Across our nation America’s youth is demanding one thing; a ban on assault rifles. They will settle for nothing less. Companies including United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hertz, and others have notified the NRA that their members will no longer receive a discount for their services. This may be the turning point in the long running battle to force congress to pass sensible gun laws.

What old, white, Republicans, and the NRA don’t want to face, is the fact that these young men and women will be of voting age very soon and this once respected nation belongs to them, not a failed party and a lobby whose only purpose is to increase the profits of gun manufacturers and gun sellers.

Assault rifles are killing machines; that’s what they were designed to do. They belong to the military, not civilians.

Let’s take a look at the lies and misleading statements which were offered by the NRA’s CEO, Wayne LaPierre.

“Instead of placing the blame on an organization that defends everyone’s #2A rights, maybe people should take a hard look at the number of failures by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, or does that not fit your agenda?”

He wasn’t finished.

“They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom,” he said.

Let’s take the last part first. Yes, intelligent Americans know the truth about the NRA and we do hate them. But he’s very wrong about the second amendment. I am a ‘Constitutionalist.’ I cherish every word, most importantly, I cherish the Bill of Rights. For years the NRA has lied about protections guaranteed by the second amendment since 1976. There is nothing written which prevents sensible gun laws. As for assault rifles, when the second amendment was written our farmers and our militia had muskets. They could never have foreseen the killing machines which are sold legally to anyone who wants one without any restrictions today.

LaPierre cannot be allowed to blame the FBI or law enforcement. The truth is that the 19-year-old who killed 17 students and teachers should never have been allowed to purchase a weapon of mass destruction. Other than blaming the shooter, Florida legislators must be criticized for passing such an idiotic law.

LaPierre cannot talk his way out of this one. There have been three outrageous mass shootings under Trump’s watch, and all three of the killers legally purchased assault rifles and high-output magazines. Lone gunmen slaughtered 58 men and women in Las Vegas; 26 in a church in a small Texas town; and on last Valentine’s Day 17 children and adults in a Florida school. The death toll in each case would never been that high if the killers had used a handgun or a hunting rifle.

You can fool the gun nuts, Mr. LaPierre, but you can’t fool our nation’s young men and women. They are smarter than you and have given notice that any man or woman running for office who accepts money for their elections from the NRA will not receive their vote. They know how to cause real pain.

Op-ed by James Turnage

SOURCE

Image courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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