Sunday, August 04, 2019

Second Amendment Freedoms On Display


After helpfully citing universal background checks, assault weapons, and red flag laws, Beto O'Rourke told CNN's Jake Tapper (on CBS, below) that Donald Trump

does not even pretend to respect our differences or to understand that we are all created equal. He is saying that some people are inherently defective or dangerous, reminiscent of something that you might hear in the Third Reich, not something that you expect in the United States of America. Based on their religion, based on their sexual orientation, based on their immigration status, based on the countries that they come from. Calling those in Africa 'shithole nations' and saying that he'd like to have more immigration from Nordic countries, the whitest place on Planet Earth today. So again, let's be very clear about what is causing this and who the president is. He is an open, avowed racist and is encouraging more racism in this country.





O'Rourke is completely correct- except when he says "what is causing this."

While President Trump is clearly encouraging racism and is partially responsible for the increase in mass shootings-and especially hate crimes- in the USA, he is not causing the murders. The individuals pulling the trigger are most responsible.

There were mass shootings prior to Donald Russia becoming President, and there will be after he leaves office (just not as many).  However, they will not occur for the reason claimed by the Texas governor when he tweeted "Bottom line is mental health is a large contributor" to any type of violence. Not surprisingly, the same guy a couple of years ago had boasted "I'm EMBARRASSED: Texas #2 in new gun purchases, behind CALIFORNIA. Let's pick up the pace Texans. @NRA"

Mental illness may not be a factor in a bar fight; when an addict or pusher is killed in a drug deal; an individual being robbed resists and is killed in the struggle; a wife is killed by an habitually unhappy, situationally angry husband in a drunken rage; a gang member is murdered by a member of a competing gang: a motorist accidentally mows down a pedestrian; or any other kind of violence. 

As of a couple of years ago, among nations with at least tenmillion citizens, Yemen and the USA were #1 and #2 in the world for the rate of mass shootings and #2 and #1, respectively, for the highest rate of gun ownership. This is not coincidence. Leave it to the guy (the only guy or gal) who realized there is no groundswell of support for his presidential candidacy to get it right:
Donald Trump; has contributed to- nay, has created- the atmosphere encouraging mass shootings. But don't leave Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the NRA out of this. They're in on it, too.



Share |

No comments:

Score One for the Former, and Still, Thespian

Not the main question but: if we're fools, what does that make the two moderates of The View? Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski real...