In March, 2018, the White House of the former guy made a proposal to reduce gun violence in schools by ARMING TEACHERS! The Wall Street Journal in their daily readers' question printed my response: “Children and guns do not mix! The logical next step from the NRA when—not if—an armed teacher kills the first innocent student will be eliminate any age restrictions on guns so the students can carry guns and protect themselves. The NRA is nothing but lobbyists for the gun manufacturers who have already proved they wouldn’t add a nickel to the price of a gun to save a child’s life. Congress will need to pass universal mental health care because the entire country has gone insane!”
You can bet if the NRA holds its convention in Houston this weekend with Governor Abbot, Senator Cruz, and the Former Guy scheduled to speak, someone will propose arming teachers! The Texas Tribune, the best newspaper in Texas for what journalism should be, has an excellent article on the history of mass shootings in Texas.
I have vowed after reading Justice Alito's draft for overturning Roe and taking away women's rights to never vote for a Republican candidate again at any level of government, local, state or federal. Tonight just cemented that vow and I encourage every citizen of America, now a failing democracy, to take the same vow. My Texas representative is very proud to have authored the euphemistically named "Constitutional carry" law allowing any one to carry a gun without even a permit. The whole Republican Party not just the MAGAettes and extreme right must bear responsibility for the rising autocracy, hate and violence in America. "There comes a time when silence is betrayal" - MLK Jr. Silence by any of us is now a betrayal of democracy. Action is the only response. We, the People, all of us this time!
Don't just label them Republicans; there are libertarians and others who don't carry that label who are to blame as well; I prefer the term: openly fascist conservatives.
100%. It is the Libertarians that own the NRA. Do not be fooled. It is not just the “Gun Lobby”. Libertarians (Robert and Rebbeca Mercer, Charles Koch) donate enormous sums of cash to the NRA to lobby on their behalf.
The gun lobby is so tied to Libertarian goals, most importantly to eliminate Public Education from all Government. Gun violence at school’s destabilizes them. And so, out of fear, parents of means take their kids out of the ‘dangerous’ Public School and enroll them in ‘safe’ private schools. It’s time we confront this craziness that plagues us and kills “Our Kids”.
Follow the money. Wayne LaPeirre has also courted foreign donors. Do not forget Maria Butina and her Republican operative boyfriend Ericson from South Dakota who went to prison. Maria’s Russian Oligarch former banker Alexander Torshin ( a most wanted man in Spain for money laundering). All three attended NRA events in 2016, together.
Why work on legislation, when Charles Koch and Robert Mercer have it all prepackaged for you ( state legislature). “ just do your job and focus on the demagoguery of Identy politics.
Let's be clear: Republican lawmakers are violent extremists who will never be able to wash the blood from their hands. Who is this God they believe in? What is this Constitution they have vowed to preserve and protect and defend? And Democratic lawmakers have to be more than outraged. They, too, need to throw out the money changers they have too long embraced. America is broken. The land of the free? The home of the brave? Are we not so very sick of the myths?
I’m waiting for all those “pro-lifers” to stand up and protest over all this violent taking of life. Oh wait. Alive, breathing children don’t register with these people.
Libertarians now, instead of Republicans, or is it the Liberatarian fringe of that party? Understand the distinctions, but wonder if this distinction will become a distraction.
Openly behaving as Fascists, definitely, but not openly admitting that is who they are. They’re still trying to pretend the fascists are on the other side. Their deception/brainwashing have been shockingly successful
I try to have open dialogue with my Trumplican neighbors on the Neighborhood Social Media Site. I have had zero success! Maybe it's my method of presenting them with verifiable sources and facts, or just plain statistics, but no luck! They always reply with lies and conspiracy theories that they have gleaned from Fox News Network! Until we force a law through Congress that at least restores the Fairness Doctrine in Broadcasting & Social media, I think we are doomed. The 2022 mid-terms elections are our last hope! Vote Democratic!!!
The Repugs are an organized crime syndicate run by fascist oligarchs, bent upon the destruction of this democracy. That should say it all. . . They need to be rounded up for treason and terrorism. Bring in a guillotine.
The term "Republican" is now a reference to people who like guns more than children. You CAN'T be a Republican and call yourself a moral human being any longer. The term is now covered in the blood of school kids.
Plus the republicans don’t want their kids to learn history or for anyone to talk about racism or LBGTQ realities but guns are ok??? My kids have not have kids yet but they are wondering if they can leave our country when they do:-(
I just heard a Republican legislator from the great state of Georgia argue that baby formula is bad for kids. "What's wrong with breast milk?," he asked.
Jeri and Sharon, I think you’re right. The repugs save us having to research or Google their claims, long winded defenses and hate mongering. Just listen for two minutes.
Heckfire, 169 of them couldn't even vote for baby formula. My words to them are: you are not a patriot, you are not a Christian, you aren't even a decent human being.
One does not decrease the chance of armed violence by arming more people. There are certain responsibilities and consequences for carrying a firearm, and there is an additional mental/emotional cost to those who use a firearm and kill someone in defense of self or a third person. Many people who choose to be educators and administrators in our schools are not "cut out" to be armed defenders, although every one of them would protect their charges to the highest degree possible.
If a gunless intruder breaks down my door I will surely tussle with them to protect my property but the chance of someone being killed is not likely. Put a "righteously" carried pistol in their hand and the chance of fatal injury rises dramatically and increases exponentially when I also am armed. I am all for defending ones property but that's not the point. Don't you get it? More guns equals more death.
The likelihood of someone bashing your door in and being weaponless is few and very far between, Bill! Death and maiming someone will occur in your scenario.
See how it works? Libertarian’s goal is to dismantle and close the Department of Education. This is accomplished by creating chaos, fear, distrust, which are the roots of destabilization. Libertarian’s want to privatize Public Education. We need to face this fact.
Honestly, every single teacher, across the country, should walk off the job and demand that their lives and the children who are placed under their care, not be subjected to this violence EVER AGAIN! Colleges should join in!
I think ur right. And I think as a parent, every parent needs to consider Emmitt Till’s mother and honor her courage. Some of these little kids have to be identified by dna…because?
It is immoral not to raise the age to purchase a gun. It is immoral not to have universal background checks. It is immoral to allow the purchase of military rifles and armor to the public. It is immoral to not even consider debating gun reform.
I think you’re right. Also in every profession that asks us to perform our job when we don’t agree. As a walkout. But may not be permanent. I walked a strike line once before I was tenured. A mistake. But, there’s another reason teachers may stay when they want to leave. And that is tenure, though in today’s world they might not have tenure at all. And in some states they weren’t allowed to pay into social security. It’s about money and earning a living for family. When teachers could retire early with some incentive, the admin called that the Golden Handshake. I call it the Golden Handcuffs.
Inequality. Few careers are as important as Teaching, the work to prepare the young to reach their potential. Teachers should make as much as a physicians assistant, an RN, perhaps more and with competitive benefits. Instead we give billionaires enough tax breaks to toy with their private space program to sell joy rides to multi millionaires.
Yes, teachers have spent enough money and time in their field of education, graduate degrees and credentials and move up in salary not only with experience but with those advanced degrees. And the pay for teachers can be so different between neighboring school districts. And states. Most teachers I know including myself spent summers and sometimes evenings in workshops and advanced course work. Which often were exciting and interesting, but that was our summer or break. And as I said before, changing course, leaving the profession before retirement means a great financial loss. Some serious changes need to happen to attract and encourage qualified and enthusiastic teachers to spend time and money on their specific graduate work. And for them to stay in the profession without burning out. And get back to meaningful and exciting curriculum for students. Except if the teachers and students are in the Bible Belt and are in trouble if they teach science, history and Truth.
In my State of Michigan, the Republican candidates for Governor are calling for eliminating all State funding for State Colleges and Universities, because they claim that those institutions indoctrinated kids by mandating masks! The nihilistic fools! Yesterday the Republican controlled legislature voted to table all gun safety legislation bills before it, yesterday! Thank God for Governor Whitmer!
Yes! When I read the roundup of the Republican Debate in an article quoted by Bridge Magazine in my local newspaper here in my rural community, I was stunned. Afterwards, in replying to a another comment posted by a Trumplican on the Neighborhood Site on Social Media, I said something so unkind. I said that once upon a time, I was a Republican, too, but not anymore since the Republican Party had gone bat sh** crazy! The last Republican I voted for was George H.W. Bush, and I had such buyer's remorse, I never voted Republican again! I litterly had to take cover in my apartment for a week after my remark!
The issue isn’t private vs public schools. Every school, every child, every American, is vulnerable and at risk. Many schools have turned their schools into fortresses. Metal detectors, more security. Signing in. Bars and fences like prisons. Basically it’s an American problem. Where’s our American solution? How many more? We know but getting there? How many more!!!
"As a reminder we have zero proof—ZERO—gun laws work. You know, if you don’t include Japan, U.K., Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Romania, Norway, Austria, Argentina, Netherlands, South Korea, Italy, Greece, Chile, France, Spain, Sweden, Singapore, Portugal, Israel, Czechia, Denmark"
Lynell, We have to read the tweet carefully to get the sarcasm. In my mood, I thought it was serious. Below is a Guardian article link about other countries' gun laws. Including the ones listed. We are such outliers. And here's a bigger picture. It's personal for me and every citizen.
My rural PK-5 public school had a shooting in 2011, listed in that article and our principal was murdered. In the morning of the school day, after he had greeted every child getting off the bus or cars, by name. Murdered in his office. By the custodian. Who left school after a disagreement with the principal, who he considered a friend and returned to school with the gun. We had lockdown all day and trauma forever. 400 students held in their classrooms in lockdown. I wrote about it on today's letter. I didn't write how the murderer got the weapon; that's another story. Yes, there are countries that have gun laws and have not completely stopped the gun violence. But they acted on their violence, usually immediately and enacted laws that made some difference. They recognize the problem. Our repugs and the gun lobby has refused to protect the people, instead they protect the $$$. The other countries do not have the rate of mass shootings we have. Or even personal numbers of ownership. From The Guardian, 2016: Four countries with gun control – and what America could learn from them:
"The UK, Australia, Japan and Germany have all taken measures to reduce gun homicides. Can the US learn anything from them?"
Irenie, thank you for reaching out. You have reason to take this personally, as you experienced the horror of gun violence. I would never intentionally make light of that horror. You're right that the sarcasm is subtle. I didn't "get it" until I started reading the list of countries. I have found that Twitter does not engage much in long narratives.
Thank you for these links.
And just so you know, I wrote a snarky comment somewhere here without indicating it was supposed to be snarky. My bad. The end sentence said, "See you in November," to indicate they would not be voted for when that time comes.
Yes, and very well said. I'm really sad that WE [that is, people who care about things like voting rights for ALL, clean climate, safety for children, health care for those in need] will become very vocal, adamant and start writing, emailing, calling their legislators with a plea to heal our nation. To HELL with those who don't want to do a damn thing for others. Of course, I'm talking about Republicans. Make that Repugicans.
HCR's post and the ensuing commentary should be archived. We need to stay the course, meaning that people should connect. Damn difficult, I know, when careless and selfish legislators respond only to PACs and do their bidding. I spent years fighting fracking here in Chatham County, NC. We have a nuclear plant with spent fuel rods sitting openly in a pool. Any disturbance, as in a tremor often caused by fracking, would be a calamity. Sorry, went off topic.
I'm not making a case for Public vs Private Education. I am only making others aware of the hard truth that a well funded and highly organized effort to undermine Public Education in order to privatize all of it. Libertarians spend huge amounts of money in both campaign donations ( Ted Cruz) and the gun lobby to keep guns easily available, to anyone even the mentally troubled, but especially those that would commit the unthinkable, another school massacre. This fear inspires the poor to homeschool and the wealthy to private Schools, draining the talent level of teachers, diluting resources for all. I see the attack on teachers the same way I see the gun lobby: Attack every front on the war agaist Public Education.
We have to start putting all these pieces together. Some scholars think its Oligarchy, some think its Authoritarianism, some think its business conservatives to keep government from regulating business. But I know its Libertarians who have organized the most through Alec, the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society, the NRA Lobby, and more. We are at a time where the structures built by the Libertarians (Mercer, Koch's, Murdoch's, Drumfps, etc) are working stronger and better together, as once compartmented conservatives have all been radicalized and "fearing for their minority", coalesce to pool their collective resources to maintain minority rule over all of us. Its not so much about guns, as the destabilization and growing fear that gun violence brings to all of us.
Check out Ruth Ben-Ghiat's substack today. Put that with "Democracy in Chains" and "Dark Money".
Absolutely!! Thanks for writing, and thanks for the Atlantic link.
Heather's post and this thread are far too important to just pass away. Please urge Heather to archive this entire thread, for it should be something to draw upon to strengthen our resolve to end the carnage that keeps repeating.
Maggie, this Atlantic article is excellent. Can you repost for the next letter so more readers see it? Theres another Atlantic article on Mass Shootings as Health Issues to possibly be addressed by CDC but I couldn’t access it. So many possible solutions that are ignored or not fulfilled because of the partisan divide.
There is no reason school shooters can’t shoot up private schools. One where I worked had the kindergarten in rooms with a whole front wall of glass in a repurposed department store. The other classrooms were windowless. Parents distrusted and feared the local public schools that much.
Exactly, ur right. It can happen anywhere anytime. But when’s the last time a wealthy private school got shot up? Walls. Gates. Guards. Checkpoints. Privilege. The very wealthy donor class has extreme safety. They do not care about or use “our kids” in the collective community sense.
I am sure you could. I meant that home schools contain fewer targets. Not recommending home schooling or private schools! Same reasons, too little exposure to the real world. Wrong amount and/or kind of parental involvement.
Article in my local paper(NC)today about homeschooling and how woefully understaffed and underfunded the oversight department for homeschooling is. Most parents involved in homeschooling their children say “no more regulation, please”. I’ve got 2words for them; “Madison Cawthorn”.
Well, if you are going to underfund something, might as well be that. Don’t need no stinkin’ oversight! Madison Cawthorn? The loss of his congressional seat couldn’t have happened to a more deserving candidate.
Exactly. It’s about the privilege. Those parents will end up sending their kids to the least expensive school. Libertarianism is a smokescreen used to guard the privileged in all things. Their philosophy does not consider the unprivileged nor the diverse community around them, nor any citizen’s responsibilities to other citizens.
There would be plenty of people for underpaid, dangerous, boring jobs. The privately educated kids would rise to their level of incompetence without facing competition from the extremely intelligent ones who can be found in every population.
I made that vow to never vote for Republicans in 1980, and have stuck with it. Last Republican I voted for was Dick Thornburgh for PA Governor, and that was in the 70s. I have not regretted that stance since.
In terms of benefit to humanity, I rank Republicans a little lower than pond scum and robotic telemarketers. No, a lot lower....
The very first time I voted was in '72 and I voted for Nixon. That pretty much soured my ever voting for a Republican again, and I have stayed true to that vow.
Bruce, I was taking some college classes to prep for returning to school. Don't do morning news (3 kids). Got to campus day after election and there was a big hubbub over Nixon winning. I went into a kind of shock. It felt as if I'd stepped into some sci-fi dystopia. It took me weeks to shake that feeling.
I have renewed my own vow. I am also going on the attack on my FB page against anyone who still "follows" me and votes Republican. On another substack, someone posted a list of all the schools where there have been shootings - it was a staggering list. I copied it and shared it on my FB page, daring anyone to vote for a Republican in the face of such hideous carnage.
Thank you. We need more anger and activism. It is clear that what is blocking making progress on reducing gun violence is every single Republican. It will not reduce until and unless we reduce their power to block reasonable gun violence reduction legislation. Everyone should vote like children’s lives are more important than guns.
I just pasted this on my FB page with the admonition: "Please look at these faces and vow to never vote for a Republican again! They and the NRA are killing our children, our elders, others, simply because Republican elected officials refuse to support *any* gun safety laws."
On a friend's Facebook page I found the predictable screed from a male who made all the usual excuses for assault weapons although he did favor better background checks for all guns. One of his arguments was that people could not take their assault weapons to the shooting range as if not being able to own an assault weapon is an infringement on liberty. BS I say. i didn't answer him because I am busy planting transplant and seeds into my garden while the sun is out here in Oregon. More rain to come tomorrow and the next few days. I guess I don't have many R followers, thankfully. Another of my ex-students went on a rant and given where she lives and is from, I would guess she has R friends. She has kids in school, so feels this keenly although my husband and I were saying that there is no safe place to go with so many people who should not have them, owning a weapon of mass destruction.
Yesterday, 19 children were deprived of their rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. There are countless more after one mass shooting after another who will be traumatized by such events occurring again and again. Where are Republican concerns for their rights? I am angry and will not stop being angry until something is done. No more only thoughts and prayers. No more candlelight vigils only. Now is the time for organizing, advocacy, and activism. Now is the time for action on reducing Gun Violence. Nothing else short of that is acceptable.
I have not voted for any R for a very long time because they are now as I have said many times the party of death: of our democracy, of rights for women, POC, and those who are not straight, of common decency, of the planet. As I watched the loathsome Abbott read his statement....where exactly was his outrage....I was shouting at the TV and upsetting the dog. Then we watched the President furious and nearly in tears say what responsible leaders say.
Paxton has been battling (successfully) a number of felony charges in Texas for seven years. Two federal probes are continuing, and it is doubtful he will ever go to trial.
And now here in Florida, on its race to the bottom alongside Abbott, DeSantis is vowing to implement “constitutional carry” i.e. no permit required. Parkland, Pulse, etc. have had no impact here.
You are going to hear over and over from the NRA that it gets its money from all of those fine, upstanding NRA members' dues and contributions to its PAC. That is a lie! Most of its revenues and donations to politicians are funded by its Corporate Partners Program. And who you might ask are its Corporate Partners and how much have they contributed? The answer is gun manufacturers, ammunition manufacturers, and gun dealers both large and small. Some of their largest Corporate Partner donors are shown above in this post.
These two studies are now over 10 years old and since published by the National Violence Policy Center (https://vpc.org/)in September 2013 and April 2011, the amount of money received by the NRA through their Corporate Partners Program has only increased significantly.
Whether you are an NRA member or not, please understand whose interests the NRA represents. It is not you, it is their Corporate Partners who contribute the bulk of their revenues and whose interests they care about. They do not care about you or represent you. They do not care about our children's lives or anyone else's lives either. They care about their corporate partners - the gun industry.
The tragedies will continue until the 90% of Americans who want this country's gun violence crisis to lessen start to vote on this issue above everything else. There are 5 million NRA members and over 325 million Americans who are not NRA members. It is long past time for those who have had enough to speak up, speak out, and vote like we care more about our children than we do about guns.
Can we stop all gun violence? No, but we can have a significant impact and substantially reduce it. And, every child's life saved is worth the effort to do all we can to reduce it.
Texas Lt Gov Dan Patrick also suggested arming teachers and having only one secured entrance/exit from schools after the last mass school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas.
Today was “Footloose and Fancy Day” at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Students and teachers were asked to wear a nice outfit with fun or fancy shoes.
It was the last week of school filled with festive events and dress-up themes for the elementary school children, but one that ended with students being rushed out of their classes while police officers rushed in with guns drawn.
Today’s school shooting in Texas is now the fourth deadliest school shooting in modern U.S. history, behind only Virginia Tech, Parkland, and, of course, Sandy Hook.
Our nation’s schools should be the safest places in our communities, full of learning, fun and the kinds of happy memories Robb Elementary tried to provide for their kids in the final days of the school year.
They should not be places of horror and nightmares.
Speaking is still physically difficult for me, but my feelings are crystal clear: I am furious.
I am furious with those who have the power to act and save lives but are afraid to do anything to end this uniquely American epidemic.
I know the fear of the gun lobby that those cowards have must be nothing like the fear those children in Texas felt as their lives and the lives of their classmates ended in a hail of bullets.
Or the fear the children who survived today’s massacre will feel every single time they remember their teachers stacking them into closets and bathrooms, whispering in an effort to keep them safe.
Or the fear the parents must have felt when they were alerted that there was an active shooter situation happening at their kid's school.
Senator Chris Murphy said it best to his colleagues in the Senate today, “What are we doing?”
Congress knows how to solve this problem.
Congress knows the steps we can take to protect our kids in their classrooms.
And they know because this is the only country in the developed world where this kind of slaughter happens on a routine basis.
So yes, our thoughts and prayers are once again with the victims of this shooting, their families, and their friends. But our anger and outrage are with those who have the power to act and choose to do nothing.
We do not have to accept these horrific acts of violence as routine.
And we must never stop demanding our leaders not only acknowledge this devastating problem, but take long overdue action to keep our children safe.
I will not rest until we have righted the wrong our elected officials in Congress have done, and until we have changed our laws so we can finally look our parents in the face and say: we are doing everything we can to keep your children safe.
Good morning , Lynell, on this morning that is anything but. I replied on another site to a commenter that spoke about a friend who had acquired an AR-15.
He relayed the friend speaking of firing an AR-15 the first time. “You’ll become immediately addicted to the incredible power it gives you.” That’s where the Second Amendment has become twisted by greed and where it has led us. Acquisition of personal power through the thrill of shooting a weapon designed for military use but now unleashed upon children.
There was a time, for many years, that I felt safe every day in a classroom. The drills we practiced were training for the event of a fire or a bad storm and getting away from that threat to safety. And then that changed. But there isn’t an emergency drill training that children can practice or even the presence of resource officers at a school that allowed nineteen kids to get away from the bullets that seared and ravaged their bodies as a shooter felt the addictive power of an AR-15 in his hands yesterday. Little bodies that required DNA testing for identification instead of their lunch pass used to get their tray in the cafeteria. Their teachers dead while trying to get them away or shield them from the bullets. I guess it’s the luck of the “draw” that teachers now hold onto in hoping it will keep their school building, their site, out of a killer’s gun site.
Rage. Rage against rage. More rage.
Will it be different “this time”? That the question is even asked gives us the answer. That a President who speaks to a nation last night spoke to parents 10 yrs ago as Vice President about losing a child to gun violence while in school. There is your answer.
I loathe those that bend the knee to the NRA. Think they will cancel their convention this weekend? Not when it gives them an opportunity to conspire and “defend freedom”.
Terminal incompetence and neglect at the throne of greed. That’s our Senate. That’s the Republican Party leaders.
Steve Kerr set things right. “I’ve had enough.” And then walked out.
I grieve. And think about my students. My children. Our children. I’ve had enough. I walk out. All the while knowing I move forward. We move forward. We must. But, how? With courage. But, when?
The news hit me like a stab to my back, Christine; painful, shocking and incredulous. Why? Why are little kids and teachers being killed? Why are people in a supermarket or a church being so cruelly being shot? Why? To what end? How can anyone vote AGAINST gun control seeing murder after murder of innocent children and citizens just going about their lives? We have grandchildren; and imagining them under assault by a crazed person with a gun in their school? Yeah…really bad. My wife taught grade school her entire career…towards the end they practiced lock downs and other such drills. Crazy…right? We have WAY too many guns everywhere now and WAY too many people who are angry, mentally ill and just inches away from acting out violently with powerful weapons that only the military should possess. Now, a mass shooting by a crazy, angry person armed to the teeth is just another event in the news cycle because people who claim to represent us refuse to act because…why? How can any one of them vote AGAINST robust gun control measures at this point? Yeah, we need to get this done…it needs to be personal for every American who wants this problem resolved and lives saved.
That’s not going to happen…our democracy will finally move to address this vital initiative. Take action to shine a light on this issue and move Congress forward…
Your friend's comment: "You’ll become immediately addicted to the incredible power it gives you.” is chilling beyond words. I am proficient in the use of an AR-15 rifle; because of a modified radical mastectomy on my right side where I lost 27 lymph nodes, I can no longer fire a shotgun or any rifle larger than a .22 from the shoulder. The AR-15 fires a .223 round (slightly larger than a .22 and far smaller than a 30-30 or a 3006) and it is a dream to shoot accurately. For a rural patrol deputy, it was a great tool to have in my tool box. It has but one purpose: to kill people. It is useless as a hunting weapon (unless you intend to blow up birds, squirrels, or other small wildlife).
To be "addicted to the incredible power it gives you" is a freaking scary thought, because the only purpose of that firearm is to kill people.
She’s a minion. She and all her ilk. I feel my hands on all their throats. It’s terrifying. I’m trying to keep it figurative, not literal. I will not buy a gun, I will not buy a gun, I will……what?
“Two families, along with a libertarian institute, brought a suit”
Charles Koch….spending billions to devolve American Society. Destabilize with gun violence and fear of taking away guns. Hollow out Public Education funding. Invest in charter and private school, and promote home school. Brainwash Judges via The Federalist Society. Bring a series of little law suits to chip chip chip away at Department of Education laws. The Libertarian goal is that the Federal Gov only exists for National Defense.
It make me sick to think this happened AGAIN. AGAIN? My niece just graduated with her masters in early childhood education. She loves working with the younger kids. I can see how happy this makes her. She cried with joy at their little graduation. This is how it should be, with no thought of threat from some sick person with a gun. These Republican Senators need to do what they are being paid to do. Enough of this bs already.
I remember, about 7 years ago, a co-worker proudly showing a picture of him teaching his 8 year old how to use an AR-15 at a gun range. I was horrified but he was proud of what he was doing. That now 15 year old is probably now capable of using such a weapon by himself. Sad, disgusting and frightening.
There is a record of these congressional cowards. Let us go to their homes. We are larger than the NRA. We are larger than their constituents. We are big enough to stop them. Call it America against the Berserkers.
But, tragically, thoughts and prayers, will do nothing for anyone. It's become the default position - shows you care, but "screw off it you thought I'm going to do anything about it!"
So Hugh. They aren’t listening or reading their mail. They are enlarging their war chests and amassing their fortunes on the lives of their constituents children. Now What?
"How about we treat every young man who wants to buy a gun like every woman who wants to get an abortion - mandatory 48-hr waiting period, parental permission, a note from his
doctor proving he understands what he's about to do, a video he has to watch about the effects of gun violence, and an ultrasound wand up the ass (just because). Let's close down all but one
gun shop in every state and make him travel hundreds of miles, take time off work, and stay overnight in a strange town to get a gun. Make him walk through a gauntlet of people holding
photos of loved ones who were shot to death, people who call him a murderer and beg him not to buy a gun.
Correction! Apparently Gloria Steinem did NOT make this statement comparing abortion and gun permits, but in Dec., 2015 at a Women's March, she read it and thanked the author and added
Joan, A subscriber to Robert Reich’s Substack said the author is Euell Nielsen, Historian at First African Presbyterian Church and Author at Blackpast. Because I’m on an iPhone, I can’t post the link.
Please tell me how to find it. This great-grandmother just made the attempt but to no avail. There’s a learning curve involved here. I want to share these words. I can’t watch TV anymore about yesterday’s carnage because Abbott keeps coming on the screen with his made-up sad face spouting his “concern.” I’m tired of screaming out loud at the flaming lies and collusion that continues the carnage.
One has to be a paid subscriber to Reich to have access to it. I read his Substack blog, but am not a paid member--I HAVE to call a halt to subscriptions as I'm on a severely limited income!
I am with Senator Murphy and Steve Kerr...what the f...will it take to get you 50 republicans to care about the lives of our children and innocent people being massacred by guns obtained by people unfit to carry them?? I know your relationship with the NRA is so intertwined with your re-election money and obviously that is so much more important than innocent lives being taken. Do you not have anyone you love or care about? It seems not.
I know they filed bankruptcy. LaPierre was funneling money from doners to buy yachts and other trinkets. So not sure why they still seem to hold some power? Do you have insight TC?
I can hardly bear my freedom today, Linda. It’s feels suffocating. How our leaders have sacrificed our children so willingly with the attack upon public education, our schools and students and their families. And give license to a few sick some to kill the children and teachers while they play and learn together.
Someone just posted a photo of one of the victims. A little boy dressed in his finest, no doubt on his way to school. A beautiful child who never thought going to school would ultimately be a death sentence.
I saw that. Manchin offered up the usual empty words of consolation and expressed support for strengthening background checks, but then tacked on an addendum that he would not budge on doing away with the filibuster. A$$hole. That's called having your cake and eating it. He knows such legislation will never go anywhere, so he can give lip service to being for stricter gun laws, knowing it'll never happen...and probably still get $$ from the gun lobby.
In March, 2018, the White House of the former guy made a proposal to reduce gun violence in schools by ARMING TEACHERS! The Wall Street Journal in their daily readers' question printed my response: “Children and guns do not mix! The logical next step from the NRA when—not if—an armed teacher kills the first innocent student will be eliminate any age restrictions on guns so the students can carry guns and protect themselves. The NRA is nothing but lobbyists for the gun manufacturers who have already proved they wouldn’t add a nickel to the price of a gun to save a child’s life. Congress will need to pass universal mental health care because the entire country has gone insane!”
You can bet if the NRA holds its convention in Houston this weekend with Governor Abbot, Senator Cruz, and the Former Guy scheduled to speak, someone will propose arming teachers! The Texas Tribune, the best newspaper in Texas for what journalism should be, has an excellent article on the history of mass shootings in Texas.
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/24/uvalde-texas-school-shooting/
I have vowed after reading Justice Alito's draft for overturning Roe and taking away women's rights to never vote for a Republican candidate again at any level of government, local, state or federal. Tonight just cemented that vow and I encourage every citizen of America, now a failing democracy, to take the same vow. My Texas representative is very proud to have authored the euphemistically named "Constitutional carry" law allowing any one to carry a gun without even a permit. The whole Republican Party not just the MAGAettes and extreme right must bear responsibility for the rising autocracy, hate and violence in America. "There comes a time when silence is betrayal" - MLK Jr. Silence by any of us is now a betrayal of democracy. Action is the only response. We, the People, all of us this time!
As President Truman so eloquently put it 74 years ago: "the only 'good Republicans" are pushing up daisies." There are no *good* Republicans now.
Don't just label them Republicans; there are libertarians and others who don't carry that label who are to blame as well; I prefer the term: openly fascist conservatives.
100%. It is the Libertarians that own the NRA. Do not be fooled. It is not just the “Gun Lobby”. Libertarians (Robert and Rebbeca Mercer, Charles Koch) donate enormous sums of cash to the NRA to lobby on their behalf.
The gun lobby is so tied to Libertarian goals, most importantly to eliminate Public Education from all Government. Gun violence at school’s destabilizes them. And so, out of fear, parents of means take their kids out of the ‘dangerous’ Public School and enroll them in ‘safe’ private schools. It’s time we confront this craziness that plagues us and kills “Our Kids”.
Follow the money. Wayne LaPeirre has also courted foreign donors. Do not forget Maria Butina and her Republican operative boyfriend Ericson from South Dakota who went to prison. Maria’s Russian Oligarch former banker Alexander Torshin ( a most wanted man in Spain for money laundering). All three attended NRA events in 2016, together.
Had enough? Yes, we have had enough!
Don't forget ALEC -- many of the usual suspects:
ALEC Exposed https://www.alecexposed.org
Yup. I just lump ALEC with Koch Bros.
👍🏼
ALEC is a powerhouse force.
Why work on legislation, when Charles Koch and Robert Mercer have it all prepackaged for you ( state legislature). “ just do your job and focus on the demagoguery of Identy politics.
And has been for years now. They have been on one helluva successful mission
👌🏼
Let's be clear: Republican lawmakers are violent extremists who will never be able to wash the blood from their hands. Who is this God they believe in? What is this Constitution they have vowed to preserve and protect and defend? And Democratic lawmakers have to be more than outraged. They, too, need to throw out the money changers they have too long embraced. America is broken. The land of the free? The home of the brave? Are we not so very sick of the myths?
I’m waiting for all those “pro-lifers” to stand up and protest over all this violent taking of life. Oh wait. Alive, breathing children don’t register with these people.
Run for office, Sarah
I prefer openly fascist far right radical regressives.
How about a "well heeled, well infiltrated "terrorist organization"??
When quoting the guy from 70+ years ago, we didn't have the radical fascist conservatives.
Libertarians now, instead of Republicans, or is it the Liberatarian fringe of that party? Understand the distinctions, but wonder if this distinction will become a distraction.
Openly behaving as Fascists, definitely, but not openly admitting that is who they are. They’re still trying to pretend the fascists are on the other side. Their deception/brainwashing have been shockingly successful
There are plenty of good Republicans, the problem is that, being dead, they can't vote other than in Chicago and a few other places.
There are some that can learn. We should try. Even 1-2% could make the difference. We Have to hope so. Have to.
Every little bit helps, and if we don't try, we certainly won't achieve.
I try to have open dialogue with my Trumplican neighbors on the Neighborhood Social Media Site. I have had zero success! Maybe it's my method of presenting them with verifiable sources and facts, or just plain statistics, but no luck! They always reply with lies and conspiracy theories that they have gleaned from Fox News Network! Until we force a law through Congress that at least restores the Fairness Doctrine in Broadcasting & Social media, I think we are doomed. The 2022 mid-terms elections are our last hope! Vote Democratic!!!
Good one!
Weeds.
The Repugs are an organized crime syndicate run by fascist oligarchs, bent upon the destruction of this democracy. That should say it all. . . They need to be rounded up for treason and terrorism. Bring in a guillotine.
The term "Republican" is now a reference to people who like guns more than children. You CAN'T be a Republican and call yourself a moral human being any longer. The term is now covered in the blood of school kids.
The only other thing they care about is when a child is still a fetus!
Except they really don't.
Yeah, it isn't about the child. It is about the incubator.
It’s about $, power, control.
And only that.
How does it feel to be regarded only as an incubator. Any woman who is still a R and supports this...we can ask what is your definition of a woman.
Plus the republicans don’t want their kids to learn history or for anyone to talk about racism or LBGTQ realities but guns are ok??? My kids have not have kids yet but they are wondering if they can leave our country when they do:-(
I just heard a Republican legislator from the great state of Georgia argue that baby formula is bad for kids. "What's wrong with breast milk?," he asked.
"Tell me you don't know anything about female biology without saying you don't know anything about female biology."
They can’t help opening their big trap and proving their ignorance
Jeri and Sharon, I think you’re right. The repugs save us having to research or Google their claims, long winded defenses and hate mongering. Just listen for two minutes.
Crazy!
Heckfire, 169 of them couldn't even vote for baby formula. My words to them are: you are not a patriot, you are not a Christian, you aren't even a decent human being.
The Repugnant Party - Prove me Wrong.
I call them the Pro-Rape/Open-Carry party (PROC)!
I call them fucking assholes.
Darling, they answer to that, as well.
Pro slaughter of children. They are all that and worse. We need to make these labels stick because they are 💯💯accurate
I'm now calling them the No Choice, Pro Death party.
They are also the party of the fetus and against living children.
Zygotes
One does not decrease the chance of armed violence by arming more people. There are certain responsibilities and consequences for carrying a firearm, and there is an additional mental/emotional cost to those who use a firearm and kill someone in defense of self or a third person. Many people who choose to be educators and administrators in our schools are not "cut out" to be armed defenders, although every one of them would protect their charges to the highest degree possible.
More guns is not the answer.
100%
If a gunless intruder breaks down my door I will surely tussle with them to protect my property but the chance of someone being killed is not likely. Put a "righteously" carried pistol in their hand and the chance of fatal injury rises dramatically and increases exponentially when I also am armed. I am all for defending ones property but that's not the point. Don't you get it? More guns equals more death.
It’s that what “more guns is not the answer” means?
The likelihood of someone bashing your door in and being weaponless is few and very far between, Bill! Death and maiming someone will occur in your scenario.
Many teachers threatened to leave that occupation if they had to be armed.
Many HAVE left. Guns and then Covid with DeSantis as Governor created a severe teacher shortage in Florida.
See how it works? Libertarian’s goal is to dismantle and close the Department of Education. This is accomplished by creating chaos, fear, distrust, which are the roots of destabilization. Libertarian’s want to privatize Public Education. We need to face this fact.
Honestly, every single teacher, across the country, should walk off the job and demand that their lives and the children who are placed under their care, not be subjected to this violence EVER AGAIN! Colleges should join in!
I think ur right. And I think as a parent, every parent needs to consider Emmitt Till’s mother and honor her courage. Some of these little kids have to be identified by dna…because?
It is immoral not to raise the age to purchase a gun. It is immoral not to have universal background checks. It is immoral to allow the purchase of military rifles and armor to the public. It is immoral to not even consider debating gun reform.
“I have had enough”.
Someone on Twitter advocated naming these "shootings" after the politicians who refuse to enact gun laws. The Ted Cruz Massacre," etc.
Love it, nobody deserves it more than Ted
I think you’re right. Also in every profession that asks us to perform our job when we don’t agree. As a walkout. But may not be permanent. I walked a strike line once before I was tenured. A mistake. But, there’s another reason teachers may stay when they want to leave. And that is tenure, though in today’s world they might not have tenure at all. And in some states they weren’t allowed to pay into social security. It’s about money and earning a living for family. When teachers could retire early with some incentive, the admin called that the Golden Handshake. I call it the Golden Handcuffs.
Inequality. Few careers are as important as Teaching, the work to prepare the young to reach their potential. Teachers should make as much as a physicians assistant, an RN, perhaps more and with competitive benefits. Instead we give billionaires enough tax breaks to toy with their private space program to sell joy rides to multi millionaires.
Yes, teachers have spent enough money and time in their field of education, graduate degrees and credentials and move up in salary not only with experience but with those advanced degrees. And the pay for teachers can be so different between neighboring school districts. And states. Most teachers I know including myself spent summers and sometimes evenings in workshops and advanced course work. Which often were exciting and interesting, but that was our summer or break. And as I said before, changing course, leaving the profession before retirement means a great financial loss. Some serious changes need to happen to attract and encourage qualified and enthusiastic teachers to spend time and money on their specific graduate work. And for them to stay in the profession without burning out. And get back to meaningful and exciting curriculum for students. Except if the teachers and students are in the Bible Belt and are in trouble if they teach science, history and Truth.
In my State of Michigan, the Republican candidates for Governor are calling for eliminating all State funding for State Colleges and Universities, because they claim that those institutions indoctrinated kids by mandating masks! The nihilistic fools! Yesterday the Republican controlled legislature voted to table all gun safety legislation bills before it, yesterday! Thank God for Governor Whitmer!
Crazy town! Go Whitmer!
Yes! When I read the roundup of the Republican Debate in an article quoted by Bridge Magazine in my local newspaper here in my rural community, I was stunned. Afterwards, in replying to a another comment posted by a Trumplican on the Neighborhood Site on Social Media, I said something so unkind. I said that once upon a time, I was a Republican, too, but not anymore since the Republican Party had gone bat sh** crazy! The last Republican I voted for was George H.W. Bush, and I had such buyer's remorse, I never voted Republican again! I litterly had to take cover in my apartment for a week after my remark!
Whitmer has been a true leader with all that she has personally been through. Nihilistic fools is a perfect description!
The issue isn’t private vs public schools. Every school, every child, every American, is vulnerable and at risk. Many schools have turned their schools into fortresses. Metal detectors, more security. Signing in. Bars and fences like prisons. Basically it’s an American problem. Where’s our American solution? How many more? We know but getting there? How many more!!!
I read this on Twitter, Irenie:
"As a reminder we have zero proof—ZERO—gun laws work. You know, if you don’t include Japan, U.K., Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Romania, Norway, Austria, Argentina, Netherlands, South Korea, Italy, Greece, Chile, France, Spain, Sweden, Singapore, Portugal, Israel, Czechia, Denmark"
We are a pathetic country.
Yet there are statistics proving that U.S. states with more strict gun safety laws have far lower numbers on gun violence.
Lynell, We have to read the tweet carefully to get the sarcasm. In my mood, I thought it was serious. Below is a Guardian article link about other countries' gun laws. Including the ones listed. We are such outliers. And here's a bigger picture. It's personal for me and every citizen.
"Ten Years of School Shootings: https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/07/us/ten-years-of-school-shootings-trnd/
My rural PK-5 public school had a shooting in 2011, listed in that article and our principal was murdered. In the morning of the school day, after he had greeted every child getting off the bus or cars, by name. Murdered in his office. By the custodian. Who left school after a disagreement with the principal, who he considered a friend and returned to school with the gun. We had lockdown all day and trauma forever. 400 students held in their classrooms in lockdown. I wrote about it on today's letter. I didn't write how the murderer got the weapon; that's another story. Yes, there are countries that have gun laws and have not completely stopped the gun violence. But they acted on their violence, usually immediately and enacted laws that made some difference. They recognize the problem. Our repugs and the gun lobby has refused to protect the people, instead they protect the $$$. The other countries do not have the rate of mass shootings we have. Or even personal numbers of ownership. From The Guardian, 2016: Four countries with gun control – and what America could learn from them:
"The UK, Australia, Japan and Germany have all taken measures to reduce gun homicides. Can the US learn anything from them?"
America’s gun crisis – in one chart
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/15/so-america-this-is-how-you-do-gun-control
It’s not that we don’t know how, it’s that the arses with the money cheat, rig the system, and dare anyone to stand up to them. Go Beto
Irenie, thank you for reaching out. You have reason to take this personally, as you experienced the horror of gun violence. I would never intentionally make light of that horror. You're right that the sarcasm is subtle. I didn't "get it" until I started reading the list of countries. I have found that Twitter does not engage much in long narratives.
Thank you for these links.
And just so you know, I wrote a snarky comment somewhere here without indicating it was supposed to be snarky. My bad. The end sentence said, "See you in November," to indicate they would not be voted for when that time comes.
Irenie, you were right. there! Good grief! My ❤️ to you.
Yes, if we can rid ourselves of these thieves, these thugs, we will accomplish a lot.
Yes, and very well said. I'm really sad that WE [that is, people who care about things like voting rights for ALL, clean climate, safety for children, health care for those in need] will become very vocal, adamant and start writing, emailing, calling their legislators with a plea to heal our nation. To HELL with those who don't want to do a damn thing for others. Of course, I'm talking about Republicans. Make that Repugicans.
Call them out for what they really are, Dave: the Pro-Rape and Open-Carry Party! PROCP!
HCR's post and the ensuing commentary should be archived. We need to stay the course, meaning that people should connect. Damn difficult, I know, when careless and selfish legislators respond only to PACs and do their bidding. I spent years fighting fracking here in Chatham County, NC. We have a nuclear plant with spent fuel rods sitting openly in a pool. Any disturbance, as in a tremor often caused by fracking, would be a calamity. Sorry, went off topic.
I'm not making a case for Public vs Private Education. I am only making others aware of the hard truth that a well funded and highly organized effort to undermine Public Education in order to privatize all of it. Libertarians spend huge amounts of money in both campaign donations ( Ted Cruz) and the gun lobby to keep guns easily available, to anyone even the mentally troubled, but especially those that would commit the unthinkable, another school massacre. This fear inspires the poor to homeschool and the wealthy to private Schools, draining the talent level of teachers, diluting resources for all. I see the attack on teachers the same way I see the gun lobby: Attack every front on the war agaist Public Education.
We have to start putting all these pieces together. Some scholars think its Oligarchy, some think its Authoritarianism, some think its business conservatives to keep government from regulating business. But I know its Libertarians who have organized the most through Alec, the Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society, the NRA Lobby, and more. We are at a time where the structures built by the Libertarians (Mercer, Koch's, Murdoch's, Drumfps, etc) are working stronger and better together, as once compartmented conservatives have all been radicalized and "fearing for their minority", coalesce to pool their collective resources to maintain minority rule over all of us. Its not so much about guns, as the destabilization and growing fear that gun violence brings to all of us.
Check out Ruth Ben-Ghiat's substack today. Put that with "Democracy in Chains" and "Dark Money".
https://lucid.substack.com/p/mass-shootingslucid-q-and-a-may-27?s=r
With Rupert to lie, twist, skew and rake in the dough while destroying us.
Absolutely!! Thanks for writing, and thanks for the Atlantic link.
Heather's post and this thread are far too important to just pass away. Please urge Heather to archive this entire thread, for it should be something to draw upon to strengthen our resolve to end the carnage that keeps repeating.
Maggie, this Atlantic article is excellent. Can you repost for the next letter so more readers see it? Theres another Atlantic article on Mass Shootings as Health Issues to possibly be addressed by CDC but I couldn’t access it. So many possible solutions that are ignored or not fulfilled because of the partisan divide.
There is no reason school shooters can’t shoot up private schools. One where I worked had the kindergarten in rooms with a whole front wall of glass in a repurposed department store. The other classrooms were windowless. Parents distrusted and feared the local public schools that much.
Home schooling would seem to be relatively safe.
Exactly, ur right. It can happen anywhere anytime. But when’s the last time a wealthy private school got shot up? Walls. Gates. Guards. Checkpoints. Privilege. The very wealthy donor class has extreme safety. They do not care about or use “our kids” in the collective community sense.
But not safe from inadequate parents, I could tell you some stories…
I am sure you could. I meant that home schools contain fewer targets. Not recommending home schooling or private schools! Same reasons, too little exposure to the real world. Wrong amount and/or kind of parental involvement.
Article in my local paper(NC)today about homeschooling and how woefully understaffed and underfunded the oversight department for homeschooling is. Most parents involved in homeschooling their children say “no more regulation, please”. I’ve got 2words for them; “Madison Cawthorn”.
Well, if you are going to underfund something, might as well be that. Don’t need no stinkin’ oversight! Madison Cawthorn? The loss of his congressional seat couldn’t have happened to a more deserving candidate.
Senator Scott, FL, is ALL about doing exactly that. Indeed, privatizing social security and Medicare as well.
Scott’s on the Libertarian donor gravy train.
His “contract on America” is Newt redux, only worse.
Hey, Ted. So what would happen to the children whose parents could not afford private education? Thanks.
Exactly. It’s about the privilege. Those parents will end up sending their kids to the least expensive school. Libertarianism is a smokescreen used to guard the privileged in all things. Their philosophy does not consider the unprivileged nor the diverse community around them, nor any citizen’s responsibilities to other citizens.
The have nots are not a factor in the equation
There would be plenty of people for underpaid, dangerous, boring jobs. The privately educated kids would rise to their level of incompetence without facing competition from the extremely intelligent ones who can be found in every population.
💯💯💯💯 and scare folks away from school boards by frightening and harassing their children
My son’s girlfriend finished her education to be a teacher and decided not to be one because of this violence.
Recently in Texas a candidate addressed this issue: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cdn5K2dglEu/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
I made that vow to never vote for Republicans in 1980, and have stuck with it. Last Republican I voted for was Dick Thornburgh for PA Governor, and that was in the 70s. I have not regretted that stance since.
In terms of benefit to humanity, I rank Republicans a little lower than pond scum and robotic telemarketers. No, a lot lower....
The very first time I voted was in '72 and I voted for Nixon. That pretty much soured my ever voting for a Republican again, and I have stayed true to that vow.
Bruce, I was taking some college classes to prep for returning to school. Don't do morning news (3 kids). Got to campus day after election and there was a big hubbub over Nixon winning. I went into a kind of shock. It felt as if I'd stepped into some sci-fi dystopia. It took me weeks to shake that feeling.
Me also, Bruce, in 1972. I took my oath at a clothing store in Silver Spring, MD.
Have more respect for pond scum
Action IS the only response! WE. MUST. ACT. Our children and grandchildren’s lives depend on it!💔💔💔💔💔
Yes, Cathy. Action is the only response.
Many speaking. Leigh McGowan, Politics Girl, and TC on That’s Another Fine Mess, mirror my thoughts this morning. With respect. Words matter.
https://youtu.be/Jb-JMshrKHk
https://tcinla757.substack.com/p/it-wasnt-a-mass-shooting-it-was-a?r=l2aa7&s=r&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=direct
We the People, all of us this time. Including our children.
Thanks for Leigh's link, Christine. Much appreciated!
This: https://mobile.twitter.com/warriors/status/1529246789290934272?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&fbclid=IwAR3zaJkJUcORk2SZ0stS-OBNZacp1STlM_zNhK0feJhq3DFcQW5YiYkdBz8
Calling out the child murderers in plain English. The Buck stops in Congress. Period!
Thank you, Christine! Political Girl is by far one of my favorites!
She knocked it out of the park this time, Marlene!
She’s the absolute best!
SEnding these both to as many people as I can. Thank you, Christine.
100%. Thank you. My thoughts exactly
I have renewed my own vow. I am also going on the attack on my FB page against anyone who still "follows" me and votes Republican. On another substack, someone posted a list of all the schools where there have been shootings - it was a staggering list. I copied it and shared it on my FB page, daring anyone to vote for a Republican in the face of such hideous carnage.
Thank you. We need more anger and activism. It is clear that what is blocking making progress on reducing gun violence is every single Republican. It will not reduce until and unless we reduce their power to block reasonable gun violence reduction legislation. Everyone should vote like children’s lives are more important than guns.
I just pasted this on my FB page with the admonition: "Please look at these faces and vow to never vote for a Republican again! They and the NRA are killing our children, our elders, others, simply because Republican elected officials refuse to support *any* gun safety laws."
https://twitter.com/AmeshiaCross/status/1529429833343811584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1529429833343811584%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailykos.com%2Fstory%2F2022%2F5%2F25%2F2100169%2F--Thoughts-and-prayers-horrified-and-heartbroken-Empty-words-from-empty-GOP-lawmakers
On a friend's Facebook page I found the predictable screed from a male who made all the usual excuses for assault weapons although he did favor better background checks for all guns. One of his arguments was that people could not take their assault weapons to the shooting range as if not being able to own an assault weapon is an infringement on liberty. BS I say. i didn't answer him because I am busy planting transplant and seeds into my garden while the sun is out here in Oregon. More rain to come tomorrow and the next few days. I guess I don't have many R followers, thankfully. Another of my ex-students went on a rant and given where she lives and is from, I would guess she has R friends. She has kids in school, so feels this keenly although my husband and I were saying that there is no safe place to go with so many people who should not have them, owning a weapon of mass destruction.
Yesterday, 19 children were deprived of their rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. There are countless more after one mass shooting after another who will be traumatized by such events occurring again and again. Where are Republican concerns for their rights? I am angry and will not stop being angry until something is done. No more only thoughts and prayers. No more candlelight vigils only. Now is the time for organizing, advocacy, and activism. Now is the time for action on reducing Gun Violence. Nothing else short of that is acceptable.
It is way past time to “politicize” this issue. Down with Republicans- and Joe Manchin
If you feel like doing so, send me a friend request on FB.
Do you have pottery cats on your page?
No. Profile pic is of me and my tuba.
OK, did you go to Medford High School. There are several Ally Houses. I think this one is you.
Yes, Medford HS.
Would you please paste that list here for us to share?
I have not voted for any R for a very long time because they are now as I have said many times the party of death: of our democracy, of rights for women, POC, and those who are not straight, of common decency, of the planet. As I watched the loathsome Abbott read his statement....where exactly was his outrage....I was shouting at the TV and upsetting the dog. Then we watched the President furious and nearly in tears say what responsible leaders say.
He wanted to be the purveyor of the bad news, not a cop that I saw. Just the NRA stooges afraid that somebody would object to the body count. Go Beto
Paxton barely took a breath before he encouraged arming teachers yesterday.
I’m not surprised. That’s the Republican answer for everything. Just put more guns out there! What an idiot!!!
Paxton has been battling (successfully) a number of felony charges in Texas for seven years. Two federal probes are continuing, and it is doubtful he will ever go to trial.
Shame on anybody who voted for that trash.
Jailbird
And now here in Florida, on its race to the bottom alongside Abbott, DeSantis is vowing to implement “constitutional carry” i.e. no permit required. Parkland, Pulse, etc. have had no impact here.
You said this so much better than I could. Thank you! Vote blue!!!
Where does the NRA get its money from? -
You are going to hear over and over from the NRA that it gets its money from all of those fine, upstanding NRA members' dues and contributions to its PAC. That is a lie! Most of its revenues and donations to politicians are funded by its Corporate Partners Program. And who you might ask are its Corporate Partners and how much have they contributed? The answer is gun manufacturers, ammunition manufacturers, and gun dealers both large and small. Some of their largest Corporate Partner donors are shown above in this post.
You can read more about this here:
https://vpc.org/studies/bloodmoney2.pdf
and here:
https://www.vpc.org/studies/bloodmoney.pdf
These two studies are now over 10 years old and since published by the National Violence Policy Center (https://vpc.org/)in September 2013 and April 2011, the amount of money received by the NRA through their Corporate Partners Program has only increased significantly.
Whether you are an NRA member or not, please understand whose interests the NRA represents. It is not you, it is their Corporate Partners who contribute the bulk of their revenues and whose interests they care about. They do not care about you or represent you. They do not care about our children's lives or anyone else's lives either. They care about their corporate partners - the gun industry.
The tragedies will continue until the 90% of Americans who want this country's gun violence crisis to lessen start to vote on this issue above everything else. There are 5 million NRA members and over 325 million Americans who are not NRA members. It is long past time for those who have had enough to speak up, speak out, and vote like we care more about our children than we do about guns.
Can we stop all gun violence? No, but we can have a significant impact and substantially reduce it. And, every child's life saved is worth the effort to do all we can to reduce it.
I think they also get money from Russia!
Pretty sure some of it came from Putin
Texas Lt Gov Dan Patrick also suggested arming teachers and having only one secured entrance/exit from schools after the last mass school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas.
What a country we live in …
One secured entrance/exit? Whoa. That's a recipe for disaster I don't even want to think about.
What a country run by the most vile creatures
With you on this.
This, from Gabby Giffords:
Today was “Footloose and Fancy Day” at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Students and teachers were asked to wear a nice outfit with fun or fancy shoes.
It was the last week of school filled with festive events and dress-up themes for the elementary school children, but one that ended with students being rushed out of their classes while police officers rushed in with guns drawn.
Today’s school shooting in Texas is now the fourth deadliest school shooting in modern U.S. history, behind only Virginia Tech, Parkland, and, of course, Sandy Hook.
Our nation’s schools should be the safest places in our communities, full of learning, fun and the kinds of happy memories Robb Elementary tried to provide for their kids in the final days of the school year.
They should not be places of horror and nightmares.
Speaking is still physically difficult for me, but my feelings are crystal clear: I am furious.
I am furious with those who have the power to act and save lives but are afraid to do anything to end this uniquely American epidemic.
I know the fear of the gun lobby that those cowards have must be nothing like the fear those children in Texas felt as their lives and the lives of their classmates ended in a hail of bullets.
Or the fear the children who survived today’s massacre will feel every single time they remember their teachers stacking them into closets and bathrooms, whispering in an effort to keep them safe.
Or the fear the parents must have felt when they were alerted that there was an active shooter situation happening at their kid's school.
Senator Chris Murphy said it best to his colleagues in the Senate today, “What are we doing?”
Congress knows how to solve this problem.
Congress knows the steps we can take to protect our kids in their classrooms.
And they know because this is the only country in the developed world where this kind of slaughter happens on a routine basis.
So yes, our thoughts and prayers are once again with the victims of this shooting, their families, and their friends. But our anger and outrage are with those who have the power to act and choose to do nothing.
We do not have to accept these horrific acts of violence as routine.
And we must never stop demanding our leaders not only acknowledge this devastating problem, but take long overdue action to keep our children safe.
I will not rest until we have righted the wrong our elected officials in Congress have done, and until we have changed our laws so we can finally look our parents in the face and say: we are doing everything we can to keep your children safe.
Thank you for standing with me in this struggle.
With courage, Gabby Giffords
Good morning , Lynell, on this morning that is anything but. I replied on another site to a commenter that spoke about a friend who had acquired an AR-15.
He relayed the friend speaking of firing an AR-15 the first time. “You’ll become immediately addicted to the incredible power it gives you.” That’s where the Second Amendment has become twisted by greed and where it has led us. Acquisition of personal power through the thrill of shooting a weapon designed for military use but now unleashed upon children.
There was a time, for many years, that I felt safe every day in a classroom. The drills we practiced were training for the event of a fire or a bad storm and getting away from that threat to safety. And then that changed. But there isn’t an emergency drill training that children can practice or even the presence of resource officers at a school that allowed nineteen kids to get away from the bullets that seared and ravaged their bodies as a shooter felt the addictive power of an AR-15 in his hands yesterday. Little bodies that required DNA testing for identification instead of their lunch pass used to get their tray in the cafeteria. Their teachers dead while trying to get them away or shield them from the bullets. I guess it’s the luck of the “draw” that teachers now hold onto in hoping it will keep their school building, their site, out of a killer’s gun site.
Rage. Rage against rage. More rage.
Will it be different “this time”? That the question is even asked gives us the answer. That a President who speaks to a nation last night spoke to parents 10 yrs ago as Vice President about losing a child to gun violence while in school. There is your answer.
I loathe those that bend the knee to the NRA. Think they will cancel their convention this weekend? Not when it gives them an opportunity to conspire and “defend freedom”.
Terminal incompetence and neglect at the throne of greed. That’s our Senate. That’s the Republican Party leaders.
Steve Kerr set things right. “I’ve had enough.” And then walked out.
I grieve. And think about my students. My children. Our children. I’ve had enough. I walk out. All the while knowing I move forward. We move forward. We must. But, how? With courage. But, when?
The news hit me like a stab to my back, Christine; painful, shocking and incredulous. Why? Why are little kids and teachers being killed? Why are people in a supermarket or a church being so cruelly being shot? Why? To what end? How can anyone vote AGAINST gun control seeing murder after murder of innocent children and citizens just going about their lives? We have grandchildren; and imagining them under assault by a crazed person with a gun in their school? Yeah…really bad. My wife taught grade school her entire career…towards the end they practiced lock downs and other such drills. Crazy…right? We have WAY too many guns everywhere now and WAY too many people who are angry, mentally ill and just inches away from acting out violently with powerful weapons that only the military should possess. Now, a mass shooting by a crazy, angry person armed to the teeth is just another event in the news cycle because people who claim to represent us refuse to act because…why? How can any one of them vote AGAINST robust gun control measures at this point? Yeah, we need to get this done…it needs to be personal for every American who wants this problem resolved and lives saved.
Keith, I fear what we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg as Christian nationalists are arming themselves to take over the country
Yup. C. Nationalist, Anti Gov Libertarians, white nationalist, these groups have morphed into one base.
That’s not going to happen…our democracy will finally move to address this vital initiative. Take action to shine a light on this issue and move Congress forward…
The events on and subsequent to January 6, 2021 do not give me hope you are correct
Keep trying…giving up is not an option
I join you, Keith. It must be done. Even when streaks of tears run down my face.
Your friend's comment: "You’ll become immediately addicted to the incredible power it gives you.” is chilling beyond words. I am proficient in the use of an AR-15 rifle; because of a modified radical mastectomy on my right side where I lost 27 lymph nodes, I can no longer fire a shotgun or any rifle larger than a .22 from the shoulder. The AR-15 fires a .223 round (slightly larger than a .22 and far smaller than a 30-30 or a 3006) and it is a dream to shoot accurately. For a rural patrol deputy, it was a great tool to have in my tool box. It has but one purpose: to kill people. It is useless as a hunting weapon (unless you intend to blow up birds, squirrels, or other small wildlife).
To be "addicted to the incredible power it gives you" is a freaking scary thought, because the only purpose of that firearm is to kill people.
❤️
Kellyanne Conway said “let’s not overreact.” Yeah.
There is no reaction that is enough, let alone close to being an overreaction. Our nation is profoundly broken.
She’s a minion. She and all her ilk. I feel my hands on all their throats. It’s terrifying. I’m trying to keep it figurative, not literal. I will not buy a gun, I will not buy a gun, I will……what?
Salud, MLM.
Fk her!
KellyAnn works PR for Robert Mercer, the Libertarian Oligarch. His goal is to privatize Public Education.
...and SCOTUS will give him everything he wants-Carson V. Makin is on their agenda. Will allow proselytizing in charter schools and allow back door discrimination. Please read: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/supreme-court-likely-to-drop-school-voucher-bombshell/ar-AAXNNUR?cvid=ce70bb28fdca4692902066b29cdbcff1
Yup.
“Two families, along with a libertarian institute, brought a suit”
Charles Koch….spending billions to devolve American Society. Destabilize with gun violence and fear of taking away guns. Hollow out Public Education funding. Invest in charter and private school, and promote home school. Brainwash Judges via The Federalist Society. Bring a series of little law suits to chip chip chip away at Department of Education laws. The Libertarian goal is that the Federal Gov only exists for National Defense.
That is correct.
It make me sick to think this happened AGAIN. AGAIN? My niece just graduated with her masters in early childhood education. She loves working with the younger kids. I can see how happy this makes her. She cried with joy at their little graduation. This is how it should be, with no thought of threat from some sick person with a gun. These Republican Senators need to do what they are being paid to do. Enough of this bs already.
Thank you, Christine! The children! Our children! My heart hurts! 💔💔💔
I remember, about 7 years ago, a co-worker proudly showing a picture of him teaching his 8 year old how to use an AR-15 at a gun range. I was horrified but he was proud of what he was doing. That now 15 year old is probably now capable of using such a weapon by himself. Sad, disgusting and frightening.
All you say, Christine, and nothing more.
There is a record of these congressional cowards. Let us go to their homes. We are larger than the NRA. We are larger than their constituents. We are big enough to stop them. Call it America against the Berserkers.
VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!
And work to get out the Democratic vote.
But, tragically, thoughts and prayers, will do nothing for anyone. It's become the default position - shows you care, but "screw off it you thought I'm going to do anything about it!"
I understand "T&P" is standard internet shorthand for when anything sad happens .
So Hugh. They aren’t listening or reading their mail. They are enlarging their war chests and amassing their fortunes on the lives of their constituents children. Now What?
Thank you, Gabby, for all you, your husband and so many others are doing to stop this craziness.
Support Mark Kelly (Gabby's husband) for Senate in November, if you can.
I do. He is my top priority for donations.
"How about we treat every young man who wants to buy a gun like every woman who wants to get an abortion - mandatory 48-hr waiting period, parental permission, a note from his
doctor proving he understands what he's about to do, a video he has to watch about the effects of gun violence, and an ultrasound wand up the ass (just because). Let's close down all but one
gun shop in every state and make him travel hundreds of miles, take time off work, and stay overnight in a strange town to get a gun. Make him walk through a gauntlet of people holding
photos of loved ones who were shot to death, people who call him a murderer and beg him not to buy a gun.
( I don’t know author, but it is perfect.)
Correction! Apparently Gloria Steinem did NOT make this statement comparing abortion and gun permits, but in Dec., 2015 at a Women's March, she read it and thanked the author and added
“After all, it makes more sense to do this for young men seeking guns than for young women seeking an abortion. No young woman needing reproductive freedom has ever murdered a roomful of strangers.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/02/09/fact-check-gloria-steinem-shared-didnt-write-post-guns-abortion/4437288001/
Joan, A subscriber to Robert Reich’s Substack said the author is Euell Nielsen, Historian at First African Presbyterian Church and Author at Blackpast. Because I’m on an iPhone, I can’t post the link.
Thank you! I'll find it!
Please tell me how to find it. This great-grandmother just made the attempt but to no avail. There’s a learning curve involved here. I want to share these words. I can’t watch TV anymore about yesterday’s carnage because Abbott keeps coming on the screen with his made-up sad face spouting his “concern.” I’m tired of screaming out loud at the flaming lies and collusion that continues the carnage.
One has to be a paid subscriber to Reich to have access to it. I read his Substack blog, but am not a paid member--I HAVE to call a halt to subscriptions as I'm on a severely limited income!
Please post if you can find it.
The quote has been reposted since at least 2015. Still powerful.
ABSOLUTELY THIS!!!
Wow, Molly, this is beyond brilliant.
If the uterus birthed bullets, it would be less regulated.
I've seen this a number of times... It is as poignant now as it was years ago when I read it.
Yes, it is perfect. Gonna cop it.
I am with Senator Murphy and Steve Kerr...what the f...will it take to get you 50 republicans to care about the lives of our children and innocent people being massacred by guns obtained by people unfit to carry them?? I know your relationship with the NRA is so intertwined with your re-election money and obviously that is so much more important than innocent lives being taken. Do you not have anyone you love or care about? It seems not.
The NRA today is a shadow of itself - it's broke, Wayne LaPierre is under investigation, they lost their corporate charter in New York.
I know they filed bankruptcy. LaPierre was funneling money from doners to buy yachts and other trinkets. So not sure why they still seem to hold some power? Do you have insight TC?
the scumbags are still scumbags.
Well that applies to a whole lotta scumbags.
❤️
I believe they were inept at filing bankruptcy: https://nrawatch.org/report/the-continued-decline-of-the-nra/ for details of the attempted bankruptcy of the NRA.
Is it? Or are the Libertarian’s tanking it, so that they can take it over completely?
Ask Joe Manchin
And Sinema. Both said today they would not support a "carve out" of the filibuster for gun control.
They are pariahs! We are being held hostage by their inactivity to support sensible legislation. May they rot in sewage.
I hadn't read that yet. The hell with them and the horse they rode in on!
I always think of a variation of that statement everytime someone mentions their names.
I can hardly bear my freedom today, Linda. It’s feels suffocating. How our leaders have sacrificed our children so willingly with the attack upon public education, our schools and students and their families. And give license to a few sick some to kill the children and teachers while they play and learn together.
The shame our country must bear.
Christine, I completely agree.
Someone just posted a photo of one of the victims. A little boy dressed in his finest, no doubt on his way to school. A beautiful child who never thought going to school would ultimately be a death sentence.
My heart is broken.
to "sacrifice our children so willingly? Brilliant campaign strategy, R's! Way to stick it to the Libs! See you in November!"
Manchin is all hat, and no horse.
And no cattle either.
They both make me 🤮
I saw that. Manchin offered up the usual empty words of consolation and expressed support for strengthening background checks, but then tacked on an addendum that he would not budge on doing away with the filibuster. A$$hole. That's called having your cake and eating it. He knows such legislation will never go anywhere, so he can give lip service to being for stricter gun laws, knowing it'll never happen...and probably still get $$ from the gun lobby.
God, I hope 2 more Dems win Senate seats, I would rejoice like I had won the lottery
Nailed. It. :-(