Donald Trump is good for ratings, but not much else. However, the mainstream media reports every word he says, regardless of how idiotic or offensive it might be. They are one of the primary reasons he has now secured the 1,237 delegates needed to win the Republican nomination.
What they don’t report are tragedies which never should have happened, and might offend the NRA. The media has never admitted that this organization is only a lobby, and not a gun rights advocate.
At least 100 children are killed or kill someone each year in the United States with the use of a gun. The media ignores these facts and have obviously accepted these tragedies as ‘normal.’ A couple of days ago I reported the story of a five-year-old who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Today’s story involves two children, ages four and five. The difference in this case is that the Detroit police are charging the grandparents with charges from manslaughter to child abuse.
“Everybody in this universe knows that Detroit has an issue,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy at a Wednesday news conference, according to the Detroit Free Press. “Detroit and Wayne County have huge issues with children dying from firearm use. And no matter how much we sugarcoat it or say it’s not so or try to cover it up with stats about crime going down, it still remains an issue that we have to address.”
Frederick Davis and Patricia McNeal were charged in connection with the May 11 fatal shooting of their granddaughter, 5-year old Mariah Davis. She acquired the loaded weapon underneath a pillow, walked into another room, and shot herself in the neck. She died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This happened on May 11.
In another separate incident, also in the Detroit area, an 80-year-old great grandfather, Joseph Williams, and 30-year-old mother, Andrea Drewery, have been charged after a 4-year-old boy shot himself in November 2015.
The boy suffered a non-life-threatening injury. The adults were aware that they were keeping a loaded weapon in a location accessible to anyone. They have been charged with second-degree child abuse, and felony firearm possession.
This must stop, and stop now. Any parent, relative, or friend who keeps loaded weapons in an accessible location for small children must be charged with child endangerment, and if the children survive, permanently removed from their custody.
You might notice two things; both of which involve the NRA. First of all, the gun lobby denies any wrong doing by the adults. Secondly, this “gun rights” organization has made no statement promoting gun safety.
The NRA was founded on November 17, 1871. Its stated purpose was to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis.” Until 1976, it was involved in gun safety, and actually wrote most of the gun laws we have today. Recognizing an increased interest in guns thanks to libertarian articles at the time, it morphed into a lobby in support of gun manufacturers and gun sellers.
Prior to 1976, the NRA suggested that for the safety of family members, guns and their ammunition should be kept in separate, locked locations, and the guns should never be loaded inside of the home. Today the NRA denies this; they only promote additional gun sales.
Cases of toddlers being shot by guns, or shooting others with lethal weapons should be headline news. Not a single mainstream news network is concerned about these unnecessary tragedies.
But when Donald Trump rants about Hillary Clinton’s personal e-mails, sound bytes and videos are shown on every network.
Hypocrisy and sensationalism; not the truth.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 