Richard Adin, An American Editor
Week after week guns destroy lives — lives of people of all colors, all ages, all ethnicities, including the lives of those who have yet to experience their life to its fullest, our children. Yet Republican politicians, with the help of some Democrat politicians, are more concerned about NRA money and getting reelected than taking serious steps toward reducing the likelihood of experiencing the violence of Parkland and previous massacres.
Trump has been and continues to be a failure on every front in every way, and is likely to be seen by history as the Republican destroyer of American values and ideals, but I had thought that even as amoral and uncaring as he is, he would be moved by the senseless killing of children. Apparently, not.
The following video, produced by the Washington Post, compares President Obama’s response to the Newtown massacre to Trump’s response to the Parkland massacre.
I wonder if Trump’s response, or, for that matter, the nonresponse of the Paul Ryan—Mitch McConnell—Wayne LaPierre triad would be different if one of their children or grandchildren had been a victim. Considering how tone deaf and callous they are, probably not.
If having more guns in schools is such a great idea, why isn’t it an equally great idea to permit guns in courtrooms, in the halls of Congress, in the West Wing of the White House, or even on White House property? Isn’t the logic that judges, politicians, and presidents would be much safer than either police or Secret Service personnel could possibly keep them if everyone had a gun that they carried 24/7 the same logic as justifies more guns in schools?
If more people having guns would deter gun violence, why can’t we carry guns on airplanes? Isn’t the logic that no terrorist would use a gun on an airplane if the terrorist knew that everyone else was carrying a loaded weapon the same logic as justifies more guns in schools?
The day I can carry a loaded weapon into face-to-face, one-on-one meetings with Trump, Ryan, and McConnell will be the first day I think putting more guns in schools is a rational and sane idea from and promoted by rational and sane people. Sadly, for America,
Republicans don’t get it — put lead in your pencil, not in your children!
Republican love for the AR-15 is greater than Republican love for children!
What do you think?
An American Editor 
Like most people, especially Americans at this time, I have strong opinions on the subject of guns and am not shy about expressing them. However, I don’t wish to discuss them in an editorial business forum, where I come for advice and education on editing and editing business. For gun debate, discussion, and information, we have myriad other outlets. IMO, the relationship between guns and editing is getting facts straight in the documents we work on.
That said, I also believe that blog owners and contributors are free to post on whatever is important to them.
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Comment by Carolyn — February 25, 2018 @ 7:53 am |
I was walking down the street the other day when I noticed a gun skulking down the sidewalk on the other side. It was stopping at each house and peeking through the window to see if there was anyone to shoot. Luckily, it hadn’t spotted me, so I was able to duck into the bushes until it had passed by on its search for innocent blood.
Week after week guns destroy lives, if we could only outlaw guns, none of this would be happening.
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Comment by billtierney2016 — February 25, 2018 @ 11:40 am |
“If more people having guns would deter gun violence, why can’t we carry guns on airplanes? Isn’t the logic that no terrorist would use a gun on an airplane if the terrorist knew that everyone else was carrying a loaded weapon the same logic as justifies more guns in schools?”
An idea put forth by the great Republican thinker (and acolyte of Richard E. Nixon) Archie Bunker in an episode of “All in the Family” that aired on February 16,1972.
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Comment by ldaviseditor — February 25, 2018 @ 12:00 pm |
Thank you, Rich, for putting this on the AAE blog. These are times that call for taking a stand, and I am long past caring if mixing business with views on critical issues is good or bad. It’s just so beyond that. It’s hardly something we can divorce from our work anyway. Who could concentrate on work as news of the latest school massacre was coming out?
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Comment by Teresa Barensfeld — February 25, 2018 @ 12:13 pm |
I’m in favor of speaking out about this anywhere and anytime possible. People have been quiet too long while the marketing machine of the NRA has used their clout to shout on television, radio, social media, and direct mail. One freedom should not eclipse all other freedoms, but be exercised with wisdom and discretion. Our greatest freedom is to elect people who represent our values. Maybe we’ve finally come to our senses and will go to the polls in droves to let our votes speak back to the gun merchants.
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Comment by Annie J — February 26, 2018 @ 2:22 pm |
Thank you, Rich, for your common sense and for being brave enough to be public with your opinion. I hope so much that the Parkland teenagers can succeed where even the grieving Newtown parents couldn’t. it is far past time to break the NRA’s stranglehold on the US government.
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Comment by Christina — February 26, 2018 @ 7:19 pm |
Actually, it is far, far, far past the time for changing from putting guns and money before children and family to putting children and family before guns and money. I’m in the process of designing and printing sweatshirts and T-shirts with these 3 slogans: (1) “Next Time Someone Points a Gun at a Child, Thank a Republican and the NRA — Remember Newtown and Parkland!” (2) “Show Your Love for Children — Vote Republican & Buy a Gun” (3) “Want More Lead in Your Children? Vote Republican — Remember Flint, Newtown, & Parkland!”
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Comment by americaneditor — February 27, 2018 @ 3:00 am |
I am a Priest. And for the first time, in almost 40 years of ministry, from the Pulpit, at Mass, I called out these pseudo-Christian right-wing religionists hypocrites, these evilgelicans, (which is the proper way to pronounce that word when referring to them.) They claim to be Pro-Life, but obviously they do not care about what happens once the baby is born. They love, and worship, their guns far more than they worship their God! They tell us, after EVERY mass murder, now is not the time to talk about it. Then WHEN THE HELL WILL IT BE TIME!!! Thoughts and prayer? How do they think God works? We are his hands, we are his voice! In their cases, “thoughts and prayers,” is a euphemism for wait until it blows over and with their 10 second attention spans, they will forget all about it. Until the next time, and the next time, and the next time… If Paul Ryan ever came to my church for Mass, he would be denied the Sacrament.
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Comment by The Rev. W. Charles Paul, Mdiv. — February 27, 2018 @ 1:27 pm |
I saw a photo online of a recent shooting, posted by Everytown for Gun Safety, with a caption saying, “It’s not too soon to talk about gun safety—it’s too late.” I’ve often found it odd that the same people who claim to be pro-life (anti-abortion) often so strongly support the unrestricted freedom to buy and stockpile tools for killing. Well, you were brave to make a statement from the pulpit. One of our priests made a single comment about Trump’s anti-immigrant statements and a man in a front pew angrily stood up and stomped out of the church. Hey, we’re a CHURCH! We welcome the stranger! The message does not get through to some people Thank you for posting, Reverend.
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Comment by Christina — February 27, 2018 @ 2:21 pm |