While families come to terms with the fact that a loved one is not coming home this evening, already the social media is full of the same old stale messages, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people", "If everyone was armed no one would have been killed", etc., etc., etc.
The power of the so called "gun lobby" is a wonder to behold, and its stranglehold on politicians unbelievable to those outside of the nation, whereby it is not considered "reasonable" to register legal gun owners, or to require buyers at so called "gun shows" to have background checks.
It seems not a month goes by without a "mass" shooting, and subsequent surveys of the public regularly show upwards of 80% want background checks and a gun registry, and yet the House of Representatives would rather table a Constitutional Amendment to prevent "gay marriage" (which to this point hasn't killed anyone!) rather than "touch" the precious Second Amendment (I defy anyone outside of the US to show me where the second amendment says an individual has the"right to bear arms regardless" {my italics}- see below for the wording). Scholars like to refer the Constitution as a living document - but Congress seems to want to allow the Second Amendment to Rest In Peace!
This child like, and sometimes childish nation often insists that its democracy is the best (and of course it likes to "impose" it on other parts of the world) - but where nations have followed their own course to democracy they have overwhelmingly chosen a parliamentary system - the failing of the US system is there is no "penalty" for the Government (or in this case Congress) if it doesn't listen to its constituents or if legislation is defeated - its members get to serve its full term regardless. Next year sees mid-term elections (that is the mid-point between Presidential elections) - it will be interesting to see if Representatives financially supported by the "gun lobby" modify their position in the face of public opinion - they are more "scared" of having the "gun lobby" money used against them than they are of their constituents that voted them into office!
God help us!
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"
I am certainly not a grammar expert (as anyone reading this blog has no doubt found out!) but I believe the comma (in red) joins the two statements - it doesn't make them separate statements!
The power of the so called "gun lobby" is a wonder to behold, and its stranglehold on politicians unbelievable to those outside of the nation, whereby it is not considered "reasonable" to register legal gun owners, or to require buyers at so called "gun shows" to have background checks.
It seems not a month goes by without a "mass" shooting, and subsequent surveys of the public regularly show upwards of 80% want background checks and a gun registry, and yet the House of Representatives would rather table a Constitutional Amendment to prevent "gay marriage" (which to this point hasn't killed anyone!) rather than "touch" the precious Second Amendment (I defy anyone outside of the US to show me where the second amendment says an individual has the"right to bear arms regardless" {my italics}- see below for the wording). Scholars like to refer the Constitution as a living document - but Congress seems to want to allow the Second Amendment to Rest In Peace!
This child like, and sometimes childish nation often insists that its democracy is the best (and of course it likes to "impose" it on other parts of the world) - but where nations have followed their own course to democracy they have overwhelmingly chosen a parliamentary system - the failing of the US system is there is no "penalty" for the Government (or in this case Congress) if it doesn't listen to its constituents or if legislation is defeated - its members get to serve its full term regardless. Next year sees mid-term elections (that is the mid-point between Presidential elections) - it will be interesting to see if Representatives financially supported by the "gun lobby" modify their position in the face of public opinion - they are more "scared" of having the "gun lobby" money used against them than they are of their constituents that voted them into office!
God help us!
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed"
I am certainly not a grammar expert (as anyone reading this blog has no doubt found out!) but I believe the comma (in red) joins the two statements - it doesn't make them separate statements!
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