FOR SOME, IT IS TOO LATE

Following every gun massacre, politicians say this is “not the time” to discuss the problem. Who are they kidding? It is the perfect time to discuss gun violence. If not now, then when is the time to discuss ways to curb gun violence? These same politicians never say “when” they are willing to have a serious discussion about ending the carnage. The real problem is our politicians petrified of the NRA and gun manufacturers.

For 58 people attending an open-air concert in Las Vegas it is too late. It is too late for the those wounded and killed at Virginia Tech, for the dead and injured at the Orlando nightclub, for the children and teachers and families at Sandy Hook, and for the mother of my oldest grandchild who was one of those killed at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. How many more slaughters are needed until “the time is right?”

After every tragedy there is a national dialog about what happened and what needs to be done—after hurricanes, after 9/11, and after floods—but not after mass shootings. Why not? Those in positions of responsibility don’t have the backbone or decency to tell the public when the time is right for them to discuss the killing of innocent children, moviegoers, concert attendees, or people shopping in malls.

Ah, the sacrosanct second amendment and our right to own guns. Apparently the rights to life, liberty and happiness of those killed in these shootings mean nothing compared to a mentally ill person’s right to kill and maim. And, since January 2017 Congress passed legislation making it easier for people who are mentally ill to own guns—some of these people who can now legally buy automatic weapons are so ill they cannot handle their finances—they cannot write a check, but they can buy a rapid-fire weapon.

I would like someone to show me where in the Second Amendment anyone is given the right to indiscriminately kill others. All the amendments to the Constitution have limitations. The first amendment gives us freedom of speech, but I cannot slander someone or use foul language. The Second Amendment should have limitations aimed at preventing shooting rampages. And NOW is the time to talk about it.

Other countries such as Great Britain, Australia and Canada have laws and policies in place that have helped dramatically curb mass shootings. There is nothing that can prevent all of this violence from taking place. But measures have been adopted elsewhere that have drastically cut incidents of gun violence.

In medicine just because you cannot cure all ills, does not mean you stop trying—the same is true about gun violence. Just because you cannot prevent all shootings doesn’t mean you stop trying to curb their number and extent. (To be continued)