How Biden could get meaningful gun laws passed
It's just not that hard for the greatest country in the world to get meaningful gun control passed.
Not the weak-kneed legislation President Biden just signed, but real gun control that might actually save lives. Maybe even yours.
If Biden and Congress really felt as strongly as two-thirds of Americans do, here's what they could do.
Biden announces a series of weekly 10-minute TV shows, and he shames the major networks into carrying them at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on different nights of the week. If the networks refuse to be shamed, then the Democrats could buy the time. (Don't tell me they can't afford it.) The cable news networks would carry it for free, except perhaps Fox. The Democrats would have to spend some money getting the president of the United States on that network once a week. (You got something better to spend your money on?)
Every show would be different. Every week Biden would explain the specifics of real gun control. Some weeks he would feature someone from one of the countries that have done so much better controlling guns than we have, which is every developed country in the world. Or he would let a police chief talk about the effect of so many guns on police officers. Or get a celebrity to speak: Oprah, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, LeBron James, Kanye West and Steph Curry. They would jump at the chance to be part of an all-hands-on-deck gun control fight.
Every week, Biden would introduce the parents of a child who was shot to death in his or her classroom. Let the parents tell their story. Show a photo of the kid smiling. Every week.
Biden should accept every interview request from any news operation, even Fox if they offer. Bring a set of parents with him. Give them a chance to talk and answer questions, too.
Ask the viewers who want meaningful gun control to call their senators. Tell them you've become one-issue voters and they won't get your vote until they do something meaningful. If you live in a red state and wanted control, you're going to have to become a one-issue voter.
All we need is 10 senators to change their minds. Ask viewers to get Biden's video on Facebook and other social media so it gets maximum exposure. Did I mention we'd do that every week until something happens or until Biden leaves office?
When the Republicans complain he's not working on inflation, Biden should glare into the camera and say he is working on inflation but inflation hasn't killed any children yet.
To be a successful politician, you should stand for something big and important. In our country right now, nothing is bigger and more important than reducing the number of people, including children, who are being shot to death by their fellow citizens. Children! We're shooting children!
What does meaningful gun legislation look like? You don't need me to answer that. There is a long lis, and every bit of it needs passing.
And if we can't hammer Congress into meaningful action, let's just stop talking about the effect of guns on our country. It's just too discouraging and, frankly, embarrassing for the greatest country in the world.