In his latest assault on common sense and the constitutional rights of America, President Clinton on March 7 paraded the grief stricken mother of the recent 6 year shooting victim past the network cameras calling for more gun control. In what amounts to no more than blatant political opportunism, Clinton is making claims that additional gun control measures would have prevented this tragedy and that Congress and the National Rifle Association are somehow to blame.
The firearm used to murder the child was stolen by some low-life crack heads and placed within reach of a child. What law, or laws Mr. Clinton would have prevented this from occurring? The only easy access for children to firearms is through illegal channels or through the actions of irresponsible adults. What is even more reprehensible in Clinton’s message is the impossible and disingenuous promise that with additional gun control, our children will be safe.
Children die and are killed every day by accidents and disease. They have no more immunity from these perils than do you or I. To promise or even give the hope of additional child safety through implementation of laws is contrary to statistical probably and natural law. Every day, 13 children are reported killed by firearms in this Country. This is true, but what Clinton fails to report is that among the 13, who by the way can be as old as 26, the majority are involved in shootings between they and the police or between gangs. A very small percentage is killed due to accidents.
It is sad that a few children die each year due to the accidental discharge of a firearm, but that is an unfortunate fact of the imperfection of the human condition. Accidents do happen, and are as likely to be avoided as trying to dodge every insect that may impact your windshield. Clinton promises the impossible.
If we really want to do something about firearm violence as a community, we need to look at the root causes of our societal ills and stop blaming and confusing accidents with outright misuse of firearms. We did not have this level of violence in our Country as little as 40 years ago, and firearms were more easily obtained and pervasive in our society. Every day in this Country, over 6,000 people are either beaten, raped, strangled, tortured or otherwise mutilated without firearms. That should be the focus of our concern. Somewhere within that enormous number lies the puzzle of our present condition.
The firearm used to murder the child was stolen by some low-life crack heads and placed within reach of a child. What law, or laws Mr. Clinton would have prevented this from occurring? The only easy access for children to firearms is through illegal channels or through the actions of irresponsible adults. What is even more reprehensible in Clinton’s message is the impossible and disingenuous promise that with additional gun control, our children will be safe.
Children die and are killed every day by accidents and disease. They have no more immunity from these perils than do you or I. To promise or even give the hope of additional child safety through implementation of laws is contrary to statistical probably and natural law. Every day, 13 children are reported killed by firearms in this Country. This is true, but what Clinton fails to report is that among the 13, who by the way can be as old as 26, the majority are involved in shootings between they and the police or between gangs. A very small percentage is killed due to accidents.
It is sad that a few children die each year due to the accidental discharge of a firearm, but that is an unfortunate fact of the imperfection of the human condition. Accidents do happen, and are as likely to be avoided as trying to dodge every insect that may impact your windshield. Clinton promises the impossible.
If we really want to do something about firearm violence as a community, we need to look at the root causes of our societal ills and stop blaming and confusing accidents with outright misuse of firearms. We did not have this level of violence in our Country as little as 40 years ago, and firearms were more easily obtained and pervasive in our society. Every day in this Country, over 6,000 people are either beaten, raped, strangled, tortured or otherwise mutilated without firearms. That should be the focus of our concern. Somewhere within that enormous number lies the puzzle of our present condition.