October 2, 2015 6:36 AM

Senseless gun violence and bloodshed makes its weekly stop...this time in rural Oregon

ROSEBURG, Ore. — Thirteen people were killed during a shooting at Umpqua Community College near Roseburg Thursday morning, according Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenbaum. Up to 20 other people were wounded. The shooter fired at officers and was killed, according to the Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin. There is no longer a threat on the campus, Hanlin said….. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” [Oregon Gov. Kate] Brown said. “We’re holding the Douglas County community in our hearts today.”

Ten dead. Seven wounded. It seems the traveling road show that is the NRA-sponsored Mass Shooting 2015 Tour made its weekly stop, this time at Umpqua Community College a couple hours down I-5 in Roseburg, OR. I was reading earlier today that there have been 45 school shootings this year- virtually one a week…and still it’s not enough to convince the National Rifle Association and other Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes © that something needs to- nay, MUST- be done. The senseless carnage continues uninterrupted, primarily because any attempt to consider common sense gun control is shouted down by Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes ©, who define “common sense gun control” as “THEY WANNA TAKE OUR GUNZ!!!”

I am Sick. To. Death. of the steady drumbeat of “This week’s mass shooting occurred at [insert name of school here]. The tragedy left XX people dead and XX wounded.” I’m tired of innocent people dying for no other reason than having the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the right time. I’m tired of apologists and Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes © who believe the problem isn’t that there are too many guns, but that THERE AREN’T ENOUGH. I’m tired of gutless politicians who are in the pockets of the NRA and the gun industry and are thus complicit in the growing body count. It’s easier to get a gun in this country than it is a drivers license. Though Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes © will almost in unison chant about the need to enforce gun laws already on the books, the truth is that they’ve disingenuously worked to neuter enforcement efforts. Laws serve no purpose if there’s no means of enforcement. Yes, there are laws on the books, but the fact is they don’t work- not because they aren’t enforced but because Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes © have stealthily worked to make enforcement difficult and in some cases impossible.

Douglas County, where Roseburg is located is one of the most economically depressed areas in Oregon. With the poverty, drugs, and generalized misery that is the constant backdrop of life there, UCC has been one of the few positive things the area has going for it. Chronically underfunded, UCC has managed to fulfill its mission to help educate residents and steer them towards better lives. This tragedy won’t change that, but it’s sad that the Traveling Road Show of Senseless Gun Violence © decided to make a stop in Roseburg.

Perhaps someday, Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes © will realize the depths of their monstrosity and acknowledge the blood on their hands. Perhaps they’ll finally recognize and acknowledge that their intransigence has been responsible for thousands of death that might have been prevented had they not clung to their “gun rights” with every ounce of fury they could muster. Perhaps I believe in the Tooth Fairy and fail to understand that monsters don’t spontaneously grow hearts unless they’re shocked by something that rocks them to their core. As much as I hate to think in these terms, I truly believe it will take one or more Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes © having to bury their own loved ones in the aftermath of a mass shooting for their to be any hope of change. I hope I’m wrong about that, but if there’s one thing that Proudly Closed-minded Gun Control Foes © have proven they lack, it’s a heart. Don’t even get me started on compassion and empathy.

When will enough be enough? Where will the next tragedy occur? How many more will have to die?

blog comments powered by Disqus

Technorati

Technorati search

» Blogs that link here

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on October 2, 2015 6:36 AM.

Congress should be ashamed...if they possessed the capacity for shame was the previous entry in this blog.

How women could ensure America gets common sense gun control immediately is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Contact Me

Powered by Movable Type 6.0.8