It's been almost two weeks since the mass shooting at Pulse. Two weeks since many Republicans did their best to avoid acknowledging that LGBT people were attacked. Two weeks since the bigoted and homophobic rantings of ersatz christians praised the killer and condemned those who died or were wounded.
As we near the one-year anniversary of the Obergefell decision, it is apparent that more needs to be done. Republicans rail against the LGBT community because that wins them votes with their base. At the same time, they bend over backwards to protect the sale of assault rifles by claiming that doing anything else is a denial of due process.
The 49 people killed at the Pulse nightclub in the early morning hours of June 12 were denied their constitutional rights to life, liberty and happiness.
And, the Republicans refuse to do anything--except offer a "moment of silence." But that comes as no surprise. The GOP saw nothing wrong with little kids being gunned down in their school--the shooter had a right to buy that assault weapon. The GOP saw nothing wrong with the Santa Bernardino attack on a Christmas party--those shooters had a Second Amendment right to buy assault weapons--no questions asked. The GOP sees nothing wrong with any of the shootings that have occurred.
The GOP is selective when it talks about due process rights, but only when it suits their purposes. Prospective gun buyers are entitled to it because that's what the NRA wants and Republicans will never stand up to the NRA. To hear Republicans talk one would think the NRA is the 4th branch of government. Republicans are cowards and afraid of the NRA.
Most Americans want background checks but the Republicans ignore that fact. They only talk about what "the American people want" when it suits their purposes. Otherwise, they become tone-deaf.
Republican dominated state legislatures get their knickers in a twist over transgender men and women using public bathrooms. They create fictional voter fraud to justify restricting voting rights--but just for those who usually do not vote for Republicans.
Republicans do not care about the American people. They only care about their own position. They do not care about the danger facing American citizens from people who buy assault weapons and use them for the purpose for which they were designed--killing as many people as possible in as short a time as possible. The Republicans and the NRA are responsible for the deaths in Sandy Hook, Aurora, San Bernardino, Orlando and Charleston.
But, complaining about Republican inaction is not enough. It is equally important to offer some suggestions. Here are mine:
Background checks--no sales without one;
A two-week waiting period between the time the application is made and the purchase can be completed;
Federal funding for research on the impact gun violence has on the United States;
Declaring gun violence a public health issue;
No one on a "do not fly" list is able to buy a weapon;
Restrict magazine size;
Ban the sale of all assault weapons--no exceptions; limit use to active duty or reserve military personnel and those weapons must be stored at a military installation;
Tax the sale of guns and ammunition (per bullet) at 200%. All tax proceeds are earmarked for anti-gun education;
No grandfathered clauses--all assault weapons must be surrendered;
More state laws, like Connecticut's, that restrict assault weapons;
Over the top? Tell that to the parents of the children from Sandy Hook, the families at Fort Hood, the survivors at San Bernardino and the families of the dead and wounded in Orlando. Tell that to those whose lives have changed forever--who may never recover from their wounds. Tell that to the parents of children killed because they or their friends left their guns loaded and available to inquisitive young minds. Tell that to the kids who killed their friends because they were playing with Daddy's gun and "it just went off."
As we near the one-year anniversary of the Obergefell decision, it is apparent that more needs to be done. Republicans rail against the LGBT community because that wins them votes with their base. At the same time, they bend over backwards to protect the sale of assault rifles by claiming that doing anything else is a denial of due process.
The 49 people killed at the Pulse nightclub in the early morning hours of June 12 were denied their constitutional rights to life, liberty and happiness.
And, the Republicans refuse to do anything--except offer a "moment of silence." But that comes as no surprise. The GOP saw nothing wrong with little kids being gunned down in their school--the shooter had a right to buy that assault weapon. The GOP saw nothing wrong with the Santa Bernardino attack on a Christmas party--those shooters had a Second Amendment right to buy assault weapons--no questions asked. The GOP sees nothing wrong with any of the shootings that have occurred.
The GOP is selective when it talks about due process rights, but only when it suits their purposes. Prospective gun buyers are entitled to it because that's what the NRA wants and Republicans will never stand up to the NRA. To hear Republicans talk one would think the NRA is the 4th branch of government. Republicans are cowards and afraid of the NRA.
Most Americans want background checks but the Republicans ignore that fact. They only talk about what "the American people want" when it suits their purposes. Otherwise, they become tone-deaf.
Republican dominated state legislatures get their knickers in a twist over transgender men and women using public bathrooms. They create fictional voter fraud to justify restricting voting rights--but just for those who usually do not vote for Republicans.
Republicans do not care about the American people. They only care about their own position. They do not care about the danger facing American citizens from people who buy assault weapons and use them for the purpose for which they were designed--killing as many people as possible in as short a time as possible. The Republicans and the NRA are responsible for the deaths in Sandy Hook, Aurora, San Bernardino, Orlando and Charleston.
But, complaining about Republican inaction is not enough. It is equally important to offer some suggestions. Here are mine:
Background checks--no sales without one;
A two-week waiting period between the time the application is made and the purchase can be completed;
Federal funding for research on the impact gun violence has on the United States;
Declaring gun violence a public health issue;
No one on a "do not fly" list is able to buy a weapon;
Restrict magazine size;
Ban the sale of all assault weapons--no exceptions; limit use to active duty or reserve military personnel and those weapons must be stored at a military installation;
Tax the sale of guns and ammunition (per bullet) at 200%. All tax proceeds are earmarked for anti-gun education;
No grandfathered clauses--all assault weapons must be surrendered;
More state laws, like Connecticut's, that restrict assault weapons;
Over the top? Tell that to the parents of the children from Sandy Hook, the families at Fort Hood, the survivors at San Bernardino and the families of the dead and wounded in Orlando. Tell that to those whose lives have changed forever--who may never recover from their wounds. Tell that to the parents of children killed because they or their friends left their guns loaded and available to inquisitive young minds. Tell that to the kids who killed their friends because they were playing with Daddy's gun and "it just went off."
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