The unique perspective and provocative opinions of Joe O’Neill
Gunning For Rationales
So,
Colt has suspended its production of rifles, including AR-15s, for the
civilian market. Would that public
safety were its overriding motivation. Actually, it’s a pragmatic business
decision, because the market is now, alas, saturated with similar
weapons.
When
it comes to gun laws and addressing mass shootings, the Florida Legislature’s
rallying cry is still “Incrementalism to the Rescue.” How stupid and
spineless. When common sense and public safety cry out for assault weapons
bans, non-loophole background checks and more, we get Tallahassee talk about
the benefit of a threat-assessment alert system. It doubles down on “See
something, say something.” It can help, but not nearly enough if we still allow
assault weapons and too many gun sales to bypass serious background checks.
Thanks for nothing, Rick Swearingen, commissioner of the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement, who gave his threat-assessment alert blessing
without pushing for more meaningful measures. BTW, “See something, say
something” needs updating. How about “See something, say something, actually
do something”?
President
Trump’s MO when it comes to guns is to furrow his brow, feign empathy, offer
thoughts and prayers and call for reforms after the latest mass shooting.
Then the reality of his white-nationalist, gun-enamored base and Republican
fealty to the NRA kicks in and nothing legislatively meaningful happens. Again.
And now Beto O’Rourke has been targeted, as only Trump can target, as a scapegoat.
“Dummo Beto made it much harder to make a deal,” explained Trump. A lot of
people think this is just a way of taking away guns.”