Letter: Rep. Malik is tone deaf on gun violence

Posted 7/6/16

To the editor:

The Barrington Times ran two pieces in its June 22, 2016 issue highlighting a challenge to representative Jan Malik by Mr. Jason Knight for District 67. 

Rep. Malik …

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Letter: Rep. Malik is tone deaf on gun violence

Posted

To the editor:

The Barrington Times ran two pieces in its June 22, 2016 issue highlighting a challenge to representative Jan Malik by Mr. Jason Knight for District 67. 

Rep. Malik seems taken aback by a challenge particularly on the issue of gun legislation. I think Rep. Malik is a little tone deaf if he doesn’t recognize that his past endorsement by the NRA and the absence of his voice on legislation designed to reduce gun violence speaks volumes in the post-Sandy Hook and Orlando America.

I find it completely reasonable to seek new legislators who are less enamored or afraid of the NRA and more concerned about finding ways to reduce the ridiculous level of gun violence that we currently experience. The website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there were 33,636 firearm related deaths in the United States in 2013. This astounding figure becomes even more horrifically unimaginable when we realize it does not include firearm related injuries.

For his part, Rep. Malik says he isn’t able to vote on gun legislation until it passes the House Judiciary Committee and that he hasn’t recently been endorsed by the NRA. 

His position brings little to no relief to the problem and it would appear he is not willing to be part of the solution. It is past time time to demand state and congressional representatives who clearly articulate positions designed to reduce gun violence.

Although many people argue the problem is too overwhelming and that there is nothing we can do to curb gun violence, history has provided us an example of types of actions we could adopt. In 1996 twenty-three Australians were killed in what was termed the Port Arthur massacre. Australia took brave decisive legislative actions over numerous years related to gun checks, registration, and gun buy-backs among many others to reduce gun violence. Gun violence in Australia has been drastically reduced as a result of their sustained legislative actions. 

This is our Port Arthur moment and I suggest we support representatives who are ready to be part of the solution.

Robert J. Stewart

Barrington

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