Letter: Courage comes by making change, not slinging an AR-15

Posted 6/10/22

Special kudos to Republican senators! They have instilled courage into every student in America. You see, as astute people know, there is no courage without vulnerability. And because the GOP is so …

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Letter: Courage comes by making change, not slinging an AR-15

Posted

Special kudos to Republican senators! They have instilled courage into every student in America. You see, as astute people know, there is no courage without vulnerability. And because the GOP is so enthralled by the NRA’s vast campaign contributions, no student is safe from assault gun murder. So, our kids, all of them, show great courage just by going to school. What a country.

Of course, courage very often begets deep fear, and being witness, from near or far, of the murder of other children does genuine emotional harm to our kids. Way to go, GOP.

The NRA and their GOP toadies (they include Trump, Cruz, and Abbot) talk about bad guys with guns. Their antidote is MORE good guys with guns. Really? Define good guy, you Dr. Noes. Does this good guy group include guys who “snap,” “go postal,” or otherwise “lose it” when they suffer insults, run into protesters, get drunk, or discover an unfaithful spouse? Good guys are good until they become bad guys. That is the sad truth.

By the way, you don’t need a Rod & Gun Club membership or prior military service to know that a “long gun” is a hunting rifle or a shotgun. To claim an AR-15 is a long gun is to claim a D-8 dozer is ideal for lawn mowing. Well, mow ’em down seems just fine with our GOP senators. Maybe if they had D-8 dozers to play with we’d all be better off. In the meantime (and these days are certainly the mean times), we have the emotional trauma of our kids to deal with. This will not be easy, and all the tactical units, citizen patrols, and armed educators [God help us] will be of little use.

When will the GOP’s vulnerable senators show courage by showing up in schools to apologize to our kids and then risk their own power by voting to ban assault guns of all kinds? If not, might not they be the ones with severe mental health problems?

Will Newman

Tiverton

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