The mantra today is “gun control,” but shouldn’t it be focused on what has caused the school shootings and where the government failed, the parents are failing and the schools are failing? All weapons are dangerous in the wrong hands. Why are the weapons even in the wrong hands?
The National Rifle Association is being accused of pulling the trigger because it wants to protect the Second Amendment just as the American Civil Liberty Union thinks they are protecting the First Amendment for all Americans. Each group can be thought of as very biased for their cause. The NRA and ACLU are both lobbyists. In 2017, the NRA spent $1 million ranking it 489th of 18,823 lobbyists. The ACLU spent $1.2 million in 2017. The Teamsters and transportation lobbyists total lobbying expenditures were $2.7 million. The total 2016 lobbying spending was $3.15 billion. Statistics are from the Center for Responsive Politics.
Often overlooked in the rights protected by the First Amendment is the right to lobby. While never expressly using the term “lobby,” the right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” is specifically noted. This translates into modern times as a right to lobby. I think the NRA is pretty small potatoes compared with other lobbyists.
So, gun control advocates; Chicago and Baltimore have the most restrictive gun laws yet they are still shooting galleries. Seattle is not reporting all their crimes to make their statistics look better, but the shootings continue.
Bottom line, let’s look at the root causes of someone picking up “any” weapon and using it against anyone else. Where are our state, county and city agencies and schools working together on this problem of kids killing kids?
John Van Dalen
Everett
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