Bill Maher has often asked the question; “why are all the crazies on the right wing?” He may be onto something. Three GOP debates have proven to be an embarrassment to the party, but that is the least of their problems.

The GOP candidates are against same-sex marriage, deny income inequality, ignore poverty, are pro-life, even when the choice for life is between the mother and a fetus, support continued inequality in the workplace for women, and deny that our nation’s gun laws must be changed to protect innocent people.

Here’s a perfect example of the lunacy which is alive and well on the right wing.

Scarlett Lewis is a mother of one of the children slaughtered at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She has written a book. The title explains the content of her effort: “A Mother’s Journey of Hope and Forgiveness.”

I have little doubt that it was not only difficult to write as emotions returned with full force, but that it was also cathartic.

A small group of insane dissenters calling themselves ‘Sandy Hook truthers,’ are attempting to discredit Ms. Lewis book. They claim that the tragedy never occurred; it was all a hoax orchestrated by the federal government to secure tougher gun laws. You can’t make this stuff up.

Their tactic has been to review the book on Amazon, giving it one star and comments such as, “Scarlett Lewis is a fraud and a sellout to all of humanity,” or no stars and, “Scarlett’ should be put in jail! Zero Stars!! This book should be labled ((FICTION)) The Sandy Hook Event is PROVEN to have been a ‘drill.” They hope to discourage purchase of the book and therefore the truth about Adam Lanza, an assault rifle, and 26 innocent deaths.

This group offers additional proof that our nation is on the decline. When gun ownership is more important than the lives of our nation’s people, we are witnessing a decay of morality and a division between our people which may be irreparable. When empathy is replaced by anger and hatred; when fairy tales replace facts; proof is offered of a section of a nation’s people which has lost its sense of what America was, and should be again.

Sensible gun owners join the other 90 percent of Americans and realize that some changes must be made to our antiquated and inadequate gun laws to protect citizens during their daily routine. All Americans have the right to feel that it is safe to send our children to school, attend a movie, or attend a place of worship. The rights of the few must no longer outweigh the rights of the majority.

The second amendment is extremely important, but it is vague and does not represent America today or the types of guns and high-output magazines available.

Thomas Jefferson believed that the constitution should be reviewed every 19 years to accommodate a nation which would undoubtedly experience great change. Contrary to Scalia and other right wing extremists on the Supreme Court, the Constitution is a living document, not one which can be taken literally throughout our nation’s history in perpetuity.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of US Embassy Canada

Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2