On Tuesday, an 18-year-old crashed his truck, exchanged fire with police officers, entered an elementary school, and murdered 19 children and two teachers with a semi-automatic rifle.
Cigarettes are the only product that, when used as directed, will likely result in disease and death. Guns (auto and semi-auto) when used as directed, can be used to kill or maim scores of innocents within seconds. After decades of lies and political grift, big tobacco finally had a reckoning, and the public is safer as a result. We need to do the same with guns.
Hi Jeff, the one big difference between cigarettes and guns is that the users of cigarettes are not digging in to use cigarettes to overthrow the US government when the time comes, whether that be a Civil War over replacement theory or some other excuse for racist goals. Survivalists and all other forms of avid gun-2A advocacy are religious in their stands for guns and literally nothing will stand in their way. They are working to take down our democracy from dog-catcher on up and Republicans of every ilk need to be beaten at the ballot box, while we still have one!
So tying yesterday and today together, the right to gain access to a medication, which is not even intended to be used for an abortion, is non-existent. However, the right to acquire a firearm which might be used to murder children at their school is unassailable. And this somehow makes sense to these morons?
The real problem in America is why people, and I guess I mean men since they do most of the killing (and not just with guns), believe they have the right to take another life. That may the real "right" some don't want taken away or regulated. The right to inflict pain and death on another because they themselves feel bad.
Judd--One of the things that continues to nag me about the trump era is that we know that the NRA laundered Russian money into the republican party. We know that Russia has kompromat on every republican in office, with the possible exception of Mitt Romney. I'd like to know whether the NRA knows all the dirty secrets of these republicans, and whether THAT'S the power they wield over the party, not the money. I'd also like to know why this isn't mainstream news. Your skills at bringing these stories in the mainstream are unparalleled, and it would be amazing for all Americans if you took this on. Thank you.
Trump has shown that there is no kompromat mat that can embarrass a Republican.
The NRA simply offers money and a steady group of votes. As Republicans grow more radical, success requires a coalition of brainwashed extremist factions (well, that + election manipulations)
Those poor kids. Their poor grieving families. Going a different direction.I am going to throw it out here.
We need more mental health care in this country. Cho at VA Tech was a prime example of not enough in place to keep an obviously disturbed person in care and worse yet from obtaining weapons in spite of the fact he had been held 3 days for mental evaluation previously.
Now the next issue I find most disturbing
Yes we have too many guns. I own several myself. I wouldn't object to a registry and I would not buy an assault rifle. They are weapons of war and the citizen does not need one. But I can guarentee you many of the millions of guns owned in America are the very same.
The miltia here offered classes in
"How to stop a bleed and how to track a man." Those are not taught for hunting deer.
The best armed group in this country besides the US Military are the far right.
When Trump calls for Civil War he knows who is talking to and it isn't you or me. They are armed and angry and have agendas from white supremancy to rhetoric that isn't true but they believe. I doubt they would register their arsenals.
Vote like your life depends on it. Maybe it does. I fear it does.
An excellent and always timely reminder about the horrific state of gun legislation in America
Perhaps, in between mass shootings, you can do a piece on the very high death rate of suicide by gun. Even more gun deaths occur from suicide. Data shows suicide by gun has a far higher success rate than other techniques.
Literally thousands of suicide deaths could be avoided with proper gun controls when other efforts fail.
We all know what's really happening here don't we? Gun manufacturers donate heavily to the republicans who refuse to pass any meaningful legislation. Doesn't matter the topic, forcing women to birth their rapists babies or letting children continue to be murdered at school, they keep getting those campaign donations so they do nothing. They are interested in money, power, and themselves. They do not care about the greater good or what the majority wants. Republicans are pure evil masquerading as righteous religious people.
I find it disturbing when any writer comments that we can preserve 2nd Amendment Rights. Get the Republican f’ers out of our government, expand Supreme Court and Repeal the 2nd Amendment. That Amendment states “WELL REGULATED” Ban bullets! Regulate the hell out of it. Stop making excuses that people need guns. It’s a need in rare instances. Fewer guns=fewer deaths. When the hell will this country stop being the embarrassment of the world?
Left out: American heritage. Nation founded in large part on the idea of being ready to kill on a moment’s notice. Still suffuses, at least for some, their idea of patriotism.
Then add to that the NRA and special interests’ financing and co-opting of NRA elected puppets, then both parties’ disinterest in the well-being of the nation’s people -- forget what the majority of people want -- and here we are and pretty will always be.
Of course, we could be better, we have the freedom to do the work, but the GOP initiative to prevent any such thing, their project to turn the clock back to 1777 and the Articles of Confederation is almost complete. (Apologies to anyone committed to believing the DNC will do anything to prevent it. I mean if one doesn’t act when one can, the problem worsens, and one still doesn’t act, well, it’s not the way to a happy resolution.)
Just a note that vaccine manufacturers are also exempt from lawsuits since 1986. Since that time, vaccine production and mandatory requirements for vaccines have exploded. I’m not anti-vax. They can be life-saving as seen with the most recent covid vaccine. I’ll probably get negative comments, but I’m merely making the point that once there is legislation that protects an industry from lawsuits, there is a profit incentive that can lead to undesirable consequences.
I don’t want to turn attention away from this country’s gun problem, especially in light of recent events. My stomach turns with each of these mass shootings, and I agree with universal background checks, licenses to own guns, age requirement of 21, training requirements, and banning assault weapons. I would go a step farther and require liability insurance for every gun owned.
The winning Sandy Hook lawsuit against Remington was a start, and I think various states are considering legislation that would mimic how they were able to argue CT consumer protection law in spite of protections from the 2005 federal law. Technically the outcome was a settlement negotiated by the insurance companies since Remington was in bankruptcy, but that doesn’t make it less important as a precedent.
Every single small or large step toward holding gun and ammunition manufacturers and their marketing efforts in a BRIGHT LIGHT is a step in the right direction. They should be held
accountable and legally challenged if they are producing/marketing weapons designed for mass assault.
It seems reasonable that a full scale investigation of the NRA and it's
resources / connections is, at a minimum, demanded and hopefully banned from existence.
Cigarettes are the only product that, when used as directed, will likely result in disease and death. Guns (auto and semi-auto) when used as directed, can be used to kill or maim scores of innocents within seconds. After decades of lies and political grift, big tobacco finally had a reckoning, and the public is safer as a result. We need to do the same with guns.
Hi Jeff, the one big difference between cigarettes and guns is that the users of cigarettes are not digging in to use cigarettes to overthrow the US government when the time comes, whether that be a Civil War over replacement theory or some other excuse for racist goals. Survivalists and all other forms of avid gun-2A advocacy are religious in their stands for guns and literally nothing will stand in their way. They are working to take down our democracy from dog-catcher on up and Republicans of every ilk need to be beaten at the ballot box, while we still have one!
The irony of the NR-freaking-A not allowing guns during Donald Trump's speech at their conference.
No guns are allowed in the main hall at any time during the NRA conference.
A gun is a machine for enforcing your will on another human being, under threat of death.
A gun is a multiplier of killing power, but not of reason, patience or compassion.
Note: America has TEN TIMES AS MANY GUNS PER PERSON AS IRAQ !!!
So you can sue tobacco companies for cigarettes killing people but not gun manufacturers? no sense at all to that
So tying yesterday and today together, the right to gain access to a medication, which is not even intended to be used for an abortion, is non-existent. However, the right to acquire a firearm which might be used to murder children at their school is unassailable. And this somehow makes sense to these morons?
The real problem in America is why people, and I guess I mean men since they do most of the killing (and not just with guns), believe they have the right to take another life. That may the real "right" some don't want taken away or regulated. The right to inflict pain and death on another because they themselves feel bad.
" By 2018, just 34% of American households reported having a gun in the home."
This means that the AVERAGE household with guns has MORE THAN TEN GUNS. AVERAGE.
That is seriously fucked-up!
Judd--One of the things that continues to nag me about the trump era is that we know that the NRA laundered Russian money into the republican party. We know that Russia has kompromat on every republican in office, with the possible exception of Mitt Romney. I'd like to know whether the NRA knows all the dirty secrets of these republicans, and whether THAT'S the power they wield over the party, not the money. I'd also like to know why this isn't mainstream news. Your skills at bringing these stories in the mainstream are unparalleled, and it would be amazing for all Americans if you took this on. Thank you.
Trump has shown that there is no kompromat mat that can embarrass a Republican.
The NRA simply offers money and a steady group of votes. As Republicans grow more radical, success requires a coalition of brainwashed extremist factions (well, that + election manipulations)
I just read that Mitt has received more NRA money by a wide margin than any other sitting R Senator. Have not confirmed personally.
I hear $13 million from a trusted source. And he's a land shark, vulture capitalist picking bones while claiming otherwise.
Yuck!
Those poor kids. Their poor grieving families. Going a different direction.I am going to throw it out here.
We need more mental health care in this country. Cho at VA Tech was a prime example of not enough in place to keep an obviously disturbed person in care and worse yet from obtaining weapons in spite of the fact he had been held 3 days for mental evaluation previously.
Now the next issue I find most disturbing
Yes we have too many guns. I own several myself. I wouldn't object to a registry and I would not buy an assault rifle. They are weapons of war and the citizen does not need one. But I can guarentee you many of the millions of guns owned in America are the very same.
The miltia here offered classes in
"How to stop a bleed and how to track a man." Those are not taught for hunting deer.
The best armed group in this country besides the US Military are the far right.
When Trump calls for Civil War he knows who is talking to and it isn't you or me. They are armed and angry and have agendas from white supremancy to rhetoric that isn't true but they believe. I doubt they would register their arsenals.
Vote like your life depends on it. Maybe it does. I fear it does.
An excellent and always timely reminder about the horrific state of gun legislation in America
Perhaps, in between mass shootings, you can do a piece on the very high death rate of suicide by gun. Even more gun deaths occur from suicide. Data shows suicide by gun has a far higher success rate than other techniques.
Literally thousands of suicide deaths could be avoided with proper gun controls when other efforts fail.
Keep up the great work!
We all know what's really happening here don't we? Gun manufacturers donate heavily to the republicans who refuse to pass any meaningful legislation. Doesn't matter the topic, forcing women to birth their rapists babies or letting children continue to be murdered at school, they keep getting those campaign donations so they do nothing. They are interested in money, power, and themselves. They do not care about the greater good or what the majority wants. Republicans are pure evil masquerading as righteous religious people.
I find it disturbing when any writer comments that we can preserve 2nd Amendment Rights. Get the Republican f’ers out of our government, expand Supreme Court and Repeal the 2nd Amendment. That Amendment states “WELL REGULATED” Ban bullets! Regulate the hell out of it. Stop making excuses that people need guns. It’s a need in rare instances. Fewer guns=fewer deaths. When the hell will this country stop being the embarrassment of the world?
Left out: American heritage. Nation founded in large part on the idea of being ready to kill on a moment’s notice. Still suffuses, at least for some, their idea of patriotism.
Then add to that the NRA and special interests’ financing and co-opting of NRA elected puppets, then both parties’ disinterest in the well-being of the nation’s people -- forget what the majority of people want -- and here we are and pretty will always be.
Of course, we could be better, we have the freedom to do the work, but the GOP initiative to prevent any such thing, their project to turn the clock back to 1777 and the Articles of Confederation is almost complete. (Apologies to anyone committed to believing the DNC will do anything to prevent it. I mean if one doesn’t act when one can, the problem worsens, and one still doesn’t act, well, it’s not the way to a happy resolution.)
Just a note that vaccine manufacturers are also exempt from lawsuits since 1986. Since that time, vaccine production and mandatory requirements for vaccines have exploded. I’m not anti-vax. They can be life-saving as seen with the most recent covid vaccine. I’ll probably get negative comments, but I’m merely making the point that once there is legislation that protects an industry from lawsuits, there is a profit incentive that can lead to undesirable consequences.
I don’t want to turn attention away from this country’s gun problem, especially in light of recent events. My stomach turns with each of these mass shootings, and I agree with universal background checks, licenses to own guns, age requirement of 21, training requirements, and banning assault weapons. I would go a step farther and require liability insurance for every gun owned.
The winning Sandy Hook lawsuit against Remington was a start, and I think various states are considering legislation that would mimic how they were able to argue CT consumer protection law in spite of protections from the 2005 federal law. Technically the outcome was a settlement negotiated by the insurance companies since Remington was in bankruptcy, but that doesn’t make it less important as a precedent.
Every single small or large step toward holding gun and ammunition manufacturers and their marketing efforts in a BRIGHT LIGHT is a step in the right direction. They should be held
accountable and legally challenged if they are producing/marketing weapons designed for mass assault.
It seems reasonable that a full scale investigation of the NRA and it's
resources / connections is, at a minimum, demanded and hopefully banned from existence.
This is madness.