It was just last October that Time Magazine's October 13, 2017 issue featured a lead story entitled, "The Massacre in Las Vegas." The article described the carnage that took place as a gunman on the 32nd floor of a hotel there killed 58 and injured 527 others at a country music festival that was taking place across the street below his shooting perch. 62-year old Steven Paddock, using a semi-automatic assault rifle modified with a bump-stock, making the weapon functionally fully automatic, rained down bullets on the 22,000 people assembled below. The result was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. Paddock, armed with an arsenal of 23 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, ended the assault with a bullet to his own head as SWAT closed in on his position.
That attack was just one of the outrageous consequences of our national failure to adopt reasonable, common sense gun control. Since the school massacre at Sandy Hook in 2012 and other murderous rampages at Newtown, Virginia Tech, and Orlando, we have witnessed the same sequence over and over again - shootings, indescribable displays of pain and sorrow, expressions of " thoughts and prayers" for the fallen along with their friends and families, some pledges of actions, and some cautioning that "now is not the time to discuss the matter." Still others blame "mental illness", and some calling for the adoption of gun control laws that make sense. We have witnessed 17 school shootings in 2018 alone - in just 45 days! Colleges, High Schools, Middle Schools and Elementary Schools - none are immune from the danger of assault and death. Since 2012, there have been 230+ attacks - 186 on school property - resulting in 438 being wounded and 138 killed. In fact, right now, we are averaging 5 school shootings a month. In 2018, we have experienced more gun assaults in 45 days than in any year since 2012. And, in each case, always "thoughts and prayers" - but no action - to prevent this unnecessary loss of life, unique to the United States in the developed world.Poll data indicates that the vast majority of Americans - including Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and even NRA members, support common sense gun control measures. These include expanding background checks to include gun-show sales, adding those with a history of mental illness to the "no sale" background registry, adding those on the Homeland Security "no-fly" list to the exclusion list, and, to re-adopt measures to ban ownership of military assault-style weapons like the well-known AK-47 and AR 14, whether semi-automatic or the currently banned automatic version. But, in spite of many public statements by Presidents, Senators, the House Speaker, and many others, nothing seems to happen.
Instead of tightening the rules for gun ownership, closing background check loopholes like private sales and gun shows, or adding funding and regulations to address mental health concerns, Trump and the Republicans offer "thoughts and prayers" and adopt policies and support modifications of law that do exactly the reverse. Just last year, Trump signed a bill into law - notably, without any fanfare - that rolled back an Obama regulation that made it more difficult for those with a mental illness to buy guns. After Sandy Hook, with the Republican Congress refusal to adopt an assault weapon ban, Obama issued a regulation in 2013 that added people receiving a Social Security Disability check due to a mental illness or that deemed them "unfit to handle their own financial affairs" to the "No Gun Registry." Had that rule fully taken effect, 75,000 people would have been added to the background check turn-down list. In February, 2017, both the House and the Senate passed a new bill, H.J. Resolution 40, revoking the Obama regulation. Of course, the NRA applauded Trump's agreement with and signature on the measure "Everytown for Gun Safety" Executive Director John Feinblatt noted this as one item on the NRA list of "pushing for more guns, for more people, in more places."
The other promises that have been made over and over is for more attention paid to school safety and more support for mental health programs in order to address this issue before depression, anger, or delusion results in gun deaths. Last week, the Trump 2019 Budget was introduced. The proposal does none of that. Instead, the Trump budget proposal includes numerous programs that the Trump Administration wants to severely cut or eliminate altogether. Included in these "cuts" are several programs meant to enhance school safety and to help communities recover from tragedies like the one listed above. It cuts $24 million from the National School Safety Program and zeroes out the "Project Prevent Grant" program. That program funds school services in conflict resolution and violence-prevention activities. The proposed budget also cuts funding from Project SERVE (School Emergence Response to Violence). This program, adopted after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, assisted that school community to recover along with others similarly challenged by violence. In addition, the federal budget proposal also contains substantial cuts to Medicaid, including funding for mental health services aimed at those poor and near-poor who could not otherwise access preventive mental health services or clinics.Why are all of these young lives unnecessarily lost? Perhaps mental health is a part of the answer and, of course, those with mental illness should not have access to guns. And, yes, those considered so dangerous as to be prevented from flying and are on the Homeland Security "no-fly" list, should also be prevented from buying guns. And, of course, everyone should be subjected to a background check before being able to buy a firearm, regardless of where or how they purchase a firearm. These all are common sense measures that would help to keep us safe. But, these are not the real answer alone. The real problem is - ACCESS TO GUNS! Especially, those that are designed for one reason - mass killing. That's right, the AK-47, AR-15, and any other military-style automatic or semi-automatic weapon - the personal "weapon of mass destruction."
2nd Amendment rights were defined by the Supreme Court and the Justices ruled THAT THE AMERICAN RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE. We do not permit citizens to own and keep nuclear devices, tanks, artillery, grenade launchers, or surface-to-air missiles. Limits on rights are altogether legal and proper as is appropriate regulation. This applies to wide variety of "rights." People driving need a license. People traveling outside the country need a passport. People providing medical care need a license as do teachers and many others. So, why do we let a personal weapon of mass destruction - the assault weapon - continue to be widely available? And, especially in Florida, easier to buy than a pistol or a beer? One answer is the NRA - their campaign cash, and their threats to oppose those who would limit the manufacture, distribution, and sale or weaponry that is designed to kill humans in large numbers. Instead, the House recently passed a measure supported by the NRA that would permit anyone who is licensed to carry a gun in any state, regardless of the type of weapon, to carry that gun in ANY STATE - regardless of the fact that the state traveled to prohibits that weapon or the carrying of a weapon within their state. So, residents of states like Florida and Texas that permit almost anyone to own weapons - hand guns, rifles, assault weapons, and more - without restriction - can travel to NY, NJ, and Connecticut AND CARRY THEIR GUNS WITH THEM - in spite of that weapon being in violation of our state law! Whatever happened to the party of "states rights"? This measure passed the House and is presently pending in the Senate. Our own Member of Congress, John Faso voted FOR the bill, and against NY State Sovereignty. He fully supports the NRA, opposes the NY SAFE Act, and opposes any effort to ban or limit the availability of assault weapons.
A reasonable person might ask why common sense measures with broad public support like the ones cited above have not been adopted? And, why does it seems that we are EXPANDING GUN RIGHTS AND CUTTING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES? The answer lies with the NRA. So, here is a partial list of NRA endorsed and supported elected officials who recently offered their "thoughts and prayers."
Senator John McCain (R-Ariz) ........................ received $7.7 million from the NRA
Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)........................... received $6.9 million from the NRA
Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO)............................... received $4.5 million from the NRA
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)............................. received $3.3 million from the NRA
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)........................... received $3.0 million from the NRA
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).................. received $179,000 from the NRA in 2016
Among the top 100 House Members who received NRA endorsements and $6 Million in cash, 95 are Republicans, with John Faso among them. Faso is endorsed by the NRA and holds a A++ rating at 93% support of their positions on guns and more. In 2016, Faso received $8000 from the NRA in campaign support, signed a pledge to oppose the NY SAFE Act, and to fight any "liberal attempts to trample on our freedoms." Faso opposes reinstating the federal ban on "assault weapons" and restrictions on magazine capacities. He voted for and supports the House measure permitting anyone licensed in other states to carry their weapons with them into New York. In the end, we either lose more young lives, or we lose Faso and other NRA elected officials.Isn't it time to ask your state legislators, county legislators, and other elected officials where they stand on GUNS? STAND UP! SPEAK OUT! MARCH ON!
PERSIST.... INSIST.... RESIST....... Bobby J
The Senior Progressive
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