Friday, April 19, 2013

Day of Shame





 US President Barack Obama is accompanied by former lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords (L), vice president Joe Biden (R) and family members of Newtown school shooting victims as he speaks on gun control at the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2013. Obama on Wednesday slammed what he called a "minority" in the US Senate for blocking legislation that would have expanded background checks on those seeking to buy guns. 

I don't wanrt to kick a nation when it's down, but since the president of the United States weighed in, so will I.  On Wednesday he decried the convoluted choice of the senate to negate strategic but limited changes to gun laws. The proposal was to do comprehensive background checks of gun buyers and limit magazine size to ten rounds --ten rounds! Apparently ninety percent of Americans supported the background checks and there was bipartisan support in the senate, even with those who are ardent gun owners. But the arcane rules of the senate meant that the proposals were defeated. President Obama described the outcome as a "day of shame" although those who should hang their heads in shame are defiant.

There is something terribly wrong with all this. Parents of the children massacred in Newtown stood with the president and once again spoke eloquently, refusing to be defeated. They should not be subjected to this. In a blog entry on what I considered evil and demonic I offered up the American obsession with guns and my mind hasn't changed at all. We know that many fundamentalist pastors preach on upholding the Second Amendment as though it is an addition to scripture. One of our folk attended a church where she saw a seminar on gun safety listed as one of the options for the week.

I realize that the States is much more "Jesusy" than we are but I don't think his "blessed are the peacemakers" has much traction south of the border. I am dismayed.

Thoughts?

4 comments:

IanD said...

First of all, was your decision not to capitalize "(s)enate" deliberate? It's certainly appropriate, either way.

Secondly, I honestly think that when the history books are written on these last two decades, students will shake their heads in disbelief at the cowardice and short-sightedness of this (c)ongress, and of the Republican party specifically. It's mind-boggling to think that the legislative arm of the most powerful nation on Earth is beholden to a special interest group.

This issue is a moral argument, at its core. This is why what's happenend is so disheartening.

Judy said...

I concur with you, Rev. David... 100%

Craziness seems to be in charge in the USA!

Lynnof60 said...

I am discourgaed....

sjd said...

I'm with Ian's Special interest group theory.
The proposed changes were fairly minor. It blows my mind that I could go to a gun show, and buy a gun without any kind of background check. Really?
Somebody has got to greasing someone elses palm pretty good to try and justify this one.