Importance of Voting Against Political Violence: A Call to Action

Regarding Political Rhetoric and Violence

I’m writing this the night after the Trump “rally” in Butler, PA where a lone gunman opened fire and reportedly got a piece of Donald Trump’s ear before being shot and killed himself. Somewhere in the confusion that followed, another man was killed and other people were seriously injured. Trump himself, ever the showman, managed to pop his head up above the Secret Service into full view (and into full target availability of another rifleman which was about the DUMBEST STUNT possible), pumped his fist, and yelled “fight”.

No one knows what was running around inside the gunman’s head, and, unfortunately, because the Secret Service is trained to shoot to kill and ask questions later, we will never know. I would personally prefer the tactic of incapacitate and question, but they do not have that mindset. We lose a lot of valuable intel that way, but who am I but a citizen who would like to know just what in the ever-loving world made him think doing that was a good idea? I mean, really now. The man was a registered Republican. He was right leaning. I’m baffled. I would have thought Donald Trump would be his candidate.

Here are some things I would like for people to consider in no particular order:

1. Congress needs to BAN all assault weapons, extended magazines, and accessories that transform semi-automatics into full automatic weapons immediately. There is NO plausible reason for anyone outside of the military to possess these weapons, and, quite frankly, I am questioning the use by the military. Making “meat goo” out of anything should be considered a war crime by The International War Crimes Tribunal, which would make these weapons illegal worldwide. There are quite a few places that would cheer that idea, including Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Vietnam, North Korea, China, and Russia to name but a few. Most of Central and South America would have festivals as the cartels would lose their arsenals. But you absolutely have to target the manufacturers of these weapons and force them to cease production.
2. Start REQUIRING all manufacturers, sellers, resellers, and end buyers to have MILLION DOLLAR liability on every semi/full automatic, extended magazine, and accessory in their inventory. Why? Case in point yesterday: that weapon was actually owned by that guy’s father. Those people who were killed and/or injured should have somebody to go back to for damages because they/their families will need money for medical bills, lost work, emotional suffering, trauma counseling, bills that they have trouble paying, PTSD, etc. Somebody needs to pony up. Right now, those sellers and manufacturers are shielded AND THAT IS NOT FAIR.
3. You may have noticed because I sure have, all the T-shirts, flags, bumper stickers, and whatnot that shot onto the sales sites less than 24 hours after the shooting. Good God, folks, those bodies were still warm. Have you no decency at all? You’re already out there fleecing people of their money. It’s disgusting. Hillary was right. You are deplorable.
4. You left leaning folks; this is NOT funny. It’s a long way from being a joke. We are teetering on anarchy, and you are making jokes. We are fortunate (so far) that large, organized marches or attempts at violent retribution haven’t materialized. I’m talking riots, burning cars and buses, barricades, riot police, and the whole thing. It might yet. I pray not. This is way too serious for jokes.
5. We need to work very hard to make sure that we do defeat the idea that violence is acceptable in American politics. The way to do that is to VOTE OUT EVERY MAN AND WOMEN WHO HAS SUPPORTED THAT MAN AT EVERY LEVEL IN NOVEMBER. FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL. It is the only way to send the message that we the people will NOT tolerate being ignored and overridden by the wealthy elites. We the working people are the ones who own this country, not them, and they cannot have it. Not now, not ever.
6. Please be aware that I am not saying that all Democrats are saints and angels. Obviously, they are not. We have what appear to be creditable charges of corruption and bribery about Senator Menedez for one. He was asked to step down from his committee assignments but refused to do so. My personal opinion is that he should be forced to take a leave until such time these charges are resolved one way or the other. That’s the way you preserve the integrity of the Party as a whole.
7. ALL candidates should come out strongly against gun violence particularly as related to politics at this time. We have a volatile situation here and fuses are simply waiting to be lit. If we can keep the sparks away from the fuses, so much the better. There is a reason why you don’t have lit cigarettes or talk on cell phones while you are filling your vehicle with fuel. All it takes is a minute spark in the presence of that flammable vapor and you have a fire and explosion. Just don’t.
8. I do not expect either Donald Trump or his VP pick to come out in favor of gun control even in the face of what happened. Neither do I expect the Republican members of the Senate or the House to advocate for it. They have hog-tied themselves to the gun manufacturing industry and the rabid gun owners. However, we CAN commit to putting a ban in place as quickly as possible after we install our Blue House and Senate, and we can have President Biden sign it into law.

As I have stated before on this site and publicly, I am a gun owner and I enjoy target shooting. I live in a rural area and have many neighbors that hunt. It is a fact of life. What I do have a problem with is the easy access to weapons, no training, no licensing, no limits on number, no background checking, no requirements for insurance (they are lethal just like your vehicles), no requirements for storage, and no proficiency testing/re-testing. If you have to take a driver’s exam, pay a fee, and so forth, why aren’t we doing the same with firearms? It’s insanity.

This election should be about who has the best policies, can do the best job, is the best qualified, and has the best record.

It should not be about retribution, fear, hatred of any group of people, or getting even.

Vote Blue in November. From the top to the bottom of the ticket. Vote for people who will work FOR you and not to enrich themselves and their buddies. Democrats are about increasing the wealth and comforts of the lower income and growing the middle class. Republicans want to grow the wealth of only the upper 1%. Well, I’m not in that group and neither are you.

I’m voting Blue all the way.

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3.14 STEM