Stop Being So Freaking STUPID!!!!

Tweet

Comedian Ron White said it best: you can't fix stupid. Every time we have a mass shooting we also have a gun control debate. This time, though, it's different: even formerly pro-NRA people are saying something has to be done. And yet some are obstinately refusing to listen. I saw a news item yesterday (3/7) that said a group of survivors of the Las Vegas attack had flown to Nashville to address state lawmakers about banning bump stocks. And the lawmakers refused to let them talk. Y'know, Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. It's also the (supposed) capital of country music. The Las Vegas massacre took place at a country music concert. The guns had bump stocks, allowing the shooter to get off thousands of shots that killed 58 and wounded nearly 600 more. And yet those lawmakers didn't want to listen to something reasonable, like banning bump stocks. I know there's a problem. My mother of blessed memory used to say, "If they'd just enforce the laws they have on the books they'd never need to write another law." A point well taken, and an important fact that we must never ever overlook. MURDER IS A CRIME. I'm of the opinion that, if someone is going to disregard that law regarding human life, there's no other law we can pass that will make them say, "Oh, wow, that's illegal? Guess I'd better not kill anyone, then." We've passed laws saying that guns are not allowed on school property. And we still have shootings. I truly don't think prohibitive laws are the answer. As that NRA bumper sticker said, "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." Simplistic, but accurate: after all, what happened when the 18th amendment banned alcohol? Did alcohol go away? NO. To the contrary, the "illegal hooch" was still available, and its illegality gave rise to the mob. Similarly, Mothers Against Drunk Driving have been advocating for "tougher drunk driving laws" for decades. We have them..and we still have more drunk driving fatalities (13,365 in 2010) than gun fatalities (11,078 in 2010). Why? Lots of people convicted of "vehicular manslaughter" while driving drunk have walked out of prison after 30-90 days on "shock probation." Yeah, that'll teach 'em. So "banning guns" isn't the answer. However, making things more difficult for these mass shootings isn't going to infringe on my right to own the guns I own. Yet the NRA twists arms to make sure that anything related to gun restriction of any kind, no matter how useful, is -- pardon the pun -- shot down by state lawmakers. Stop being so freaking STUPID, gun lobby!!! Our rights aren't going away if there are "regulations." For instance, ministers have to be licensed but we still have freedom of religion; reporters must have credentials but we still have freedom of the press; and you need a permit to hold a rally but you still have the freedom to assemble! I use Wikipedia's list of deaths to compile my monthly music list. They will list the cause of death for everyone, including the manner in which someone kills themselves. I would hate to think that the United States' obituary listing in Wikipedia will list the cause of death as "suicide by gunshot." But that's where we seem to be heading. My dear late dad didn't see the sarcasm in this song. I hope you DO: