It is happening with a sickening regularity. Yesterday again, in Thousand Oaks, California, a gunman opened fire and killed 12 people.
How many times does this have to occur before a lethargic public finally wakes up? and breaks the chokehold of the gun lobby on the legislature?
Don’t fool yourself… Nobody is safe, regardless of race, age, faith, gender or political affiliation. This tragedy can happen anytime anywhere, whether you are a gun proponent or not.
A big deal was made when on June 14, 2017, congressman Steve Scalise (opponent of gun control) was shot practicing baseball. A bigger deal should be made about the 12 students killed yesterday.
To stop this plague, the public at large has to be more vocal and put pressure on their elected officials.
The problem is that the NRA will target (and spend a great deal of money to defeat) any legislator favorable to gun control; and despite the fact that a clear majority of Americans support a form (not a total ban) of gun control.
“Not only does the NRA outspend gun control groups but it’s also simply better at mobilizing its base (it boasts a membership of 5 million) against candidates it deems a threat, according to the Violence Policy Center’s executive director, Josh Sugarmann.”
Unfortunately, politicians prize their jobs (and perks) above anything else and few are willing to lose their livelihood to take on the beast.
A vocal popular uprising has to take place to reverse this trend. There are enough people in this country who have lost a friend or a relative to start this movement.
On the other hand, if you are satisfied with the status quo, do nothing, but don’t come crying when the carnage continues.
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” Martin Niemöller
Alain