Wednesday Thoughts: What can WE do to end This Carnage?
Our only grandson is 10 years old and in the 3rd grade. I was an elementary school teacher for years.
Issue #57: OpEd
There were only two days left in the school year for these precious babies who were about the same age as our grandson. Several of them had just won end-of-year awards for good grades, etc., just a couple of hours before they were murdered.
Our grandson is also good in school—he even did well during the pandemic “virtual school.”
There were armed security guards at this school, but they were no match for an angry 18-year-old clothed in body armor with AK-15s.
Two 4th-grade teachers were also murdered as they tried to protect their beloved students.
I used to teach 4th grade.
This feels very personal to me, and it should be personal to all of us.
Funerals are still being held for the murder victims in Buffalo.
Now funerals are being planned for children whose parents had to submit DNA samples so that their children, who were blown to bits by an AK-15 assault rifle, could be properly identified.
Instead, Republicans are sending “thoughts and prayers” and calling for teachers to be armed.
Instead, Republicans are blaming Democrats for “politicizing” these tragedies and are calling Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden “wusses” for showing empathy at times like these.
Instead, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and The Former Guy are all speaking at the NRA Convention THIS Friday in Houston, Texas. Texas. Where 19 children and 3 adults (including two teachers) were just murdered.
Instead, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell (and Democratic Senators Kirsten Sinema and Joe Manchin) are refusing to adjust/eliminate the filibuster to pass gun laws.
There is NO reason for any “regular” person to have access to military-style assault rifles. NONE.
There is so much more to the so-called “Second Amendment” rights than just allowing anybody to bear any kind of arms.
I DO know that if Democrats elect enough new Congresspeople who will stand for protecting our kids who are already born this November and to overcome the filibuster, maybe we can start turning this around.
As usual, Professor Heather Cox Richardson, who is also the #1 writer on Substack, just published an excellent article about the history of the NRA and how we got here today. Professor Richardson teaches history at Boston College.
I am so over these mass shootings. What about you?
