Today the National Rifle Association held its first news conference since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Many people were waiting the hear what the NRA had to say since the shootings. The NRA has gotten criticized by many people for being in favor of guns. Until 1974, the NRA was pro-gun and pro-gun control. Then the absolutists took over wanting everyone to be armed and allowing guns in all public places. NRA Executive VP Wayne LaPierre said the most effective way to protect our children from horrors like last week’s school shooting in Connecticut is to provide armed security personnel at all schools. The NRA suggests gun-free school zones make children less safe, leaving them “utterly defenseless.”
There have been calls to place armed guards at schools and even arm teachers. But I have a problem with this. There are over 100,000+ schools in the United States. So if we want to put cops in all schools it would require hiring a force 3 times larger than the NYPD. Plus in a time of teacher layoffs and classroom cutbacks. Who has the funding to provide armed guards at every school? I also don’t like the idea of arming teachers. If we arm teachers it won’t be long before a child accidentally shoots someone because of a teacher’s gun. The NRA is calling this The National School Shield Emergency Response Program. Learn more by clicking the link. http://www.nraschoolshield.com/.
LaPierre said “The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” And while that is true it did not stop him from blaming things for the gun violence. First, he blamed the media, Hollywood, movies, songs, the courts, and video games like Mortal Kombat for creating a culture of violence. Seriously, a game like Mortal Kombat which has no guns in it is creating mass murders? The NRA needs to get its heads out of the sand. Playing video games DOES NOT turn people into killing machines.
Along with the NRA saying the news media is “demonized gun owners.” The NRA wants America to create a national database of mentally ill people to prevent them from buying weapons. And yes; I have a huge problem with this! The school shooter had Asperger’s Syndrome and I also have it as well. So are we going to limit the rights of people with Asperger’s and Autism because they could be the next mass killer? I am also afraid a list like this would put a big target on our backs and would prevent us from getting jobs because we are on a database. The NRA has also blocked a national registry of gun ownership which I think America badly needs.
The NRA has demonstrated once again that nothing, absolutely nothing, trumps guns, guns, and more guns; and it’s not right for America. I found this from the LA Times and I do believe the NRA is out of touch from much of America. “’I have never seen a more precise example of how out of touch the NRA’s Washington lobbyists are with the NRA’s membership,’ said Mark Glaze, director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. “’If there is a need for security at our elementary schools today, it is largely because the NRA’s Washington leadership has gutted the gun laws that used to keep schools and day cares and churches safe,’ Glaze added. ‘Thanks for the proposal, but we would have preferred that you apologize for causing the problem.'”
Even the top lobbyist from the Southern Baptist Convention said that the “New Testament justification for owning firearms” lies in Jesus’ command to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Each year 30k Americans die from gun violence. This is way too many people! And since the shootings last Friday around 100 Americans have been killed because of gun violence. And yes, Columbine High School had a armed guard on the day of its mass shooting. So these ideas from the NRA is simply not going to work! Why is the NRA not talking about ways to have better gun controls in this country?
I support the ideas from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. First, I think a big change in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System is needed. There needs to be bigger mental health checks in everyone that is wanting to purchase a weapon. I would like to see a requirement of having people getting two family references saying its okay for them to get a weapon. I would also like to see these requirements put in at gun shows and for online purchases. There is no reason a website or gun shows can run background checks for gun buyers. I would also like to see required classes for people wanting to get a concealed weapons permit so people can be properly trained and the police can find someone who is mentally unstable.
The big tipping point is about assault weapons. I have gotten into a Twitter and Facebook war with people who think America should never ban any guns. These assault weapons are made to kill and to kill at a high rate of speed. And yes, I do think they need to be banned! I would like to see Congress to ban all military-style semi-automatic assault weapons along with high capacity ammunition magazines. According to ATF reports, in 2010 there were 5,459,240 new firearms manufactured in the United States, nearly all (95 percent) for the U.S. market. An additional 3,252,404 firearms were imported to the United States. America has close to 300 million guns which is a bit too much.
Before some people say I should move to California. I do still support the second amendment. People do have a right to arm themselves and I think people should get a concealed weapons permit. But I think America can do a much better job in controlling guns and making our streets safer. It needs to happen folks! If don’t agree with me leave a comment below.
