Since Trump declared his candidacy in June of 2015, our country has gone mad. Although most of us believed that it was a joke, and that he had no chance of winning, he brought out the worst in our nation’s people. After the other candidates joined in the race, the clown car was filled with 17 of the worst possible representatives in the entire Republican Party. One by one they withdrew from their campaigns as GOP voters exhibited their disgust regarding these unqualified men and women, and were adamant about what they wanted from a president.

They wanted change. Congess’ approval rating hovered around 10 percent, and the American people wanted real change. They were tired of empty words and promises.

Sadly, they did not choose wisely. They believed the ultimate con man who is now destroying our nation and our democracy piece by piece.

Far worse, the dark side of our nation came from the shadows to spread their message of hatred and bigotry. White supremacists realized that they had a leader living in the White House. Right wing extremists witnessed an opportunity to advance their destructive and self-serving agenda. They failed to recognize one fact; the Republican Party is without leadership. Because of that fact, almost nothing has been accomplished in Washington in more than 14 months.

The NRA donated one-tenth of Trump’s total campaign contributions, and the lobby was confident that the nation’s gun laws would not be changed.

First came the slaughter of 58 men and women in Las Vegas by a lone gunman who used military assault rifles which he purchased legally.

Next was the murder of 26 worshippers at a church in a small Texas town. Another lone gunman, also armed with a military assault rifle, which he purchased legally, killed men, women and children.

On last Valentine’s Day, another lone gunman wielding a military assault rifle killed 17 students and educators at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

These were all under Trump’s watch.

Because Trump and his cowardly party refused to take action, the students who survived the onslaught began a crusade. They are tired of school shootings, most memorably in Littleton, Colorado, Newtown, Connecticut, and now in their own Florida school. They will not be ignored until these military weapons are no longer available to civilians.

Sadly, there are many mentally challenged men who resist any changes to our gun laws; they have no concern for innocent Americans; no concern for the safety of their own families; their lethal weapons are more important, as they display a complete absence of common sense.

Carl Nett is a candidate for the secretary of state in Kentucky. John Yarmuth is a Representative from the ‘Blue Grass’ state, and is a Democrat. He recently tweeted that he wears a pin displaying his “F” rating from the NRA gun lobby with pride.

On Monday Nett suggested that Yarmuth ‘should be shot’ for suggesting gun safety legislation.

It gets worse.

Nett is a former Secret Service agent, and an officer in the CIA. He suggested that Representative Yarmuth ‘move the pin closer to the middle of his chest where he would have a better target.’

This is not my America; this is Trump’s America. He has encouraged hatred and violence from day one, and his supporters are listening. Hate crimes have increased by 800 percent. Our nation is more divided than at any other time since the Civil War.

It’s past time for all of this to end. Trump, his white trash family, and his circle of sinners are unfit to rule over our nation. They do not believe in my America, the Constitution, or the principles of our founding fathers.

Republican politicians support Trump’s fascist agenda, and if we return control of the House and Senate to Democrats and Independents, they will once again be powerless. Trump will be destroyed. Please vote and encourage others to do the same.

Op-ed by James Turnage

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