OPINION: Gun Lust

ABOVE: From Marcin Wichary on Wikimedia Commons (license)

Editor’s note: The opinions in this letter are the author’s only. Citizens’ Media TV encourages all viewpoints. Please submit your letters to the editor

A letter to the editor by Kathleen Pulver of Medford NJ

It is well past time for our collective “gun lust” to end. There have been so many mass shootings, single shootings, accidental shootings and suicidal shootings that we risk being forever numbed to this unnecessary violence.

Obviously, the causes of violence in our country are complex, ranging from abuse, mental illness, inequality, radical ideology and plain stupid meanness. We have government representatives who seem to want to blame every possible thing for gun violence except for the over supply of guns in the civilian population. Yes, there are many factors that are involved in the various reasons for people being killed by guns, but the only common denominator is the gun. The NRA has shown undue influence on our elected representatives and would like to see at least one gun in every American hand. I will never accept the argument that more guns will stop gun violence. We know statistically that the opposite is true.

My Representative to Congress, Tom MacArthur (R-NJ3), has an “A” rating from the NRA, he co-sponsored bills (HR986 in 2015 and HR38) that would allow concealed carry reciprocity. He has recently said that he wants “better background checks” and tossed out the idea of a bill that would federally fund armed police in every school and in houses of worship. He admits that this would be very expensive. I have a less expensive start for him: a bill to ban military assault type weapons and a truly national background checks for ALL guns. I fear that this would tarnish his NRA rating and cut back on the donations from that group for his re-election campaign.

We are at a crossroad here. The next generation is doing a wonderful job of focusing a laser light on our gun lust. We need to stand with them and vote for representatives who have “F” ratings from the NRA. I will be voting for MacArthur’s opponent Andy Kim this November because he is not taking Money from PAC’s and I believe he would wear an NRA “F” as a badge of courage.

Editor’s note: The opinions in this letter are the author’s only. Citizens’ Media TV encourages all viewpoints. Please submit your letters to the editor