Shame is the best way to end gun violence
Mass shootings will not end because we as a country are not serious about it. Our federal government has failed us.
To fix any problem, one would logically use the most effective tools, but the two best tools are always immediately taken off the table by many members of congress (mostly Republicans). We should be implementing universal background checks and bans of AR-style automatic rifles. Banning means no sales, period, and collecting all of the ones in circulation with a mandatory buy-back program.
The main problem is the
U.S. Senate, where 60 votes are needed to get past a filibuster. For example, on March 11, 2021, the House of Representatives passed a universal background check, with eight Republicans joining all but one Democrat to send the bill to the Senate. But the Senate did nothing — no debate, no vote — nothing!
In the meantime mass shootings continue unabated.
In June, Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities
Act resulting from mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas. The problem with this legislation is that it is mostly funding for programs such as expanded background checks, incentives for states to adopt red flag laws, and money for school safety and training, but no federal changes. When funding is used up, we are back to square one.
Again, mass shootings continue. No positive effects that I can see. It’s as bad as ever.
Congress pretends to search for answers. The answer is simple, but the courage is lacking.
Everyone should forget about “changing hearts and minds” as Republican senators are not insensitive or stupid. The real problem is they are in the pocket of the NRA.
The way to get lawmakers to vote for it is to shame them. Logic will not work and has not worked. Maybe pictures of senators beholden to the NRA with blood on their raised hands would be effective. The caption could read “Shame on me.”
NRA-backed senators will only vote for these bills when the personal pain of voting against them is greater than voting for them. Shame them and make them uncomfortable. Make sure their friends and relatives know they are complicit in mass shootings and death. Ask their mothers if they are proud of them.
Background checks are low-hanging fruit that more than 90% of citizens support, so why don’t we have it? The Senate should pass the background checks bill immediately, the same one originally passed by the House in 2021.
Remember there are some 20 million such rifles out there now, up from 400,000 about 20 years ago, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association. These assault rifles are military weapons with too much power to be in the hands of ordinary citizens without special training.
Congress should pass a mandatory buy-back to allow 60 days to turn in the weapon in return for fair market value with a cash payout on the spot and no questions asked.
I would expect that if these two laws (universal background checks and an AR-style automatic rifle ban) passed, mass shootings would instantly drop by 75%.
To encourage NRA lawmakers to vote for these bills, gun violence prevention groups such as CeasefirePA and Everytown should run advertising campaigns, on billboards and TV, to shame members of Congress.
Here are a few shaming samples:
1. Are your parents proud of you?
2. What does you your wife say about your votes against common sense gun laws?
3. How do your children feel about wearing Kevlar backpacks to school and hiding under desks?
4. For every gun death, do you feel you have blood on your hands? (Of course you do!)