I’m reading the news online, and I see that at the Republican National Convention, the GOP has decided to make banning abortion and gay marriage part of its platforms. Now, anyone who knows me knows I have problems with the GOP, but I think we’re talking about the wrong sort of problems. Abortion is not causing a rise in crime, and gay marriage is not contributing to the number of pedophiles or murderers out there, despite conservative beliefs to the contrary.
No, we should not be having a debate about abortion, gay marriage, women’s rights, debates we’ve been having for years and have heard the same old arguments about, only to see more people accept most of those topics as something positive and that should be allowed by law. No, if you ask me, there’s a far more serious problem, and somehow it’s not getting any voice in this election season.
Aurora. The Madison Sikh Temple. The Empire State Building. Within two months, we had three major shootings that were talked about all over the news in America. Plus Texas A&M had it’s own little scare, though that only got about a day’s worth of news before people moved on. And earlier this week a kid got shot on the first day of school by another student. And over the years, we’ve seen tragic shootings: Columbine, Virginia Tech, stop me any time.
The point is, there’s a violence by gun epidemic in this nation, and it’s not being talked about. Now, I know people want guns to hunt with or use for sport. They want guns for self-defense in their homes. But I don’t think it’s necessary for ordinary citizens to carry guns outside the house, and on university campuses too–that’s what the police are for! I don’t think you should be able to buy a military-grade assault or sniper rifle in any gun shop or even some supermarkets unless there’s a zombie apocalypse happening in your neighborhood. And I don’t think people should go into gun shops and buy said weapons and nothing should be done to check if these consumers have criminal records or mental illness of any sort.
And yet nothing’s getting done. No talk. Maybe banning moviegoers from wearing masks in the theater, but I’d only worry that a mask might signal a murder if I’m watching a slasher film. Nope, nothing’s getting talked about and nothing’s getting done.
I’m urging the politicians in this election, please talk about reasonable gun control laws. Don’t let yourselves be silenced because overly-vocal opponents will shout that you’re trying to take away Second-Amendment rights. You should be doing something, because we’ve had three major shootings these past two months, the latest in a long line of horrible shootings. How many more before people realize that not talking about this problem won’t make it go away?
Please talk about it. For the sake of the victims, and for those who might be saved by reasonable gun control laws.
Rami Ungar The Writer 
I agree that gun control is an important issue that needs to be re-examine, in earnest, by the highest levels of government. However, I also think that there are some indirect factors that influence the continued proliferation of dangerous weapons on the streets.
Here’s one: Gun lobbying.
It’s a topic that should not be overlooked if the conversation that you propose (one that I do think needs to happen) ever happens. How long are we going to let pro-gun lobbyists dump endless funding toward their cause and sway our leadership away from even beginning the conversation in the first place?
Maybe this is too idealistic for a country in which money is God.
yeah, super PACs and lobbyists need to be reigned in again as well. otherwise, neither party will be able to help this country if money talks the most.
Here’s an idea: if you want to do a ton of lobbying, you or your organization must pay a specific amount in taxes every year for every hundred thousand or million you spend towards lobbying. However, we’ll word it in such a way that it’ll be difficult to find loopholes in the wording of such a law.
I’m in — you just bought a constituent with words.
wow, i didn’t think i could do that. thanks for your support, and the best thing you can do is be vocal about your beliefs in lobbyists, super PACs, and gun control, and especially to your elected leaders. After all, if you’re not vocal, how can you expect them to listen?
Still, you can’t beat just showing up at a candidates forum and getting up and asking the question: “if elected, what will you do to help solve the epidemic of gun violence in our country?” The media won’t ask, but as a citizen you can. We are the only ones who can make a difference.
yes we are. just got to find a candidate’s forum to ask it in. otherwise i can’t do a single thing.
Nice article. We must make them discuss it. Contact me, asking the questoin is exactly what we need. We can provide you a list of local places to attend forums. Nationally see http://www.wearebetterthanthis.org
thanks for commenting, and i will definitely check out that website. it is important to get people talking about this.
It would seem any time sensible moderates try to advance ideas or discussion it is railroaded by emotional rhetoric, grandstanding and theatrics inevitably descending into epithets and insults.
If you get them asking the wrong questions you don’t need answers.
~ Thomas Pynchon
I think that’s what the GOP and, unfortunately, a world full of spin-doctors have succeeded in accomplishing while stymieing any real inroads and progress that could be made.
Great post!
Hope you have a great day! 💋
i hope you have a great day too. and hopefully with the elections this November, we’ll get some more moderate leaders in who can pass some sensible gun-control laws.
Join us to keep guns off campus http://bit.ly/ODnYv5
sounds like a good idea. i’ll check out that site too.
you know what? i like the idea: everybody in ohio, get on that website! there’s a petition to keep guns off campus there!