Enough with “thoughts and prayers”
As you know, AsktheJudge.info has remained a neutral site since its inception in 2007. We strive to report the facts and respond to our readers about issues that concern our youth. However, the time has come to speak out about the increasing numbers of victims shot and killed across America every day. Today, May 24, 2022, witnessed another school shooting where two teachers and nineteen children in 4th grade were murdered by an 18 -year-old boy. He entered the school in Uvalde, Texas armed with a AR-15 and a handgun and proceeded to shoot at will before he was killed by law enforcement.
Watching the news of this incident makes one’s blood boil. Every politician spouts the mantra given them by their party’s headquarters and/or the National Rifle Association (NRA). Their thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families are expressed ad nauseum. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut took to the floor of the Senate and asked a simple question; “What are we doing?” His answer “Nothing” was spot on and describes the past ten years since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut where twenty children and six adults were shot and killed.
There have been numerous school shootings over the past decade. What has Congress done about this violence in our society? A lot of debate follows every shooting, but after a week or two following the premature funerals, all is forgotten. Why is this the new normal in America? Why do parents have to wonder, when they drop their kids off at school in the morning, if they’ll make it home safely later that day? Where in the U.S. is it safe for families and children?
Looking at the dozens of mass shootings in America since 2012, it seems that self-interest and personal gain accounts for such brazen behavior displayed by our elected officials. Once in office, the salary and perks of the job become the overwhelming concern of the officeholder. We question whether the majority of Congress could land a job paying between $150,000 and $200,000 a year once out of office. Isn’t it easier to pursue re-election with the continued benefits of the job? Many argue that the NRA owns politicians through campaign contributions. How many members of Congress are willing to forego these contributions by taking a stand against dangerous gun laws that contribute to our nation’s childhood fatalities? Very few, as history shows.
The majority of Americans recognize that reasonable gun control measures can be passed without throwing out the Second Amendment. Both can co-exist if our elected leaders would take action. What will it take for them to do what the country supports and is the right action to protect our children? If sons and daughters of our representatives became victims of gun violence, would that be incentive enough for our politicians to take action? Maybe re-election would lose some of its appeal once their child became a victim. Then their thoughts and prayers would be better spent on future generations.
Ask yourself this question: would Congress take gun violence in America seriously if a classroom of Congressional children was massacred? Based on their twenty-year record of inaction, probably not. Shameful!!
