Of the ten worst mass shootings in America in recent history, five have taken place in Texas, so it was brave of Governor Abbott to go to Uvalde after the massacre of nineteen fourth-graders by an 18-year-old high school dropout with two newly bought AR-15s who had a whole hour to kill the kids and two teachers. The grief of a gun-lobby governor seemed rather thin but he went because he had to.
It helped to read your comments, this morning. Thank you. Our so-called democracy is a sham while dollars for reelection remain so important. It's a deadly combination of money, greed and power in the hands of a bunch of cowards we managed to elect. I appreciate your statement about not performing in Texas. Perhaps some sports teams, conventions, corporations, and performing artists can join you. I read somewhere that some performers had pulled out of the NRA conference taking place. Of course this is not enough because mass shootings don't just tale place in Texas. My only hopeful thought here is that this incident might change predicted outcomes in the November elections.
The government bears responsibility for this. By doing nothing they are complicit is these killings. Why are these politicians not held accountable? I don’t get it. I am a US citizen, former 82nd Airborne combat medic Viet Nam era veteran and I live in China. When people ask, “What’s that like”, I say, “ It’s not perfect, but I’m not too worried about getting shot”. The way things are going, I’m not sure how long I’ll be allowed to stay here, but if and when I leave, I don’t plan on going back to the US anytime soon. Too dangerous.
Thank you for these important and heartfelt words. I am dreading having to attend a relative's high school graduation in an open carry state soon. I really want to skip it. I live in a blue state with strong gun laws, and I have decided to avoid traveling to red states and purchasing products that come from red states. I don't know what else to do, besides keep voting. To think that our anti-democratic and illegitimate Supreme Court may soon make open carry the law of the land, in which case I believe we will find ourselves much closer still to a second civil war. These repugnant politicians like Abbott, Cruz, Lee and, yes, Romney deserve to be vaporized with a weapon invented by their Grand Old QAnon Party: the Jewish space laser.
I know you have many fans on here but can you submit this powerful and moving essay to the Post or Times or some other big deal newspaper? It brought tears to my eyes, made me furious all over again and it needs to be read by as many people as possible.
Amen, brother. As a fellow brethren sung many years ago in your present fair city before he was gunned down by one attempting to prove his manhood, "Let it be, let it be..."
Garrison, my friends and I attended your joyful evening in Waynesboro, Virginia several months ago; the acapella singing of "God Bless America" brought tears to my eyes. As did waking to your heart-rending essay this morning. I wept when I read last night that the husband of one of the murdered teachers died that morning literally of a broken heart. Another four children left without parents as a result of the lack of gun control. I agree with Mr. Robinson, who posted a comment just prior to mine: would you share your essay with newspapers, with social media and with any forum who might accept it? Perhaps the Houston Chronicle, which will undoubtedly cover the NRA convention in their city starting this afternoon.
I'm so sick of crying for children I don't know and worrying about the lives of my grandchildren as they go to school, church or even the mall. If this is an issue of mental illness, then it's time for mandatory background checks and mental evaluation of gun purchasers.
What a stain on our national reputation we have allowed gun violence to become. It is hard not to feel ashamed when looking at the international coverage. On the website of Spain's EL PAÍS newspaper, for example, the news category shown at the top of some articles about the Uvalde shooting is something like "U.S. Shootings." And its live updates page has this announcement at the top: "As a public service, EL PAÍS is providing access to updates on the shooting in Uvalde free of charge."
Thank you for your words. How can we require young people to be 21 to buy cigarettes and alcohol, but permit the purchase of automatic weapons. We require all drivers to carry insurance, but make no legal requirements for gun owners. We are not speaking of nineteen children and two teachers. We are speaking about a nation of children and teachers who are afraid to go to school, looking over their shoulders rather than attending to their lessons, and the desire to fortify schools more than prisons so we can have a country with more guns than people. It makes me want to escape back to Lake Wobegon where things we're perfect, but one could wave to the neighbors and walk to the five and dime.
Your summation is spot on. Crazy and absurd and tragic and sick is the influence of political support money and the lack of decision-making based on the practicality of what works (if you take AK-47's off the streets they cannot be used to kill children) in favor of taking money for your campaigns from whomever comes along and accusing others, the "left." of having bad values and, evidently, thinking the solution is changing their values by imposing yours (half of which are just as violent as the so-called "bad values" of the "left": let's take, for example, wives being submissive to their husbands or, state governments executing criminals. These are not violent actions of a violent culture with violent values?).Not all of us Amercians have lost our minds. We still support things that actually work. Nor have we lost our hearts. We still will not knowlngly benefit from the donations of those who traffic in violence. When a bully brother is beating up his little sister with a stick, you take the stick away and ensure he will not get it again. You do not give a big(ger) stick to the little sister and tell her good luck. There is a difference between a fundamental right and an absolute right. Fundamentally, the bully should be able to pick up sticks. But he should not be able to beat up others with it. Fundamental means you have the right. Absolute means you have the right no matter what you do with that right. Gun ownership is not an absolute right. It is a fundamental right. Is there an absolute involved? Yes, the bully absolutely should not be able to beat up others with his or her weapons and when they do they have given up their fundamental right because they absolutely will beat up others if they keep getting their sticks.
Your summation is spot on. Crazy and absurd and tragic and sick is the influence of political support money and the lack of decision-making based on the practicality of what works (if you take AK-47's off the streets they cannot be used to kill children) in favor of taking money for your campaigns from whomever comes along and accusing others, the "left." of having bad values and, evidently, thinking the solution is changing their values by imposing yours (half of which are just as violent as the so-called "bad values" of the "left": let's take, for example, wives being submissive to their husbands or, state governments executing criminals. These are not violent actions of a violent culture with violent values?).Not all of us Amercians have lost our minds. We still support things that actually work. Nor have we lost our hearts. We still will not knowlngly benefit from the donations of those who traffic in violence. When a bully brother is beating up his little sister with a stick, you take the stick away and ensure he will not get it again. You do not give a big(ger) stick to the little sister and tell her good luck. There is a difference between a fundamental right and an absolute right. Fundamentally, the bully should be able to pick up sticks. But he should not be able to beat up others with it. Fundamental means you have the right. Absolute means you have the right no matter what you do with that right. Gun ownership is not an absolute right. It is a fundamental right. Is there an absolute involved? Yes, the bully absolutely should not be able to beat up others with his or her weapons and when they do they have given up their fundamental right because they absolutely will beat up others if they keep getting their sticks.
No one needs a AK-15 for personal or home protection or for hunting.
I continue to be disappointed with the American electorate. I know all about the NRA and the gun lobby and all of the money that they use to buy congress critters. But if the American people rose up and demanded some restriction on automatic assault weapons and guns with large magazines, something would be done. People can have hand guns for protection or rifles for hunting without having assault guns. The AK-15 is only used if you want to kill lots of people without reloading.
Great Britain has some of the strictest guns laws in the world but I am told that they still allow people to own guns for hunting and sporting purposes. Sensible regulation can be done if we want to do it.
Another group with a lot of blame for this situation is the right wing federalists society members on the Supreme Court. States and cities who want to put restrictions on gun ownership and gun purchasing are prevented from doing so by rulings from the Supremes.
It was only in 2008 that the Supremes said (in the Heller case) that the second amendment allowed each person to own as many firearms as possible. Before 2008, it was only the "well regulated militia" that could own unlimited arms. I think that the Supremes have blood on their hands.
They claim to be worried sick about the unborn but are strangely indifferent to children and adults who are being slaughtered.
The only way that this situation will change is if the people who are concerned about gun violence become active in politics. Democrats and progressives seem reluctant to actually get involved in politics -- as in supporting candidates who can win and in actually winning elections.
Some deep red states are not going to change but there are some states where sensible people can be elected.
Thank you Garrison. You words expressed the sorrow, outrage, hurt, disgust and grief I feel but haven't been able to put into words.. Our country is criminally insane to allow this carnage to continue.
Absurd, repulsive, gut-wrenching, soullessness, lamenting and again and again. I am emotionally drained by the senselessness and tragedy only to wait for next time.
It helped to read your comments, this morning. Thank you. Our so-called democracy is a sham while dollars for reelection remain so important. It's a deadly combination of money, greed and power in the hands of a bunch of cowards we managed to elect. I appreciate your statement about not performing in Texas. Perhaps some sports teams, conventions, corporations, and performing artists can join you. I read somewhere that some performers had pulled out of the NRA conference taking place. Of course this is not enough because mass shootings don't just tale place in Texas. My only hopeful thought here is that this incident might change predicted outcomes in the November elections.
The government bears responsibility for this. By doing nothing they are complicit is these killings. Why are these politicians not held accountable? I don’t get it. I am a US citizen, former 82nd Airborne combat medic Viet Nam era veteran and I live in China. When people ask, “What’s that like”, I say, “ It’s not perfect, but I’m not too worried about getting shot”. The way things are going, I’m not sure how long I’ll be allowed to stay here, but if and when I leave, I don’t plan on going back to the US anytime soon. Too dangerous.
Thank you for your words, Garrison.
Thank you for these important and heartfelt words. I am dreading having to attend a relative's high school graduation in an open carry state soon. I really want to skip it. I live in a blue state with strong gun laws, and I have decided to avoid traveling to red states and purchasing products that come from red states. I don't know what else to do, besides keep voting. To think that our anti-democratic and illegitimate Supreme Court may soon make open carry the law of the land, in which case I believe we will find ourselves much closer still to a second civil war. These repugnant politicians like Abbott, Cruz, Lee and, yes, Romney deserve to be vaporized with a weapon invented by their Grand Old QAnon Party: the Jewish space laser.
I know you have many fans on here but can you submit this powerful and moving essay to the Post or Times or some other big deal newspaper? It brought tears to my eyes, made me furious all over again and it needs to be read by as many people as possible.
Amen, brother. As a fellow brethren sung many years ago in your present fair city before he was gunned down by one attempting to prove his manhood, "Let it be, let it be..."
Garrison, my friends and I attended your joyful evening in Waynesboro, Virginia several months ago; the acapella singing of "God Bless America" brought tears to my eyes. As did waking to your heart-rending essay this morning. I wept when I read last night that the husband of one of the murdered teachers died that morning literally of a broken heart. Another four children left without parents as a result of the lack of gun control. I agree with Mr. Robinson, who posted a comment just prior to mine: would you share your essay with newspapers, with social media and with any forum who might accept it? Perhaps the Houston Chronicle, which will undoubtedly cover the NRA convention in their city starting this afternoon.
Great Article Garrison. My sister lives in Germany and they, along with most of the Civilized World, cannot comprehend the violence in America
I'm so sick of crying for children I don't know and worrying about the lives of my grandchildren as they go to school, church or even the mall. If this is an issue of mental illness, then it's time for mandatory background checks and mental evaluation of gun purchasers.
What a stain on our national reputation we have allowed gun violence to become. It is hard not to feel ashamed when looking at the international coverage. On the website of Spain's EL PAÍS newspaper, for example, the news category shown at the top of some articles about the Uvalde shooting is something like "U.S. Shootings." And its live updates page has this announcement at the top: "As a public service, EL PAÍS is providing access to updates on the shooting in Uvalde free of charge."
Thank you for your words. How can we require young people to be 21 to buy cigarettes and alcohol, but permit the purchase of automatic weapons. We require all drivers to carry insurance, but make no legal requirements for gun owners. We are not speaking of nineteen children and two teachers. We are speaking about a nation of children and teachers who are afraid to go to school, looking over their shoulders rather than attending to their lessons, and the desire to fortify schools more than prisons so we can have a country with more guns than people. It makes me want to escape back to Lake Wobegon where things we're perfect, but one could wave to the neighbors and walk to the five and dime.
Your summation is spot on. Crazy and absurd and tragic and sick is the influence of political support money and the lack of decision-making based on the practicality of what works (if you take AK-47's off the streets they cannot be used to kill children) in favor of taking money for your campaigns from whomever comes along and accusing others, the "left." of having bad values and, evidently, thinking the solution is changing their values by imposing yours (half of which are just as violent as the so-called "bad values" of the "left": let's take, for example, wives being submissive to their husbands or, state governments executing criminals. These are not violent actions of a violent culture with violent values?).Not all of us Amercians have lost our minds. We still support things that actually work. Nor have we lost our hearts. We still will not knowlngly benefit from the donations of those who traffic in violence. When a bully brother is beating up his little sister with a stick, you take the stick away and ensure he will not get it again. You do not give a big(ger) stick to the little sister and tell her good luck. There is a difference between a fundamental right and an absolute right. Fundamentally, the bully should be able to pick up sticks. But he should not be able to beat up others with it. Fundamental means you have the right. Absolute means you have the right no matter what you do with that right. Gun ownership is not an absolute right. It is a fundamental right. Is there an absolute involved? Yes, the bully absolutely should not be able to beat up others with his or her weapons and when they do they have given up their fundamental right because they absolutely will beat up others if they keep getting their sticks.
Your summation is spot on. Crazy and absurd and tragic and sick is the influence of political support money and the lack of decision-making based on the practicality of what works (if you take AK-47's off the streets they cannot be used to kill children) in favor of taking money for your campaigns from whomever comes along and accusing others, the "left." of having bad values and, evidently, thinking the solution is changing their values by imposing yours (half of which are just as violent as the so-called "bad values" of the "left": let's take, for example, wives being submissive to their husbands or, state governments executing criminals. These are not violent actions of a violent culture with violent values?).Not all of us Amercians have lost our minds. We still support things that actually work. Nor have we lost our hearts. We still will not knowlngly benefit from the donations of those who traffic in violence. When a bully brother is beating up his little sister with a stick, you take the stick away and ensure he will not get it again. You do not give a big(ger) stick to the little sister and tell her good luck. There is a difference between a fundamental right and an absolute right. Fundamentally, the bully should be able to pick up sticks. But he should not be able to beat up others with it. Fundamental means you have the right. Absolute means you have the right no matter what you do with that right. Gun ownership is not an absolute right. It is a fundamental right. Is there an absolute involved? Yes, the bully absolutely should not be able to beat up others with his or her weapons and when they do they have given up their fundamental right because they absolutely will beat up others if they keep getting their sticks.
Thanks, Garrison.
No one needs a AK-15 for personal or home protection or for hunting.
I continue to be disappointed with the American electorate. I know all about the NRA and the gun lobby and all of the money that they use to buy congress critters. But if the American people rose up and demanded some restriction on automatic assault weapons and guns with large magazines, something would be done. People can have hand guns for protection or rifles for hunting without having assault guns. The AK-15 is only used if you want to kill lots of people without reloading.
Great Britain has some of the strictest guns laws in the world but I am told that they still allow people to own guns for hunting and sporting purposes. Sensible regulation can be done if we want to do it.
Another group with a lot of blame for this situation is the right wing federalists society members on the Supreme Court. States and cities who want to put restrictions on gun ownership and gun purchasing are prevented from doing so by rulings from the Supremes.
It was only in 2008 that the Supremes said (in the Heller case) that the second amendment allowed each person to own as many firearms as possible. Before 2008, it was only the "well regulated militia" that could own unlimited arms. I think that the Supremes have blood on their hands.
They claim to be worried sick about the unborn but are strangely indifferent to children and adults who are being slaughtered.
The only way that this situation will change is if the people who are concerned about gun violence become active in politics. Democrats and progressives seem reluctant to actually get involved in politics -- as in supporting candidates who can win and in actually winning elections.
Some deep red states are not going to change but there are some states where sensible people can be elected.
Thank you Garrison. You words expressed the sorrow, outrage, hurt, disgust and grief I feel but haven't been able to put into words.. Our country is criminally insane to allow this carnage to continue.
Absurd, repulsive, gut-wrenching, soullessness, lamenting and again and again. I am emotionally drained by the senselessness and tragedy only to wait for next time.