Thursday, February 15, 2018

stop praying, stop thinking, start voting


Maybe we deserve to implode. Perhaps our finest moment was WWII and the few years that followed. Because since then we became drunk with our power and have become the world's biggest bully. We have invaded, propped up dictators, subverted other countries elections, armed insurrections, choked other countries economies, destroyed other nations. We are currently bombing seven nations. We are the world's biggest arms dealer. This country was founded on genocide and slavery. Is it really any wonder that we are the only nation to ever actually use an atomic bomb on another nation? Yes, yes, I know, lives saved and time shortened and all that. Not the point.

Is it really any wonder that we descended into insanity? Our murderous tendency had to be eventually turned on ourselves. Escalation is the name of the game. And so our love of weapons and violence tells us that guns are the answer to every problem, that the more you take out the more you win.

I wrote this last night and then dinner was ready and now I'm trying to pick up the thread. Where do I start? With thoughts and prayers? Fuck thoughts and prayers. God isn't going to fix this for us. The only way this is going to get fixed is by the general population demanding that the people they vote for pass strict measures on gun ownership in general and outlawing military grade or military like weapons in particular. And if they don't then vote for someone who will next time.

Tweet from Shaun King...The United States is not #1 in much. Not education, not healthcare, not economic equality, not much. We're #1 in mass shootings and mass incarceration. It's not even close. That's where we lead. This is what we're best at.

And these mass shootings are increasing. 45 days into this new year, this is the 18th school shooting and something like the 37th mass shooting. But according to the Republicans that have had a choke hold on Congress for the last 7 years, it's never a good time to talk about gun control no matter how many people die, no matter their age. They don't want gun control because they get millions from the NRA.

Tweet from Marco Rubio...Just spoke to Broward School Superintendent. Today is that terrible day you pray never comes.

Marco Rubio has taken over $3 million from the NRA and never votes for gun control. Fuck Marco Rubio.

Tweet from Trump...So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!

Two months into his term, Trump nullified Obama's background checks for mental illness for gun purchases. Fuck you Trump.

According to BuzzFeed, the FBI received a tip about this most recent shooter months ago and apparently did NOTHING.

Seems I saw some politician said no one knows how to stop this (couldn't find it again). Well, other countries know how to stop it. I know how to stop it. They can start by outlawing and confiscating military style weapons. They can limit the number of weapons one person can own. They can get rid of open carry. They can require thorough background checks on ALL gun purchases. They can require a waiting period and training before acquiring the gun they want to purchase. They can require gun owners purchase insurance. They can classify the NRA as a terrorist organization or at the very least make it illegal for the NRA to donate money to political figures.

All this would be possible if we really cared enough. The first step though is to get rid of every politician that has ever taken money from the NRA. Unless that happens then the next best thing is to outfit yourself and your family with body armor and wear it every day because Congress will not protect you.





19 comments:

  1. As you know, my husband is a gun-owner and we eat a lot of venison. Here's the thing- I believe he'd agree with everything you said. He is definitely not a member of the NRA. And oh yeah- he doesn't need nor does he own an AK-47.
    I wonder. I just wonder- if our lawmakers were forced to look at graphic photos of the victims of these guns, would anything change?

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    1. I know lots of people who hunt and they eat what they kill as it should be. the problem is not with them.

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    2. and no, I don't think looking at dead strangers will make them do anything. maybe if it was their kids...

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  2. I think, Ms. Moon, they must look at dead, bloody, blasted, faceless, limp forever bodies. Then they would swoon, and later leave with the vapors. No other change.

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  3. Ellen, you are so good at pinpointing your feelings on the matters of state. I get to rambling and can't get my point across. Thank you for your clear headed post.

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  4. As much as I dislike it, hunting is huge here in Canada. Guns are legal. But so many of the safeguards you logically stated are in place here. Yes, we still have gun violence occasionally. Others will sometimes find other ways to accomplish their evil deed. But for the most part, my country and so many others are reasonably safe from mass shootings. Reasonably. Those last two remedies on your list would probably go the farthest. The NRA is an evil force in your country. There is no discussion .. no number of times that this happens .. no amount of lives lost that will ever make a difference as long as the NRA has such power. It's so disheartening and so incredibly heartbreaking.

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  5. Ellen, I have never commented here before though I have been following your blog for years. I must tell you that your opinions and analysis of the state of your country are the most clear-headed and well thought-out writings. You should have a newspaper column, you should be the damn PRESIDENT of the US. You are amazing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with this Canadian who is bewildered by what is going on...

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  6. Bravo, Ellen! Well said.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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  7. The best summary of solutions I've ever seen.
    Keep on keeping on, Ellen.

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  8. Yes, Ellen. Your ability to concisely hit that nail on the head is unsurpassed. I've said before that more people need to read you and learn from you. I am glad I am one of those who can.

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  9. Yes Mam! Spot on, and yet this is so hard for Republicans to do?? Every GUN no matter what kind must be registered....and I would add to your list No one under age 25 can own a gun, and all Licensed Gun Owners will be held accountable for any crime perpetrated with that gun. Make the gun Owner just as responsible as the shooter this should keep the gun out of the hands of minors and the mentally immature and disturbed.

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  10. I couldn't have said it better. There's something very strange and slightly paranoid in the American psyche. The tendency to see tyranny around every corner, the need to stockpile means of resistance -- it's bizarre. I don't get it.

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  11. You're right. After the Berlin Airlift and the Marshall Plan, we really have not been on the side of the angels. It's a toxic mentality.

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  12. A British political commentator, Dan Hodges, said, after Sandy Hook, “In retrospect, Sandy Hook marked the end of the U.S. gun-control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.”

    If the murder of little children didn't spur our government to take action, nothing will.

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    1. I agree, with this caveat, the republican government. we will see what happens when the democrats gain majority. true, they have not been effective in the past but maybe we are reaching a watershed.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.