out by many students across the nation on April 20, 2018 and any other protest, including my own creativeness in reaching out to those who voted for him to understand, if we don’t change the way we think about the use of assault weapons, their child could be next. And perhaps that’s what it’s going to take–a number of trump supporters losing their children to gun violence or the lawmakers losing a child to gun violence–maybe then, they’ll see the need to get off their butts, return the money to the NRA and do the job they were elected to do–establish sensible laws for the benefit and protection of all Americans.
The children of Parkland, Florida will lead the charge but they won’t be alone. The nation will be right behind them, supporting them every step of the way. At least those of us with a heart will be right behind–the rest–well–they’ll have to deal with the consequences of their inaction.
I am a legal gun-owner, but I do not own an assault weapon because I have no need for one and neither does anyone else who is not actively serving in the military or law enforcement. That’s the bottom line for me. No one else needs an assault weapon since their own purpose is to kill and destroy lives. For the lives that were taken–killed for no reason–left behind families whose lives are destroyed as they muddle through life, trying to understand–why?
Anyone who supports the NRA and it’s lack of human decency is complicit in all who are killed by those who are “exercising their 2nd amendment rights.” Any elected official who will not denounce the use of assault weapons and will not ban them, will have the blood of every person killed on their hands and God will judge them accordingly, but the voters will put them out of work to make sure they do not have an opportunity to be the cause of another loss of life.
If the children are willing to take the lead, the rest of us must be willing to follow and make sure elected officials honor lives over money. It is time we stop asking the question, “Is it time to talk about guns,” for it is past time to talk and do what needs to be done to save lives, not collect money.
Call your congressional representatives at 202-224-3121 and demand they establish Common Sense Gun legislation, now–that includes banning assault weapons.
maryhallrayford 