On the same day that Florida House lawmakers’ committee voted to arm some teachers, a Georgia social studies teacher was arrested for bringing a gun to school, firing it, barricading himself and causing students to run to avoid being stuck and possibly killed. According to Dalton, Georgia police, the teacher, Randall Davidson will face charges of aggravated assault, carrying a weapon on school grounds, terroristic threats, reckless conduct, possession of gun during commission of a crime, and disrupting a public school. Following the Parkland, Florida school shooting that killed 17 persons, Donald Trump proposed that teachers should be provided with incentives to be armed with guns in the classroom. A Florida House committee responded to the Parkland school shootings by approving a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy any gun, require a three-day waiting period for rifle purchases and create a program that could allow some teachers to carry concealed weapons in the … [Read more...] about Ban the Assault Weapons Elephant in the Room
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Why is it Easier to Kill Kids than Change Gun Laws?
Last Wednesday as I sat in a hospital family waiting room awaiting the surgical outcome for my brother, a breaking news alert flashed across the TV screen. Another school shooting had occurred. This time the shooter took aim in Parkland, Florida at Douglas High school-killing 17 persons including students, one teacher, wrestling coach and football coach. At first, I couldn’t bear to watch under my present circumstances at the time. As the day ended and the next day arrived, I saw students speaking out on TV about the shooting and their fervent plea for changes to our gun laws. Having once debated former NRA president David Keene on gun rights, I know the NRA opposes any restrictions which take away gun rights. However, I also know we need to prioritize life over death; people over profits; actions over silence; laws over prayers and kids over guns. While the second amendment grants the rights to bear arms, the Declaration of Independence states we are “endowed by their Creator … [Read more...] about Why is it Easier to Kill Kids than Change Gun Laws?
Gun Violence, Gun Control and Gutless GOP Politicians
A week following the Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting and killing of 49 persons, it’s business as usual for many of our GOP politicians. Despite four Senate bills advanced by both parties, no gun control law passed this week. A homegrown terrorist living in the U.S. may still buy an assault weapon and hundreds of cartridges to kill innocent Americans. And many of our Republican lawmakers lack the guts to pass any common sense laws to protect innocent lives from being taken at the hands of a mentally ill or homegrown terrorist. Inaction means more lives will be taken. The bills voted down on Monday ranged from the tepid GOP bill to ban potential terrorists from buying a gun but here’s the caveat—only if, a judge found probable cause to determine the person is actually involved in terrorist activity. Of course, by then, the alleged terrorist would have sufficient time to buy guns and take multiple lives. Our lawmakers couldn’t even agree to bar persons already suspected of … [Read more...] about Gun Violence, Gun Control and Gutless GOP Politicians