Damnit, I hate it when I’m right.  Just five days ago, I posted a a blog entry, “Timing Is Everything.”  It concluded with a play on words directed at the growing number of hate motivated mass shootings in America.  It called for, “a limit on high capacity…….MAGAzines.”  Little did I expect that post to transform from prophecy to reality in less than a week.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s response to the massacre at an El Paso WalMart was predictable.  At yesterday’s press conference, a man who in 2015 chastised Texans for dropping to #2 nationally in the number of firearms purchased, chose once again to focus on the “mental health” of the shooter, ignoring his easy access to assault weapons or the rhetoric which motivates these gunmen.

Abbott offered the usual call for thoughts and prayers then in what can only be described as the Too Little, Too Late Act, urged members of the Texas Legislature and citizens to come together “…to begin to work immediately on swift solutions to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again.”  When pressed for specifics, Abbott cited proposals that would “keep guns out of the hands of those who pose an immediate danger to others,” and more resources to address “the mental health issues that are seemingly behind so many of these shootings.”

Oh, wait!  I’m sorry.  My bad.  Those statements were not from yesterday’s press conference.  They were from the governor’s May 18, 2018 press conference following the mass shooting deaths of 10 people at a Santa Fe, Texas school.  Yesterday, Abbott again called for “thoughts and prayers” and “for all Texans to unite” in the wake of this tragedy.  Sorry, you had your chance 15 months ago.  Governor, don’t tell me…

…a ban on assault weapons would have no impact.

Axios periodically publishes a list of the deadliest mass shootings in America.  Yesterday, they updated the list as the massacre in El Paso, now ranks as #8.  The current list includes 22 incidents in which more than 10 deaths occurred.  While they are ranked in order of people killed, it is more enlightening to consider their chronological order.

• Prior to 1994/7
• 1994-2004/1
• After 2004/14

Even Greg Abbott might wonder, “What is it about 1994-2004 that might have contributed to this low number?”  Governor, before I answer your question, let me also point out, of the 22 instances, the shooting at Columbine High School during this 10 year period, is the only one in which there were two gunmen, neither of which had high capacity firearms.

On September 13, 1994, President Bill Clinton signed H.R. 3355–Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, introduced by Congressman Jack Brooks of (drum roll) Texas.   Title XI, Subtitle A–Assault Weapons includes:

• Section 110102. Restriction on manufacture, transfer, and possession of certain automatic assault weapons.
• Section 110103. Ban of large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Support for the ban included former President Ronald Reagan.  And the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the constitutionality of federal, state and local restrictions on assault weapons contrary to the objections of the NRA and so-called Second Amendment purists.

Unfortunately, the act included a 10 year sunset provision by which the provisions expired in 2004 unless re-authorized.  Based on the empirical data above, one can only imagine how many victims of high-capacity assault weapons would still be attending churches, synagogues, college, outdoor concerts, taking in a movie, enjoying local festivals and buying school supplies if the assault weapons ban was still in effect.

And while that soaks in, don’t tell me..

…Donald Trump does not have blood on his hands.

The shooter, a resident of Allen, Texas, a Dallas suburban where 64.9 percent of his fellow residents are white, drove  650 miles to El Paso, Texas where the population is 83 percent of Hispanic or Latino origin.  Nineteen minutes before opening fire the gunman posted an anti-immigrant manifesto which included reference to a “Hispanic invasion of Texas.”

Now where could he possibly get such an idea?  During a June 4, 2019 joint press conference in London with then prime minister Theresa May, Trump urged Mexico to, “step up and stop this onslaught, this invasion at our Southern border.”  Referencing his record approval among Republicans at the same event, he said, “I love records.”  Well congratulations, Donald, you now hold the record for inspiring the greatest number of hate-fueled mass shootings in United States history.

So, don’t tell me…

…impeaching Trump is politically risky.

To hell with politics.  Ask families in Charleston, Parkland, Pittsburgh, Gilroy, El Paso and Dayton if it is more risky than going to school, houses of worship, a food festival, shopping for back-to-school supplies or a Saturday night date.  Trump once told us, “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters, okay?”  The August 4, 2019 version of that declaration should be, “I could spew hatred from the Oval Office contributing to the deaths of dozens of people and I won’t lose the support of any Trumpist members of Congress, okay?  Call it my itchy Twitter finger.”

For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP