We have one political party that doesn’t give a damn how many people die as long as it can use guns to fire up its base. The Republican Party is a threat to life and democracy. The question is, when will YOU have had enough and fight back at the ballot box?
AS IS SIT here authorities in Las Vegas have not released information on how many people died and were wounded in yet again a mass shooting in the United States.
In a press conference one law enforcement official said everything was contained and residents had nothing further to fear. Let’s think about that for a moment. The suspected shooter is dead. So, nothing to fear from him.
But taken on the whole, do we have nothing to fear? History would tell us we do. We have a lot to fear from a violent gun culture that is supported by a major industry and one of our two major political parties.
In the same 24 hours that a gunman opened up at the University of Nevada Vegas campus, former President Donald Trump made it clear he plans on being a dictator. Some of his minions have gone on the air to announce that anyone they disagree with will face persecution in a second Trump presidency. This is the same Trump that urged a mob to invade the US Capitol building with chants of “Hang Mike Pence.” “Hang Nancy Pelosi.” These are the same people who made jokes about Pelosi’s husband being badly beaten in his home.
The Second Amendment today exists only as an excuse for the gun industry to make profits. It exists only as a rallying point for the far right to garner support among small but vocal (and voting) part of the electorate. We have no need for a “militia” today because unlike in the late 1700s we have a standing military, national guards, and well-trained and equipped law enforcement agencies. Let’s put the Second Amendment to bed. It should be repealed.
But, of course, it won’t be and with Trump having created a far-right, and in some instances corrupt Supreme Court, it isn’t going to be challenged.
So, where are we? Stuck in the middle of a cess pool of violence, racism, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia created largely by whatever the hell the Republican Party is today.
If that is not reason enough for every thinking, compassionate person who truly loves the country and has not given up on its potential to vote, I don’t know what is.
Until the worst of the far-right is driven back into the sewers it crawled out of, our culture and society will continue to be subjected to violence and hatred on several levels.
This is not a long post because I have posted so many times about guns that I have lost count. No sense repeating all the logical points around gun control because we have one party that simply does not give a damn about logic or how many lives are lost or destroyed by guns. They don’t care. Period. Their thoughts and prayers are shallow and insult to the dead and grieving.
Today’s shooting will be replaced by tomorrow’s. You know it and I know it.
Have you had enough? Have you had enough to the point that in 2024 you will make it your personal goal to do all you can to remove the cancer that is the neo-Nazi Republican Party from any meaningful role in our democracy?
We really are at that point, folks. Democracy is on the line. Put up or shut up.
Rich Heiland, has been a reporter, editor, publisher/general manager at daily papers in Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio and New Hampshire. He was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team at the Xenia Daily (OH) Daily Gazette, a National Newspaper Association Columnist of the Year, and a recipient of the Molly Ivins First Amendment Award from the Walker County (TX) Democrat Club. He taught journalism at Western Illinois University and leadership and community development at Woodbury College in Vermont. Since 1995 he has operated an international consulting, public speaking and training business specializing in customer service, general management, leadership and staff development with major corporations, organizations, and government. Semi-retired, he lives with his wife in West Chester, PA. He can be reached at heilandrich1@gmail.com.
I feel your pain!! My Jewish friends are now buying guns and taking gun -handling lessons. My Pickleball partner, a very religious Jew, belongs to the NRA. This is what he told me about his gun advocacy. “When the fascists came for my relatives in Germany, they were unable to defend themselves. When the antisemites in America come for me, I’ll be ready for them.”
MichaelCohen, OD