It must be said that with the forty-year stranglehold of influence from the National Rifle Association, neither political party has distinguished itself. Added to that is the insistence of the Republican Party that America must be the least mentally stable country on the Earth. I have come to this opinion because the prevalence of guns apparently plays no tangible part in the most violent civilized society, according to leading Republicans. The only mentions of terrorism or senseless mayhem is attributed to Muslims and people of color, all others are deranged.
Newscasters and those supposedly in the know, who vow to never mention an American mass murderer by name, use that tactic to feel self-righteous. Unfortunately, that hesitation is never applied to Muslims or immigrants. We feel better maintaining the anonymity of native killers because it alleviates any complicity from a society that worships the gun. Politicians get to stand in solemn silence and bestow, “thoughts and prayers” on the bereaved. They never do anything, even in response to the begging faces of survivors in the Parkland, Florida massacre. I watched the thousand-yard stares, wet eyes and quivering lips of kids begging the people who are charged with their protection, to save them.
Japan, Germany, Australia, France, and England have either eliminated mental illness or gun control has worked. In 2014 Japan reported six guns deaths. For that same year, in the United States, there were a reported 33, 599 deaths. How much does it take for a good guy with a gun to stop at a minimum 33, 599 bullets? I can only conclude that Republicans believe, in defiance of statistics from around the world, that the United States is a walking, talking insane asylum.
There are lots of Blue Dog Democrats, including Independent Bernie Sanders, who have voted on the wrong side of sensible gun restrictions. Most ashamedly, former Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Max Baucus of Montana, and Mark Begich of Alaska along with Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakotavoted against tougher gun registration following the Sandy Hook massacre of 26 people including 20 first and second graders.
Right on time, Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who once tried frying a slice of bacon on the hot smoking barrel of a semi-automatic rifle, is riding to the rescue of gun-toters and accusing the Democrats of politicizing the argument. Despite the literal begging of students and their parents in Florida to do something, anything, Cruz has never seen a hurtling bullet he did not like.
My hope is fleeting. After 20 children were slaughtered by a gunman in Connecticut when their biggest crime was wanting more time for recess; two Congresspeople Steve Scalise and Gabby Giffords who are paying a physical toll for the rest of their lives due to the senselessness of separate gunman; fifty-nine patrons of a country music concert, literally dying with their boots on, and now fifteen budding teenagers and two teachers looking forward to prom, graduation and next year’s class are the latest victims.
I propose a bipartisan Congressional vote on funding for straitjackets because America must be the most mentally unstable place on Earth.
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