The horror in Las Vegas shocks everyone and most are so concerned about the victims that their thoughts and prayers are concentrating on the people involved. Thinking about those who lost love ones or are in a hospital recovering, even those who ran for their lives and are still shaking. People ask “What could I do to help”, much like the thoughts for the victims of the recent hurricanes where people reached out from all over the country to help. But there is another group who think quite differently.
The people who think differently are only in this life for themselves. Whenever there is a crisis or a disaster their mines go to” how can I get ahead out of this?” This is clearly visible when people like some congressional Democrats chose not to wait for all the facts to come in before immediately pushing for increased gun control measures before the blood has been cleaned from the streets.
The great fabricator from Massachusetts, Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote on Twitter Monday “We need to have the conversation about how to stop gun violence. We need it NOW.” Twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton attacked the National Rifle Association (NRA). Saying “Our grief isn’t enough, we can and must put politics aside, stand up to the NRA, and work together to try to stop this from happening again,” Who said the NRA had anything to do with this? But she further wrote “It is long past time for Congress to take action on gun safety to save innocent lives,” Almost everyone must know by now that strong gun laws do not stop criminals from obtaining guns and using them, just look at Chicago.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said Monday morning that “the thoughts and prayers of politicians are cruelly hollow if they are paired with continued legislative indifference.” Murphy demanded Congress “get off its ass and do something”. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Twitter “It time we closed the gun show loophole”. It’s nice to know the Burnie knows so quickly where the shooter got the guns.
Even former Vice President Joe Biden got in the act by saying “Congress & the White House should act now to save lives. There’s no excuse for inaction.” And the dialog goes on and on with almost all the Democrats calling for more gun control laws, when the fact is we have laws but many are not enforced. The sad fact that more laws do not stop the criminal, they only stop the law abiding citizen. This shooter must of known he would not survive yet he when ahead anyway. You can pass all the laws the Democrats want any crazy people will still kill other people.
We must all realize that evil people exist and are all around us, we must be able to protect ourselves and that is why the Constitution gives us the right to possess guns. Yes, they are tragedies that are going to happen, but look at the tragedies that happened in the countries where the government took away the guns, Germany in 1938, Soviet Union 1929 both where millions of unarmed people were exterminated and even Australia where in the state of Victoria the homicides with firearms are up 300% in the first year after the people had to turn in their guns.
As sad as the Las Vegas event is, banning guns will not stop crazies from doing very bad things yet we do need to discuss what we can do to reduce the risks, but calling for more government control before the bodies are even cold is ignorant and a disgrace. Some people still think that the government can pass laws and change people’s behavior, it has not worked with murder, drugs or even prostitution so what makes anyone think it will work in these kinds of cases? Let the hotheads cool and then discuss solutions that might work.
Mike,
Why do you insist on letting people get killed? Don’t you agree that something should be done or are you just happy that 58 innocent people have just gotten killed? What would you do if someone in your family was there and got killed? Would you then say duh I think we should’ve done something about gun control.
BETH,
More people are killed by cars in the USA per year then there are by guns. (33,000 cars, 18,000 guns)
What should be done about this carnage, take away our cars? In my thoughts it is the people, not the
device.
As a bleeding heart liberal that immediately called for stricter gun control, let me tell you why. I have no problem with the right to own guns. I do have a problem with those outside of the military or police owning guns that are automatic or semi-automatic. I also have a problem with “everyone” being able to own a gun, i.e. convicted felons, violent offenders and people with known mental health issues. The spirit of the 2nd amendment was to allow individuals to safeguard their homes and property in the presence of a threat. Basically, not EVERYONE should have the right or ability to own a gun.
What do you think we could have done to stop this evil person from committing this crime Beth? Every law on the books was followed in buying and possessing these weapons even federal background checks. Some people are evil and there are no laws that will change that. Evil people have been killing others since the dawn of time and long before guns were made and they still are. Mike is right there maybe a time and place for everything but some of the democracts he spoke about were speaking or tweeting while the blood was still flowing in the streets, I don’t think this is the time!
Beth there are more auto death each year then guns (33,000 ver 18,000 guns) should we band cars? Of course not, it is the operator not the implement. Gun too are implements and it is the person that is in control not the tool. To criticize we should have some idea of a solution. What is your solution?
Great article Mike. I fully agree. Too many journalist and politicians who have no factual gun knowledge or expertise think they’re experts in the field and constantly give false information to the public. To be a journalist today all you need is good looks, charismatic voice, and no common sense or knowledge in the subject your talking about.
Rick, What we could have done is change the laws. Why are people allowed to have semi-automatic weapons if they are not in the service? Can’t answer that can you? Why do you let the NRA run your life. And Rick what if one of your children was there and was shot and KILLED what would you say then. Oh that’s OK cause he was a evil person and the law says he could have those guns. What is wrong with your brains thinking it is OK to own these kind of weapons? If you say it is their constitutional right to own these guns and you believe in the constitution then it is OK for those players to kneel during the anthem since that is their constitutional right also isn’t it. It is OK as long as it fits your belief.
Another “hate the liberals” column from Mike. Yes Mike, I blame the NRA for our ridiculous worshipping of guns in this country. When I was growing up in the 50’s, people might own a hand gun or a hunting rifle/shotgun. Something happened in the years since then. Organizations like the NRA decided that the best way to sell more guns was to scare the heck out of everyone. Even thought the facts do not support their scare tactics, enough people have bought into the “a bad guy behind every bush” junk that the NRA had pushed for many years. It was not enough to have a hunting rifle or hand gun for protection. People were so scared that they wanted military grade weapons and the NRA gun manufacturers gladly obliged. The writers of the 2nd Amendment would be horrified at what is going on today. Buying 50 assault files is not needed to protect your family. Enough is enough. We kill more people every year with guns than the rest of the world. You can thank the NRA.
The NRA does not sell guns or have anything to do with gun violence the fact is, it is people. Where the NRA has been able to help people to carry guns the violence has gone down. The places with the most gun crimes occur is the cities with the strongest anti-gun laws. In places where people can carry, crime has gone down because the bad guys know they might be facing armed resistance. Bad people love “Gun Free Zones”. I agree that Military grade guns are a little much for home protection, I would not want a hole through my house or yours, but they are available and some people want them so if you are a law abiding citizen it is your right. What happened in L.V. is unaccusable but may happen from time to time but think of the violence if the government tried to take the guns away. Civil war might result and that would be a disaster with thousands killed not just 58 (even that is too many but did happen). Think of the family members who have been saved by a gun in the home?