Sen. Sinema’s lame response after El Paso gun massacre
Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has made a point of emphasizing that her whole reason for being in government is to “get stuff done.”
Well, here’s her chance. And at first glance, for one of the most important problems of our day, she’s doing exactly what her Republican colleagues in Congress have been doing for decades … nothing.
After the shooting in El Paso that has left 22 dead and dozens wounded Sinema towed the lame Republican line of offering thoughts and prayers. But no possible solutions.
She tweeted: My heart is with the people of El Paso today. Thinking of all the first responders, victims, and families affected by this senseless act of violence.
EVERYONE's heart is with these people.
We should expect more from elected leaders.
What Sinema offered up is just what we’d expect — and just what we got — from do-nothing politicians like Rep. Andy Biggs, who like most Republicans kowtows to the National Rifle Association and other gun rights organizations.
He Tweeted: The loss of any innocent life is tragic, and the news from El Paso is heartbreaking to watch. Cindy and I are praying for all of the victims and their family members. Likewise, Sen. Martha McSally also followed the company line, tweeting: My heart breaks for the victims and their families. Praying for those involved and for our first responders This is usually followed by the equally lame excuse that goes some
thing along the line of: Now is not the time to discuss gun laws. That should come later. Then, it never does.
No talk about about assault weapons. Or about extended magazines. Or about universal backgrounds checks. Or about anything.
Even worse, the most venal of the partisan apologists, like Arizona’s own Rep. Paul Gosar, try to launch preemptive strike against those who would suggest — correctly — that the poisonous, racist, xenophobic rhetoric of President Donald Trump only serves to embolden the twisted minds of those who carry out these evil acts.
Gosar tweeted: Not now. Not ever. There is never justification for violence other then self defense. The El Paso shooter should be held 100% accountable under law. It is his decision alone. It’s not society’s fault. It’s not the internet’s fault. Peace and love to the families.
El Paso resident and Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke was asked about Trump’s rhetoric in light of the shooting and said, "Yes ... he is a racist, and he stokes racism in this country ... and it leads to violence." He’s right.
Trump is now promising to do something. We’ll see.
If Sinema (or any other politician) wants to “get stuff done” when it comes to mass shootings — and they ALL should — then it will have to be a multi-tiered approach dealing with actual common sense firearms legislation and a genuine effort to tone down the toxic dehumanizing of whole ethic groups by people with the largest microphones in the land.
Thoughts and prayers are not going to cut it.
Last year, the son of a woman named Susan Ofranos, who had been in Las Vegas when that horrific mass shooting occurred and survived, was killed at a mass shooting in Thousand Oaks.
She said afterward, “My son was in Las Vegas with a lot of his friends and he came home. He didn’t come home last night, and I don’t want prayers. I don’t want thoughts. I want gun control, and I hope to God nobody sends me any more prayers...”
Amen to that.