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Related: About this forumVictim’s Father Goes Off on ‘Idiots’ in Congress: ‘Have We Learned Nothing’ Since Newtown?
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heaven05
(18,124 posts)and true. Something must be done with the wimps in congress allowing this to continually happen while the NRA spends millions lining their pockets for a yes vote on anything sponsored by the 2nd amendment crowd. How corrupt we've become. God! He made me almost cry and I don't cry. How very, very sad. Sad to say, but he will be marginalized by the media and the 2nd amendment crowd and if our reps do nothing, things will continue to happen like this and sandy hook. Don't forget gabby, aurora, and charles whitman in 1966, all the way up to today. 
Perseus
(4,341 posts)"and if our reps do nothing", we cannot wait for our reps to do anything because they won't, we have to get out and vote them out of office, people have to do their due diligence before they head to the voting booths, that is why we get "Sample Ballots", it gives us all enough time to research the people who are running for office, and if we go to the booths blindly we will continue to get more of the same, which is filth and a sure pathway to corruption.
Anyone who has lived in South America where corruption is a way of life, and I have, can see the symptoms very clearly in our government, the "American Greed", not the "American Dream" is prevailing, and it is us, the people, who have the real power, we need to get these a$%holes out of office, I know its not easy but we must do everything in our power to do so.
Our power is talking to people, in a nice way, maybe getting them to see the truth by themselves, which I have found works best because it eliminates conflict.
Make sure the people you know learn about those who are in the sample ballots. I did with a republican friend, I called her up and started exchanging information by saying things like "this person voted for this, what do you think, was that good? I am not sure what it means, can you help me understand?" little by little she started to realize the people she was voting for were worthless and her choices changed, not all but enough to make a difference. We can all do that, even changing a couple of people's minds is worth it.
Dustlawyer
(10,497 posts)and complete campaign finance reform would give us back Representative Democracy. This would solve a host of problems where Congress has been paid by the NRA, MIC, Wall Street... It is obvious that nothing was done after Sandy Hook because of the money since 90% of Americans support background checks.
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)It's the campaign bucks that are the very ROOTS of all that's wrong with Congress. And yet we keep picking away at the scabs and scratching away at the rashes while the body lies comatose from the bucks that bought us the worst money can buy. Our topical efforts at changing this and that is alot like trying to use Rogaine to treat terminal CANCER!
Dustlawyer
(10,497 posts)
eom.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Would not have stopped this", etc, just where is this going to end. We have a gun culture who says everybody needs guns, it's patriotic to have a gun, they need to defend themselves from the gubermint, the gubermint is coming to take your guns, this needs to stop. Paranoia has take n over certain citizens, they are scared to death, they can't get a gun big enough, need larger and larger capacities, walking down the streets with AR-15's strapped on themselves, this is not sensible.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)have the electorate learned anything since Newtown? Learned enough to not reelect REpublicans and Blue Dog DEmocrats? The answer is "hell no." There are DU posters right here in River City that will support Blue Dog Democrats that work hand-in-hand with the despicable Republicans.
sheshe2
(83,860 posts)zebonaut
(3,688 posts)and you boot them out of office. And you are relentless.
http://everytown.org
democrank
(11,100 posts)Such raw, sad truth.
951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)And do jack shit in the end.
"Stronger" background checks are total bullshit, it doesn't prevent a deranged people who has never sought professional help from getting a gun and it doesnt prevent a deranged person from stealing weapon or obtaining one through a straw purchaser like William Spengler did.
If anything, gun and ammo ownership should become really expensive and "hunters" can go to the store if they want meat so badly or they can use a bow.
But these politicians aren't going to do jack shit, all they do is talk about "reform" which causes a panic among gun nuts and drives the major gun manufacturers stock way up.
The system failed the Martinez family, the Sandy Hook families and the families living in Chicago, Oakland, Los Angeles and New Orleans.
supercats
(429 posts)I feel sooo sorry for him.....He's right, nobody in congress is doing anything, because our country let the super rich do anything they want. Anything to get richer AND keep out anyone who tries to improve their situation. The game is rigged. I for one will not vote again until there is a real candidate to vote for that will beat down the special interests of the rich. That will beat down the lobbyist of the corporations. That will put wall street in jail. That will fairly give everybody a chance at the american dream. Because as it stands now there is no american dream to speak of, all it is is a pipe dream.
secondvariety
(1,245 posts)if there's any politician, from either party, who has the guts to answer this poor man's questions.
cleduc
(653 posts)The New Yorker did a blog on that.
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2014/05/christopher-michael-martinezs-father-gets-it-right.html
VIDEO: Father of shooting victim gives heart-wrenching statement: ‘What about Chris’ right to live?’
http://kdvr.com/2014/05/24/father-of-shooting-victim-gives-heart-wrenching-statement-what-about-chris-right-to-live/
“Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA. They talk about gun rights, what about Chris’ right to live?”
It's rip-your-heart-out gut-wrenching but you're left stunned, dumbfounded and disillusioned that the political will is still not there because congress is broken (or owned by the Kochs/NRA, etc).
Ditto for climate change/environmental issues
Ditto for gay or women's rights
Ditto for health care
Ditto for unemployment insurance
ditto for veterans support
etc, etc, etc
I don't know how these people sleep at night. History is not going to be kind to them but that doesn't help the folks who need things to happen in their lifetime.
Forget Occupy Wall Street. How about "Occupy Rational Thoughts (for Government of the people, by the people, for the people)"
To me, you've got the best president of my lifetime and his term in office is largely being pissed away.
It makes absolutely no sense to me.
It's ironic to hear some Republicans state "I want my country back" when the reality is, many Republicans of that previous era would not have behaved this way. Those Republicans were Americans first.
Sorry for the rant. It's just so upsetting.
7962
(11,841 posts)Its too late for any of that. 300 million guns. The only thing we can do is make prison sentences stiff. But anyone who goes off their rocker will still be able to go out and buy a gun from somebody looking to make a dollar.
And dont say "take all the guns". that wont work because people wont give them up.
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)"The laws won't do anything"
Yes they would. This Santa Barbara shooter (I've forgotten his name already, as he doesn't deserve to be remembered) was obviously unbalanced. Extensive background checks/psychological exams would have absolutely screened him out of buying a firearm. Also, he clearly lacked enough street smarts to be able to purchase a gun illegally.
In short, this guy is EXACTLY the kind of person who tougher gun restrictions would keep them away from.
7962
(11,841 posts)Last edited Tue May 27, 2014, 08:21 AM - Edit history (1)
Hell, the cops actually interviewed this guy and didnt call him a threat. And at that point he already had the weapons.
ETA: And dont forget, half his victims were stabbed
Dopers_Greed
(2,640 posts)I unfortunately read bits from his manifesto, and he was as dumb as a doorknob.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Republicans.
geretogo
(1,281 posts)thing stays the same , only the victims change . When does the movie end ?
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)I felt his grief and hope that I never have to experience it. I have grandsons, one who is 26 and another who will be 18 on Thursday. Just to even imagine that something like that would ever happen to them terrifies me. And also I worry about my son who is their father. His job sends him all over the U.S. and into all the big cities.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)I'm so fucking sorry and sick over this admission… But, Goddamn it, no one in Washington can hear you, sir. You don't provide enough money for them to hear you.
How shameful 