I know this is an election year, and politics will dominate. But hearing the opposition from Republican leaders to the President’s announced plans on restricting terrorists, felons, and mentally ill persons access to guns is outrageous. What put it over the top was the fact that their responses were prepared in advance and released instantly upon the announcement, making it clear that it made no difference whatsoever what the specifics were. This documents, once again, the failure of our political leaders to listen to one another or to the majority of the American people who are supportive of common sense action on guns.
It is also an example where politics has been so radicalized that not even public opinion on the other side of the issue can keep far right politicians from total loyalty to the National Rifle Association. There are current national polls showing 90% support for restricting the purchase of guns by terrorists and felons, for example—including even significant support from NRA members—yet no support from any Republican candidate for President, not even for listening and considering possible interest. Add to this that both Republican Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush supported very strongly much more aggressive gun legislation.
If you are as outraged as I, then what are you doing to make that point, to challenge others to think, to hold candidates and elected officials accountable to the public interest? During President Obama’s speech, he made a strong call for civic engagement:
“So, all of us need to demand that Congress be brave enough to stand up to the gun lobby's lies. All of us need to stand up and protect our citizens. All of us need to demand governors, and legislators, and businesses do their part to make our communities safer.
We need the wide majority of responsible gun owners, who grieve with us every time this happens and feel like your views are not being properly represented, to join with us to demand something better. And we need voters who want safer gun laws, and who are disappointed in leaders who stand in their way, to remember come election time.
I mean, some of this is just simple math. Yes, the gun lobby is loud and it is organized in defense of making it effortless for guns to be available for anybody, anytime. Well, you know what? The rest of us, we all have to be just as passionate. We have to be just as organized in the defense of our kids. This is not that complicated. The reason Congress blocks laws is because they want to win elections. If you make it hard for them to win an election if they block those laws, they'll change course, I promise.”
Now is the right time to speak up and be heard.
It is also an example where politics has been so radicalized that not even public opinion on the other side of the issue can keep far right politicians from total loyalty to the National Rifle Association. There are current national polls showing 90% support for restricting the purchase of guns by terrorists and felons, for example—including even significant support from NRA members—yet no support from any Republican candidate for President, not even for listening and considering possible interest. Add to this that both Republican Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush supported very strongly much more aggressive gun legislation.
If you are as outraged as I, then what are you doing to make that point, to challenge others to think, to hold candidates and elected officials accountable to the public interest? During President Obama’s speech, he made a strong call for civic engagement:
“So, all of us need to demand that Congress be brave enough to stand up to the gun lobby's lies. All of us need to stand up and protect our citizens. All of us need to demand governors, and legislators, and businesses do their part to make our communities safer.
We need the wide majority of responsible gun owners, who grieve with us every time this happens and feel like your views are not being properly represented, to join with us to demand something better. And we need voters who want safer gun laws, and who are disappointed in leaders who stand in their way, to remember come election time.
I mean, some of this is just simple math. Yes, the gun lobby is loud and it is organized in defense of making it effortless for guns to be available for anybody, anytime. Well, you know what? The rest of us, we all have to be just as passionate. We have to be just as organized in the defense of our kids. This is not that complicated. The reason Congress blocks laws is because they want to win elections. If you make it hard for them to win an election if they block those laws, they'll change course, I promise.”
Now is the right time to speak up and be heard.
RSS Feed