Background check bill needs to be pushed now

After reading the rationale for the decision by Sen. Pat Toomey, R- Pa., not to push for a vote on the background check bill that he has put forward along with Sen. Joe Manchin, D- W. Va. ( Aug. 7, “Toomey: Background Check Bill Still Lacks Votes to Pass U. S. Senate”), I was reminded of the classic social studies lesson about how a bill becomes a law. If I remember correctly, after a bill is introduced, it is then debated before a vote is taken. Ostensibly, the debate would be an opportunity to convince other lawmakers of the importance of this law.

Mr. Toomey has a chance to achieve something truly monumental but backs away from it because it is not the right time. He “thinks” it probably would not pass. I’m thinking that the victims of the next shooting would prefer that he give it a try.

But that is not the game plan being spearheaded by his leader, Mitch McConnell. That plan, as has been implemented before ( think Newtown, Conn., Las Vegas, Parkland, Fla.), is to delay any action until something else distracts the voting public. People will move on, and politicians can continue to accept donations from the National Rifle Association with impunity.

Mr. Toomey says he needs more time to convince his colleagues who “haven’t thought about the issue for a while.” What? If there is an American legislator who hasn’t thought about this issue for a while, then that person should not be in office.

Besides, Mr. Toomey’s bill was introduced six years ago. Let’s hope things have changed over time as more and more of us are directly affected by this terrible epidemic and all of us are holding our breath and hoping we won’t be next.

There is no reason the measures cannot be considered now. If they are voted down, then so be it, but can’t we at least try? After all, it is the job of our representatives to speak for us. We are not being heard.

BILL DONOVAN North Side