Article: The GOP Stands Atop an Ocean of Blood

by admin 26 Comments

Second Amendment

[ad_1]

From Hartmann Report

If America is to again be a “shining city on the hill” we must end our gun violence epidemic.

America, John F Kennedy said, was like John Winthrop’s idealistic “city on a hill.” Ronald Reagan added the word “shining” to that description when he plagiarized Kennedy. And now Republicans across the country want to change the word “city” to “armed encampment.”

Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives just passed a so-called “Constitutional Carry” law that would allow pretty much anybody over 21 to carry a gun, concealed or not, permitted or not, experienced or not.

Democrats offered an amendment that would’ve forbidden “domestic terrorists and white supremacists” from the gun-carrying “right,” but Republicans voted that down.

The whole “city on the hill” metaphor was meant to evoke a nation that others would want to emulate. Apparently we’re now there: Brazilian fascist strongman Jair Bolsonaro has proclaimed that he wants every Brazilian to have a gun “just like in America.” After all, his country has nearly caught up with us having the second highest COVID death rate in the world; why not have the second highest gun death rate, too?

The mass shooter in Indianapolis last week had had his shotgun confiscated earlier in the month after his mother reported he was planning to commit “suicide by cop.” He simply bought two more guns, this time high-powered assault rifles so he could more easily kill eight people in a few seconds. And those two weapons he bought weren’t cheap: more money flowed into the blood-stained coffers of the NRA and their gun-manufacturing patrons.

As of last Friday, April 16, there have been 147 mass shootings in the US this year, a 73% increase over last year. Psychologists describe it as “a contagion,” sort of like COVID. The more people do it, the more people will do it. We’ve known for decades that this is also how suicide works, which is why schools treat student suicide so differently from every other kind of death.

And, like with COVID, Republicans are doing everything they can to make sure that the contagious agent — in this case, a gun — is widely and freely available to anybody who may want it. President Biden and the Democrats just proposed legislation that would limit gun magazines to no more than 10 rounds; Republicans are outraged.

After all, if you’re going to wage war against your government because it’s become “tyrannical” by offering things like free college, Medicare for All, and a wealth tax on billionaires to pay for it all, you’re gonna need a hell of a lot more than just 10 rounds.

For most of the 18 years I’ve been doing my daily radio and TV show, I’ve been saying that, at the very least, we should regulate guns the same way we do cars. I lay out the details in my book The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment. The gun should be registered with the state and that registration should renew every year just like a car; the gun owner should be licensed and must demonstrate proficiency and pass a written exam just like a car driver; and there must be an insurance company writing a mandatory liability policy so when someone’s hurt or killed with a gun they or their family get the same kind of financial cushion they would have had they been hit by a car.

Now, Stephen Colbert has picked up the banner of “license guns like cars,” and it couldn’t be a moment too soon. Hopefully more celebrities will get with the program; it’s not anywhere near as extensive a form of gun control as rational countries like Australia and most of Europe have undertaken, but it’s a start that every American can understand.

Our country was founded on a set of values and ideals; the first to do so in history. Or at least that was the concept, and with every passing century we get closer to realizing those ideals.

It’s time to re-capture John F. Kennedy’s idealism and actually make America a “city on the hill” we can be proud of and others will once again want to emulate. We start by ending our epidemic of gun violence and calling out the GOP for what they have chosen to become: a death cult committed to violence, bigotry, and the destruction of our planet.

Thom Hartmann Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in
      Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in
      Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in
      Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

[ad_2]

Source link

Articles You May Like

Federal judge rules in favor of Alabama plaintiffs challenging ATF rule defining who qualifies as a firearms dealer
Publix should keep guns out of its stores
Child Shot and Killed in Chicago’s Washington Park
Feds charge NY Attorney General Letitia James with mortgage fraud
No Open Carry in Winn-Dixie Despite Florida Law

26 Comments

  1. 496442 201602I merely couldnt go away your website before suggesting that I really enjoyed the regular information an individual give on your visitors? Is gonna be back frequently so that you can inspect new posts. 251671

    Reply

  2. 342547 989754I discovered your blog site site on google and appearance some of your early posts. Preserve up the excellent operate. I just extra increase Feed to my MSN News Reader. Looking for toward reading far more by you later on! 477473

    Reply

  6. 996216 124124Very effectively written story. It will be beneficial to every person who utilizes it, as well as myself. Keep up the great function – i will surely read far more posts. 920123

    Reply

  10. 972884 653658Hi, Neat post. Theres a dilemma together with your internet site in internet explorer, would test this IE still is the market leader and a big portion of folks will miss your great writing because of this difficulty. 906391

    Reply

  11. 290225 884782Fantastic humans speeches and toasts, possibly toasts. are hands down transferred at some time through party and expected to turn into extremely funny, amusing not to mention educational within the mean time. finest man wedding speeches 861436

    Reply

  15. 204877 163116Up to now, you demand to term of hire an absolute truck or van and will also be removal equipments to valuable items plus take a look at the new destination. From the long run, which finish up with are few things except anxiety moreover stress and anxiety. removals stockport 516930

    Reply

  18. 870531 42034Spot lets start function on this write-up, I truly feel this fabulous site needs a great deal more consideration. Ill apt to be again to learn far more, appreciate your that info. 788396

    Reply

  24. 378146 21057I feel your suggestion would be helpful for me. I will let you know if its work for me too. Thank you for sharing this beautiful articles. thanks a great deal 836058

    Reply
  25. Pingback: brc789

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *