DeSantis is just not listening to the science
On March 18, Gov. Ron DeSantis joined a team of medical professionals for a roundtable discussion about public health. One of those attending was Dr. Scott Atlas, who previously served as an advisor to former President Donald Trump. The remaining three were Dr. Sunetra Gupta, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Martin Kulldorff. They are authors of the Great Barrington Declaration. None are infectious-disease experts.
This declaration debuted on Oct. 4, 2020 by the American Institute of Economic Research, in Great Barrington, Ma. The basic premise is that lockdowns in response to the coronavirus pandemic do more harm than good, and that society should use “focused protection” for the elderly and those at high risk, while letting the young go about their business normally. It allows the virus to spread among young people to build “herd immunity faster”.
DeSantis, and Trump, have totally bought into the idea of rejecting mask mandates. The governor does not allow any municipality to impose fines for not wearing masks. He wants to rush open businesses and schools, and blames lockdowns on increased crime and mental illness.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the most respected infectious disease doctor in the world, is very critical of the Great Barrington Declaration, calling it “ridiculous and total nonsense.”
The American Institute of Economic Research is hostile against any government interference and is funded by Koch Industries, a petroleum and industrial conglomerate, which is primarily conservative and rightwing.
It is no surprise that Koch Industries donated more than $1 million to the “Friends of Ron DeSantis” 2018 election campaign for governor.
NATIONAL CRISIS
The two recent tragedies in Georgia and Colorado, which resulted in senseless deaths, should be enough to finally galvanize Congress to legislate sensible gun laws.
Churches, synagogues, mosques, schools, theaters, shopping centers, and now spas and grocery stores all are places where people should feel safe. But, instead, theyhave become killing grounds.
The excuse that the right time to discuss gun control is not immediately after a mass shooting is ludicrous.
How have other countries successfully curtailed gun violence, while we as a nation continue to watch the horrors unfold?
The difference is that our members of Congress equate smart gun control with taking guns away from citizens. But this is not true. Smart gun control includes background checks, red-flag laws, banning assault rifles, closing gun-show loopholes and requiring gun buyers to obtain a license to purchase weapons. These are sensible measures.
Why do those who oppose these regulations misinform us that, if enacted, Americans will have all their guns confiscated?
Gun violence is a crisis. Now is definitely the time to demand action from our elected officials.
– Sheila Gewirtzman,
Plantation