OP-ed by Gabby Giffords: A Senate in the Gun Lobby’s Grip

[Tx4obama]

A Senate in the Gun Lobby’s Grip
By GABRIELLE GIFFORDS
Published: April 17, 2013

SENATORS say they fear the N.R.A. and the gun lobby. But I think that fear must be nothing compared to the fear the first graders in Sandy Hook Elementary School felt as their lives ended in a hail of bullets. The fear that those children who survived the massacre must feel every time they remember their teachers stacking them into closets and bathrooms, whispering that they loved them, so that love would be the last thing the students heard if the gunman found them.

On Wednesday, a minority of senators gave into fear and blocked common-sense legislation that would have made it harder for criminals and people with dangerous mental illnesses to get hold of deadly firearms — a bill that could prevent future tragedies like those in Newtown, Conn., Aurora, Colo., Blacksburg, Va., and too many communities to count.

Some of the senators who voted against the background-check amendments have met with grieving parents whose children were murdered at Sandy Hook, in Newtown. Some of the senators who voted no have also looked into my eyes as I talked about my experience being shot in the head at point-blank range in suburban Tucson two years ago, and expressed sympathy for the 18 other people shot besides me, 6 of whom died. These senators have heard from their constituents — who polls show overwhelmingly favored expanding background checks. And still these senators decided to do nothing. Shame on them.

I watch TV and read the papers like everyone else. We know what we’re going to hear: vague platitudes like “tough vote” and “complicated issue.” I was elected six times to represent southern Arizona, in the State Legislature and then in Congress. I know what a complicated issue is; I know what it feels like to take a tough vote. This was neither. These senators made their decision based on political fear and on cold calculations about the money of special interests like the National Rifle Association, which in the last election cycle spent around $25 million on contributions, lobbying and outside spending.

-snip-

Rest of article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/opinion/a-senate-in-the-gun-lobbys-grip.html

A Good Read

[elleng]

1. Great, and Rachel just read some of it.

[radiclib]

2. This is some powerful, righteous shit!

Anyone who is unmoved by this brave woman's incredible story is less than alive. Her words carry some serious mojo.
To say thank you, Ms. Giffords, is hardly adequate.

[Stuart G]

3. Everyone should read this..K and R nt

[SunSeeker]

4. We all get the picture...

[Carolina]

5. Excellent

[arcane1]

7. I call bs on your post

Begone!

[alfredo]

9. Where did the two terrorist get the gun (s) used to kill the cop?

[Tx4obama]

10. Too soon for 'us' to know - I'm sure they are investigating that issue along with all the rest.

I read earlier that the two brothers shot off 200 rounds.

15 policemen were taken to the hospital.

[alfredo]

11. Our police don't get paid enough.