‘Blame game’ not the answer
Dear editor:
The terrible shooting in Parkland, Fla., has caused a great deal of sadness, grief, soul searching and lots of anger directed at the NRA. I think many want to see a solution to these school shootings without harming the right to own and use a firearm. I am one of those that believes something can be done. Therefore, for what it is worth, here are my thoughts.
Misuse of guns is clearly a part of the problem, but is not the primary problem. As a country, we need to have every state pass a forced physiological evaluation law (with court concurrence) of those with possible emotional problems, particularly anger management and depression. Just like individuals with domestic violence problems, these people should be flagged as too unstable to purchase and own a gun. The school district and sheriff ’s department had ample reason to request such an evaluation had one been available.
School districts need to wake up and get rid of that idiotic “gun-free zone” nonsense, this foolish policy is an open invitation for a killer to operate unimpeded. Hiring trained police equivalents for each school district, restricting door access, installing video cameras and panic alarms are also viable solutions. Offering teachers who are capable, willing and trained to carry a gun is also reasonable. The National Education Association is so busy defining its stupidity it cannot find time to defend the students.
Background checks on every firearm purchase, including long guns from firearms dealers, could prevent some
unidentified individual from committing violence. The speed at which these checks can be performed should offer minimal inconvenience to legitimate purchasers. The NRA has been supportive of instant background checks and helped make it available.
Lastly, blaming the NRA and claiming falsely that large donations have been made to members of Congress, when the 2017 NRA political action budget was barely $5 million, is absurd and unfair. The power of the NRA is vested in the millions of voting members who believe in the 2nd Amendment, not dollars to purchase votes. (See http://www.opensecrets.org/ lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000082&year=2017) For the record, political contributions by unions, including the NEA, was $1.6 billion during the 2016 election cycle.
Instead of looking for a scapegoat to blame, how about the 19-year-old killer who destroyed 17 lives and traumatized numerous others. The school district and sheriff’s department are not blameless since they failed to act with plenty of reason to interfere. The Broward County sheriff’s department is even more culpable since their on-site armed deputy failed to confront the killer.
The Blame Game is not the answer! Dennis Bosch Hot Springs