Gun industry prevents progress against violence
Nearly 3,000 Americans died in the senseless 9/11 attack. That was a great tragedy, or I should say 3,000 great tragedies. But more than 300,000, a hundred times that many Americans, have died from senseless gun violence since that tragic day. Because of the 3,000 deaths 14 years ago, we started two wars, destabilized the entire Mideast, created a new branch of government and spent a trillion dollars and counting.
What should we do in response to a hundred times that many killings? Couldn’t we at least close the loophole in gun-show sales, where anyone with the money can buy guns? Couldn’t we at least have a national background check to prevent the wrong people from acquiring deadly weapons? None of this would interfere with responsible citizens buying and owning guns.
But let’s not hold our breaths. The gun industry owns too many legislators at both the state and national levels and too many governors as well. How sad!
Ed Bailey, Oakhurst
This story was originally published October 6, 2015 at 10:18 AM with the headline "Gun industry prevents progress against violence."