Unbelievable.

Buried in the middle of the paper in a catch-all section called “other news” was the headline “Grandfather Kills 6 Children, Mother of Children, and Self.”

Folks, this is major slaughter and nobody cares?  The National Rifle Association has so conned us into thinking that guns are the American way, Patriotic, and God-fearing, that we don’t even pay attention when a family implodes because of the easy, accessibility of guns.  Congressional candidates are scared to death, pardon the pun, of the the power of the NRA to get out their supporters to vote against anyone who dares even hint at reasonable regulation, like registration, background checks, limited magazine size, or even banning Kevlar vest-penetrating bullets to protect our law enforcement.

Every time I voted against a gun bill or wrote about it in my newsletter, I heard from plenty of gun owners screaming their mantra of second amendment rights not being infringed.  I wonder how many of them read the Supreme Court decision that said, “nothing in our opinion should be taken to cask doubt on a long-standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.  Or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.

Somehow they missed that.

We have had an alarming and unacceptable number of unarmed black men killed by law enforcement.  There is no justification for that and justice must be done.  But, I wonder if law enforcement isn’t reacting to the huge number of guns they know is in the hands of ordinary people.

After every mass shooting there are vigils, haven’t heard one about the family of the grandfather killer guess it isn’t newsworthy, and calls for regulation.  Outraged mothers form organizations, rally marches, and plan forums.  We all ask, “How can we fight back?”

Well, we can’t as long as the NRA bullies, buys, and scares our elected representatives into opposing and curbing of their precious guns.

So, just wait until your TV shows a bloody killing and your paper comes with the story of the next mass shooting and wonder one more time what we can do.

I think you know the answer.

 

— Ellie Kinnaird

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