First of all my prayers go out to Alison Parker and Adam Ward, their family and loved ones.
The WDBJ-TV journalists, Alison Parker and videographer, Adam Ward were gunned down in cold blood by Vester L. Flanagan, a deranged ex-employee of the station where they worked. See link below for details:
http://www.cnn.com/...
Here's where I'm at with this.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH!!!
I don't want to hear any victim blaming, any race baiting, any misplaced blame. I don't want to hear any slogans or excuses or threats. I don't care. I've heard them all and they have no more meaning now then the did dozens of senseless deaths ago.
If President Obama's Gun Policy had been in place this tragedy and others might have been avoided. It was shouted down by people who hadn't even read it.
How do I know?
I've sent it out several times to irate gun fanatics to find them all saying, "Well, it seems pretty reasonable but carrying a bunch 10 round clips is a real inconvenience." or some such.
The No Gun Law extremists have had too much sway over Washington DC, being empowered by a complicit and enabling gun lobby, headed by an entirely out of control National Rifle Association, for far too long. What exactly differentiates the NRA from a terrorist organization? I'm not asking this to be a smart-ass. I really want to know. Their goal seems to be hold all of America at gun point.
While I'm writing this I'm watching the 'The Kelly Files' and Megyn Kelly's absolutely shameful, blatant race baiting, calling an insane person's rantings a racist 'manifesto' which was shut down by the father, Andy Parker and fiancée, Chris Hurst, of Alison Parker. Her fiancée saying adamantly that there was something wrong with a mentally ill person being able to gain access to a gun.
"We have to stop crazy people getting guns' said Andy Parker, who went on to say he was going to make it 'his mission in life'.
I'm both grateful and filled with sorrow that this will become the legacy he wishes to leave for the loss of his daughter.
We should all do all in our power to see Alison Parker's legacy fulfilled.
Below is President Obama's Proposed Gun Laws with a Couple Additions by Me.
"The Plan:
1) Requires background checks for all gun sales and strengthens the background check system. This would include removing barriers under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act so that states may more freely share information about mental health issues involving potential gun purchasers.
2) Provides states with monetary incentives—$20 million in fiscal year FY 2013* and a proposed $50 million in FY 2014*—to share information so that records on criminal history and people prohibited from gun ownership due to mental health reasons are more available. Dates of original proposal.
3) Bans military-style assault weapons and limits magazines to a capacity of 10 rounds.
4) Provides additional tools to law enforcement. The plan proposes a crackdown on gun trafficking by asking Congress to pass legislation that closes “loopholes” in gun trafficking laws and establishes strict penalties for “straw purchasers” who pass a background check and then pass guns on to prohibited people.
5) Urges Congress to pass the administration’s $4 billion proposal to keep 15,000 state and local police officers on the street to help deter gun crime.
6) Maximizes efforts to prevent gun violence and prosecute gun crime. The president calls upon the attorney general to work with U.S. attorneys across the country to determine gaps occurring in this area and where supplemental resources are appropriate.
7) Provides training for “active shooter” situations to 14,000 law enforcement, first responders and school officials.
8) Directs the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a statement to health care providers that they are not prohibited by federal law from reporting threats of violence to the proper authorities.
9) Launches a national gun safety campaign to encourage responsible gun ownership and authorizes the Consumer Product Safety Commission to examine issues relating to gun safety locks.
10) Helps schools invest in safety. The president’s plan calls for more school resource officers and counselors in all schools through the Community Oriented Policing Services hiring program. The plan also calls for the federal government to assist schools in developing emergency management plans.
11) Improves mental health awareness through enhanced teacher training and referrals for treatment. The plan calls for the training of 5,000 additional mental health professionals nationwide. The plan also calls for coverage of mental health treatment under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
And I'm adding #12 and 13.
12) 'Open carry of firearms' will not be permitted anywhere in the United States." with the exception of permitted weapons used for hunting in designated hunting areas.
13) Concealed weapon permits will only be issued to those having a demonstrable personal or professional need.
As you can see these very reasonable, proposed laws are in large part dealing with guns and mental health issues.
We are long overdue for responsible gun laws in this country.
We need responsible media that is not constantly sparking outrage when there is the mention of curbing gun extremists through legislation.
Let's make this the LAST TIME we have to endure another one of these tragedies.