It’s Time: Gun Reform & Leadership

As I was grieving the death of my friend by gunshot, I heard about the mass shooting in Oregon. Another? Really?

Where is the leadership to keep us safe? I applaud President Obama’s response. But we need congress to get beyond their ideological differences and come together to pass some legislation that would make a difference. They would feel differently if their child was in Oregon or Newtown or Columbine and they were dealing with personal trauma.

There has been 994 mass shootings in 1,004 days in this country. We have become numb to the statistics and stories of those effected.

WAKE UP!

As Obama said, “The United States of America is the one advanced nation on Earth in which we do not have sufficient common-sense gun-safety laws — even in the face of repeated mass killings.”

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Our “right to bear arms” was created over 200 years ago, and the kind of arms referenced were for killing an intruder, not machines meant to kill large numbers of people in warfare.

Dr. Pamela Wible discusses the disparity between what a doctor must do to do practice medicine and what a person must do to purchase a gun. Yes, these are different – practicing medicine and shooting guns. One heals and the other kills.

Where is the leadership to effect change and better protect our citizens? This can only be done with gun reform – look at who is allowed to purchase a gun and what kind of skill they need to utilize this equipment. Most machines require that you have training and a license to operate. Ask any forklift driver.

To purchase or operate a car a person must register it, pay for insurance and get a license, which requires training and passing a test. I don’t understand why we don’t require two things for someone purchasing a gun: a background check on prior convictions or mental illness and proof of training to operate. And why should military guns be made available for public purchase?

My reflection question for Magic Monday is: What is one thing you can do to make our country safer?

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