In my June 13 post Fool Me Once, I warned Mitch McConnell would use the toothless compromise on gun safety to protect Republicans from having to take a stand on real gun safety legislation. At the time, I knew I was in the minority, even among some of my own followers.
Well folks, yesterday I was proven right, not that there is any satisfaction in that. Following the transformation of an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois into a “killing field,” the GOP responded exactly as expected.
NBC News reached out to several Republican lawmakers including those who voted for the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.” They concluded, “Republicans show no signs of interest in reopening the gun debate a week and a half after Congress passed the most substantial gun reform in 30 years.”
That assessment was immediately confirmed by (drum roll) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
I think yesterday’s shooting is another example of what the problem is. The problem is mental health and these young men who seemed to be inspired to commit these atrocities.
To add insult to injury and DEATH, McConnell claimed the new law “…targeted that problem.” For those of you who are not fluent in McConnell-speak, let me translate.
I do not want to talk about weapons of war being the common denominator in these massacres of innocent men, women and children; so I green-lighted a bill that would not offend the NRA, gun manufacturers who fund us or our paranoid, conspiracy ravaged voter base. Why aren’t they offended? They know it doesn’t affect them.
When will Americans realize when they say “enough is enough” after each mass shooting they too are missing the target? They need to bring the same attitude to the table each time they are “Mitch-slapped” into thinking the Kentucky senator and his lemmings believe, in the shadow of a July 4th bloodbath, they are the pro-life party.
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP
Couldn’t be more applicable than McConnel and “pro life.” However, it may be too late for the only solution for mass killings, elimination of as many assault weapons as possible. Unfortunately their are probably so many in possession of so called militias such as Proud Boys. We have to stop the sale of these weapons at the least and all those who possess them must be registered. It may be impossible to do this under the present congress and Supreme Court.
I have read/heard from reputable sources that there are at least 1,000,000 “assault weapons” owned by civilians in the US. Clearly they’re not just in the possession of the so-called militias. I certainly don’t know what the solution is. Our gun culture (cowboy, macho, save-the-world) is so ingrained it will take generations to change, even if the repubs and NRA would get behind any reasonable restrictions. The whole thing boggles me.
I find myself on the verge of tears so much. A two year old who was at the parade is now an orphan.
Does Mitch know? There was a child killed in Uvalde whose last name was Rubio, does our senator know or care? I have a hard time moving on beyond the constant tragedies, how do these men do it?