I’m throwing a picture in this post for you. It has nothing to do with the post.
I can’t write anything today other than my despair and rage that a frigging gun lobby has bought and paid for politicians. It’s the equivalent of hush money. “As long as you don’t let any legislation through, we’ll keep funding your campaigns.”
So once again we get ‘thoughts and prayers’ statements, as well as ‘this isn’t the time.’
It’s time. It’s been time.
When money and power trumps the rights of our children to go to school and feel safe, a moral line has been crossed and those who have crossed it are complicit.
We have elections coming up. Vote them out. If they won’t take action, if the lives of innocent Americans don’t matter to them, we need to take action in the voting booth. And do me a favor: do a search for who has taken money from the NRA, and how much. It’s shocking.
It’s blood money.
Cut the NRA off at its knees by voting in candidates who do not take money from them. They’ve become a domestic terrorist organization, far from what they used to be. That is exactly the reason my father left after years of membership. He saw what Wayne LaPierre was doing and wanted no part in it.
The NRA and gun manufacturers profit from violence. That profit is more important to them than human lives.
Enough.
I am so sorry Claudia, I am lost for words. There was one school shooting in Scotland in 1986. In response, two new firearms Acts were passed. They effectively made private ownership of handguns illegal in Great Britain. I hope it will happen in the US, also.
P.S. I need to comment more regularly, not only when I want to give you moral support. I so enjoy reading your blog every day. x
Thank you, Christina.
Claudia, you are spot on! The NRA is one very scary organization. Despicable!
They are indeed. Thank you, Judy.
Amen…
Thank you, Debbie.
Amen indeed
Siobhan
Thank you, Siobhan.
It is so difficult for us to get our heads round this in the UK because so few people here have guns compared to the USA. We do have other issues to deal with of course, but not this one. I don’t know what the answer is, but I do wish that far fewer people all around the world had guns and weapons of any sort as I am sure that it would make the world a better place.
It would. Thank you, Amy.
Concisely put, Claudia. I’m so sickened and sad from all I’ve read this morning. Angry. Senseless violence; loss of life. How many times? How.many.times.
I know. Thank you, Vicki.
Amen to that! ;)
Thank you, Donnamae.
The moment that I hear “thoughts and prayers” I turn off whatever it is. Ridiculous. What did I hear…. 18 school shootings so far this year. Folks, THIS YEAR is less than 2 months old. I totally agree with voting the NRA suckers out, but since they get the big $$ from them ~ the people running who are without the NRA backing so rarely even have a chance. It is beyond a vicious circle. I don’t know if I will live long enough to see that change.
I turn off, as well. It means NOTHING – at least in the political sense. It’s a way of avoiding the issue.
We just might have a blue tsunami this year and if we do, it will certainly help to take power away from the NRA.
well said Claudia
Thank you, Carolyn Marie.
Yes.
Thank you, Margaret.
I agree with you 100%!
Thank you, Cathy.
I have been teaching for 33 years (high school). Last night, I turned to my family and said, “It is a matter of time. Please, be prepared.” It is a matter of time. Schools have been abandoned. We are no longer supported by most of society. We are no longer funded by politicians. We are no longer protected from assault weapons. I weep for our country’s future.
It’s heartbreaking. Thank you, Tina-Marie.
Agree 1000%. So well-said that all I can personally add is – Damn Straight! And of course, vote the effers out!! May the Force be with the people of Parkland. Peace.
#Resist
#Protect Mueller
PS – sorry about using “effers” but this time, it’s absolutely called for [and earned].
No apology needed. I have been saying that very word…MANY times.
I wish you would run for office – we need people like you. You speak for SO many of us.
Thank you, Karen.
I didn’t even know about this until late last night. Then I was devastated. I spent the evening with Sara, Tiger and Scout and soaked up some love. I’m very lucky and it makes me even more grateful. NRA is a terrorist organization!
It is indeed. Thank you, Linda.
This is horrific! And the fact that it is the 18th this year!! As usual, they are talking about maybe controlling the sale of that assault rifle. That is just the tip of the iceberg. It seems to me that one school shooter just ‘borrowed’ one from his mother after he killed her. Or he could buy one from a friend. or he could just steal one. Banning of this rifle is the only way. And banning the ability to turn a rifle into a machine gun. Watch out! one day the mothers of this country will unite and get rid of these *(*& republicans who support guns.
And we’re only half way through February. Thank you, Jan.
It’s PAST TIME.
how many of these blood baths will it take? apparently where profit
and lily livered suck up greedy politicians are concerned they will go on forever.
my brother also dropped his membership years ago. he was where it was headed.
you are RIGHT. it is nothing but another terrorist organization. profiting from murder.
if we ever marched for something it should be FOR NO GUNS.
the old ‘argument of the pro gun people…’ self defense???
who in their right mind needs a machine gun and magazines full of ammo for self defense?
it’s for murdering our children. and anyone thought to be ‘unacceptable’ by them.
the recent example Las Vegas.
the Redneck mentality has got to be stopped. and we call ourselves a civilized society? ha.
you can BET I will be in the voting booth. and before that… spreading the word.
my state is Open Carry so they can even strap it on their hip like cowboys used to if they want to.
our state congress tried to pass a bill allowing teenagers to carry guns! I despair.
and if one more politician looks sad and dares to say “you are in our thoughts and prayers”
I will THROW UP.
my brother SAW where it was headed and quit them.
he wasn’t where it was headed! anyone with integrity can/could see it.
only people who totally agree with the NRA and its terror are still members.
for those who need ‘the science of it’ this is a statistic I just read after leaving your post.
{ We are seven weeks into this year, and in the United States we have averaged a school shooting every 2.5 days. This is the 18th school shooting of 2018. Overall, there have been 30 mass shootings so far this year. }
It’s horrifying. We’re only mid-way through February.
xo
Exactly. I feel the same way. Thank you, Tammy.
So, so sad Claudia – again. Those poor families. Unbelievable that nothing changes – just unbelievable. How do those people that buy into the NRA propaganda after each massacre sleep at night? And as for the politicians – disgraceful. NOTHING is worth putting children’s lives in danger NOTHING.
Exactly. Thank you, Val.
Well said, Claudia…..well said.
Thank you, Lorinda.
Claudia, my heart is breaking for these innocent “babies” and their families. I cried yesterday and when I look at my grandchildren heading off happily to school, I say a silent prayer for their
safety, as well as that of their father, my son, a police officer on a college campus. I’m afraid as
long as money, the root of all evil is involved, we may not see an end to this senseless brutality.
Guns, I have always hated and feared them. My son, the cop, took me to a range once and I shook the entire time just holding one. Ironically, I was a good shot and he was proud of his mama. Go figure. Take care. Your sunset photos of the previous day are stunning. I look out
my windows every evening for those masterpieces.
I have always hated them, as well. And as I’m anti-hunting, I can’t even accept that excuse!
Thank you, Penny.
Tell it Claudia! I read your post outloud to my husband. He too used to be a NRA-er but between my nagging and his realization that they are not about gun rights (that is more than adequately covered), but about gun SALES, he too resigned. The latest news says Parkland shooter was part of a white nationalist group. God help us.
-Eileen in Fla.
They are completely about gun sales and they’re in league with gun manufacturers. Disgusting.
Thank you, Eileen.
The single scariest thing about moving to the USA was and still is putting my kids into a US school, with the shooter drills and the largely unspoken threat behind them. My kids aren’t in school this week and I haven’t been able to switch the news on, which may be a blessing.
I understand. Thank you, Rue.
How much money and time are invested in keeping us safe from terrorism? And yet we are much more likely to be killed by some US citizen armed with military style weapons and the government’s only response after so many deaths over years is to offer condolences and prayers. Isn’t the first duty of government to keep its citizens safe?
And recently I saw a report the Russia was making significant donations to the NRA! I hardly think the best interests of the US people are driving those donations. And even that isn’t enough to get Congress to act.
Yes, Russia has given lots of money to the NRA. I hope that the NRA eventually goes down for this. Hoping.
Thanks, Kate.
well said. thanks, claudia.
sadly, just this past week a proposed bill advanced out of sub-committee wanting to make iowa a “constitutional carry” state (of which there are five or six in our country). i don’t know all the fine points of that bill yet, but the summary is that it would take away the requirement to get a permit because the constitution already grants the right to bear arms and because of that (they argue) there should be no need for background checks for anyone 18+ who wants a gun. insanity …!
kathy in iowa
another blogger, This Old House 2 wrote an impassioned post about this issue today so my comment I made there fits here as well.
I grew up in Wyoming and hunting is a big activity there. I was a member of the NRA at that time, learned how to shoot a rifle in classes sponsored by them but as you said, they are not the organization that existed in the 70’s now.
there should be background checks of mental stability to buy weapons. We don’t let people that are too young or too old drive unless they can pass the tests etc because a car is a several thousand pound weapon that can harm many people in a short period of time and in most of those cases is unintentional unlike the use of these guns.
during the assault weapon ban that existed between 1994 and 2004, even with all its loopholes, a person could only buy a magazine that held 10 bullets. Many municipalities have stricter limits than that still but approx 42 states do not have any restrictions on bullet magazines. this adds to the carnage that can be caused in the blink of an eye.
Are we going to get this changed? Politicians give very good lip service and are funded handsomely by the NRA. the only way to change any of this is with public outcry and VOTING which Americans are apathetic about much of the time. Only about 60% of registered voters vote in Presidential elections and only 40% on average in Midterm elections. I hope this number will be dramatically increased this year.
thank you for letting me air my opinion. I appreciate your candor about our current political situation and your courage!!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Melody.
well, hooray and thank God … that dumb “constitutional carry” proposal was finally defeated yesterday!!!
kathy in iowa
Good news!
Insane.
I had to remove my son from public school as his overwhelming fear of death was too much for him to handle…how could I force him to go to a place where he had to sit and worry all day about being attacked and whether he would ever be going home again?….I often wonder how many more children are carrying this fear inside them and their parents do not realize it….What a burden to place on a child…What a burden for teachers not knowing if one day they will see a child in their care die in front of them or maybe they will be the one to lose their life in front of their students…
No child should have to worry about being safe – anywhere, anytime. Thanks, Nancy.
Yep.. I’m done with hearing words.. what we need is action. What is frightening about this one is the FBI knew about him.. and still.. it did not help. I actually think these shooters now are trying to attain fame. We should no longer allow their names to be used. Every school needs a guard on duty. Mental patients should not be allowed to buy guns. The age to guy needs to go up. Don’t vote for politicians who take money from the NRA. Video games need to STOP making games where you shoot people and head-counts are how you win. There are positive moves we need to make, but we need those who govern us to not be in bed with the special interest groups. Vote blue, please.
Thanks, Teresa.
I agree with everything that you have written. I expressed my anger and despair in my latest blog post, “Wanted: Leaders with Integrity and Backbones.” If you wish, you may read it at
apositiveoutlook-janice.blogspot.com
I will make sure to do that, Janice. But I’ve been having problems leaving comments on Blogger, so if I don’t comment, that’s why. Thank you!
20 years ago in the UK a man shot kids in a school. Our government took the tough decision to tighten the rules for gun ownership so hardly anyone has them and no one owns a handgun legally. No child has been shot in school since. We still have problems with a small amount of illegal guns and with knife crime but no child has been shot at school since. 20 years safe.
The same thing happened in Australia. If only our leader were as sane as yours. Thank you, Susan.