Those so callous about death can’t be pro-life

Brick, N.J.: In the minds of millions, the Republican Party’s professed opposition to legal abortion makes the party morally great. Virtually all Roman Catholic bishops vote Republican and command their subjects to do the same by forbidding the faithful to vote for any candidate that voices a pro-choice stance. The Republican Party enjoys the support of a huge majority of evangelicals. So it must be God’s party, right? Not necessarily!

If the party were to manifest a pro-life commitment beyond pregnancy, its sincerity would gain credence. However, its mission statement — if it has one — might be summarized as “fewer taxes for the wealthiest and everyone else is on their own.” It holds so tightly to a bizarre interpretation of the Second Amendment while watching mass gun massacres on a routine basis that calling itself pro-life has become a peculiar, ridiculous claim. It seems the party has perched itself on a weak branch. “Pro-life” should reflect a consistent attitude, a non-conflicted mindset that values human life after birth, not only before. Yet, the Republican Party so loves guns — or the bounty that flows from gun manufacturers and organizations — that it vehemently opposes any and all legislative efforts to control the proliferation of all types of killing devices. Many of these devices, already proliferated and continuing to proliferate among our population, were designed and intended for one purpose only: to kill human beings.

If the Republican Party truly wants to earn “pro-life” credentials, it must do the right thing and support efforts to save the many thousands of American lives lost or shattered every year by guns.