I want to join the Post Star in commending Congresswoman
Stefanik for cosponsoring legislation to reform our mental health system. I'll
mention Congressman Gibson for his efforts, as well. I also wanted to comment
on a story that ran in Monday's paper on funding for gun violence research. The
article mentioned how the Republican-led Congress, at the behest of the NRA,
killed this funding. What funding the CDC has received is only on account of
the White House.
In a report they
managed to put together for 2013, the statistics showed 33,636 firearm deaths
in the U.S. Of these, 63% were suicides and 33% were homicides. Under 2% were
from mass shooting events. So that's fewer than 700 from incidents like
Roseburg and over 21,000 that are self-inflicted. The solution suggested by the
NRA after every massacre is to arm more people. Looking at the stats above
makes that sound like less than a good idea.
I'd also like to
point out that there have been 3,380 deaths from terrorists since 2001, mostly
on 9/11, of course. There have been 406,456 deaths from firearms. How much has
been spent on the War on Terror? God knows, but we do know that Congress is
spending as little on research into deaths from firearms as they can get away
with. Zero.
I believe most
NRA members are as concerned about this as any of us. Wayne LaPierre and its
leadership are in the business of selling guns and ammunition, though. My
campaign advice is probably worth what I'm charging, but I'd urge Mike Derrick
to reject Big Gun. Having rational ideas about overcoming this scourge will
absolutely put him ahead of his two rivals in our district.
As always, Fuck the Guns!
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