The onus is on REASONABLE gun owners to speak up and support reasonable gun laws and CONDEMN the extremists, like the Republican senators who blocked a quick fix on bump stocks. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever these things should be legal and yet cowards like Lindsay Graham refuse to take any action.
Unfortunately in the US today guns are inherently political. I’m usually an optimist but if mass killings of children such as Parkland, Sandy Hook, and Uvalde don’t move the needle then I see little chance of the gun violence that kills children being viewed by a large swath of the gun owners or politicians as a health issue/crisis.
We live in a democratic republic. The vast majority of Americans are in favor of banning AR-15 style weapons. automatic weapons and bumpstocks. The inaction by congress re making those things happen is political malpractice and should get them voted out of office. Now.
I think you’re right. I think no one is ok with the deaths caused by guns. I think if we could all approach it as something we all want to prevent instead of a pointing fingers issue we could make real improvement. When we’re screaming at each other, we assume that the “others” are irrational and evil. No one wants the deaths of kids and teens.
I’m outraged by our politicians lack of movement on this issue. I live in a beautiful area, but lately I think twice about going to the local mall or movie theater. I can no longer bring a bag to the symphony and have to go through a metal detector upon arrival. I’m just furious and even bitter. Why are “their” gun rights more important than my right to feel safe?
Great message. Making gun violence a health issue is a good step forward but –and I apologize for being such cynical balloon popper–I don't think it'll do a lot of good. Look what it did for smoking . Yes, it's down but the latest stats I've seen from World Health Organization is that an estimated 8 million Americans died prematurely from cigarettes in 2023. And politics isn't even an issue with smoking while politics is deeply rooted in guns, whether you like it it or not. I hope and pray something can be done–and soon–and this is a good start. But it'll take more than a sticker on a gun stock to keep most of these horrific tragedies down.
It’s crazy, but this really is an epidemic. The more gun violence the more people who never thought of having a gun change their mind and want to have one too.
Welcome to my home state! I hope you have a great week. Wear lots of sunscreen! Anyway, on the note of guns, I have been a transfusion medicine professional for over 40 years, working in facilities with trauma centers during much of my career. I've never understood the American fascination with guns.
The onus is on REASONABLE gun owners to speak up and support reasonable gun laws and CONDEMN the extremists, like the Republican senators who blocked a quick fix on bump stocks. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever these things should be legal and yet cowards like Lindsay Graham refuse to take any action.
Great message, Chris, and kudos to the surgeon general. It’s a soapbox I’ve been on for ages with letters to the editor.
It would be nice to be able to take politics out of it and I hate to say it’s the fault of Republicans. Okay, I don’t really mind at all. It is.
Chuck Todd always talks about this- no politician has ever paid the price for being pro-gun. Until that happens, nothing is going to change.
Appreciate your perspective, Chris.
Unfortunately in the US today guns are inherently political. I’m usually an optimist but if mass killings of children such as Parkland, Sandy Hook, and Uvalde don’t move the needle then I see little chance of the gun violence that kills children being viewed by a large swath of the gun owners or politicians as a health issue/crisis.
We live in a democratic republic. The vast majority of Americans are in favor of banning AR-15 style weapons. automatic weapons and bumpstocks. The inaction by congress re making those things happen is political malpractice and should get them voted out of office. Now.
I think you’re right. I think no one is ok with the deaths caused by guns. I think if we could all approach it as something we all want to prevent instead of a pointing fingers issue we could make real improvement. When we’re screaming at each other, we assume that the “others” are irrational and evil. No one wants the deaths of kids and teens.
I’m outraged by our politicians lack of movement on this issue. I live in a beautiful area, but lately I think twice about going to the local mall or movie theater. I can no longer bring a bag to the symphony and have to go through a metal detector upon arrival. I’m just furious and even bitter. Why are “their” gun rights more important than my right to feel safe?
Thanks for the discussion.
And we have a Supreme Court that is seemingly determined to wipe out pretty much every gun regulation in existence.
Great message. Making gun violence a health issue is a good step forward but –and I apologize for being such cynical balloon popper–I don't think it'll do a lot of good. Look what it did for smoking . Yes, it's down but the latest stats I've seen from World Health Organization is that an estimated 8 million Americans died prematurely from cigarettes in 2023. And politics isn't even an issue with smoking while politics is deeply rooted in guns, whether you like it it or not. I hope and pray something can be done–and soon–and this is a good start. But it'll take more than a sticker on a gun stock to keep most of these horrific tragedies down.
Unable to take the road... hmmm ... remind you of any politician?
bravo!
It’s crazy, but this really is an epidemic. The more gun violence the more people who never thought of having a gun change their mind and want to have one too.
Spot-on, Chris. Thank you.
Welcome to my home state! I hope you have a great week. Wear lots of sunscreen! Anyway, on the note of guns, I have been a transfusion medicine professional for over 40 years, working in facilities with trauma centers during much of my career. I've never understood the American fascination with guns.
It is not just gun violence. Assaults are part of the epidemic of violence.