The U.S. Senate Deserves An "F"...For Failing Americans

     The United States Senate's vote on Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 is proof that many of our elected politicians don't care what Americans want.  In poll after poll, survey after survey - in a nation where there are almost as many weapons as there are people - about 90 percent or more of U.S. citizens - including gun owners and Republicans - have emphatically stated that we need tougher and more sensible gun control laws.  It's disgraceful to think, but it's obviously true that Congress is nothing but a pawn for the National Rifle Association (The NRA).  Unfortunately, we - as a nation - have elected a syndicate of spineless senators - many of whom - need to be voted out of office.

     It's been 18 weeks since a lunatic went on a shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and murdered 20 children and 6 adults.  How on God's green Earth - after Newtown... after Aurora, Colorado...after Fort Hood...after Tucson, where former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords survived being shot in the head...after Columbine...and after numerous other tragic massacres - can the U.S. Senate continue to make it easier for deranged madmen to kill innocent people?  Why do we cast our ballots for useless individuals who go to Washington...become rich and famous...but get nothing accomplished? 

   

  President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden worked tirelessly - with speech after speech - as they traveled the country - in the hope that the word of the people would make a difference to our Congressional lawmakers.  But their crusade was an effort in futility, as there are too many Senators who - simply put - will not cross the NRA.

     I applaud Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden for presenting solid gun control proposals and packages to protect people.  But instead - the Senate - 41 Republicans and 4 Democrats...yes, 4 Democrats too...voted down a bipartisan amendment, which was devised by

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and several others, which would have expanded backgrond checks for gun buyers.  The bill needed 60 votes to pass and there were only 54.

     In addition, a ban on assault weapons was given a thumbs down by 60 senators and 54 lawmakers voted against a limit on bullet magazines.

     President Obama said Wednesday that "It was a pretty shameful day for Washington."  Forgive me, Mr. President...as I don't mean to correct you... but it was a pretty shameful day for the entire United States of America.

     Is the horror that took the lives of 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School - including 20 first grade children - nothing more than a forgotten tragedy?  Apparently it is for 45 U.S. senators.  All they did on Wednesday was add to the already too many tears that were shed by parents of those 20 precious little kids.

     How did 45 senators vote in favor of gun violence?  Yes...that's basically what they did.

     How did 45 senators say "yea" for mass murders?  Yes...that's basically what they did.

     How did 45 senators give sick, mentally ill monsters...the freedom...to kill children?  Yes...that's basically what they did.

     Why would anyone in their right mind want to allow between 20 and 40 percent of all guns to be purchased without a background check?  That's right. The Senate rejected a bill - that as law - would have required a background check for buyers at gun shows and on the Internet...something that is not mandatory today.

     A law must be passed to help keep Americans safe.  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg released a statement on Wednesday that "Democrats - who are so quick to blame Republicans for our broken gun laws - could not stand united.  And Republicans - who are so quick to blame Democrats for not being tough enough on crime - handed criminals a huge victory."

 

    Former Representative Gabby Giffords wrote Wednesday that "It's clear to me that if members of the United States Senate refuse to change the laws to reduce gun violence, then we need to change the members of the U.S. Senate."

     If the brutal attack of an elementary school and the savage slaughter of 20 6-year old children...didn't make a difference to 45 U.S. senators...then shame on them.  And shame on us...if we re-elect them.

     President Obama said Wednesday...as he stood alongside families of the Newtown victims..."Sooner or later, we're going to get this right.  The memories of (the) children demand it...and so do the American people."

     How many more dead - and even wounded - do we need...before Congress performs in a positive way?

     Americans must stand together - united as a nation - to express our outrage against the U.S. Senate.

     In the classic 1976 motion picture, Network...written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Sidney Lumet...Academy Award winning actor, Peter Finch - in his brilliant performance as raving network news anchorman, Howard Beale - ranted on the air...telling his viewers that "I want you to get mad.  You've got to say, I'm a human being.  My life has value.  So, I want you to get up right now and go to the window...open it...and stick your head out and yell...I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

     In order to get a gun control law passed...it may just may take all Americans to echo the words of Howard Beale.

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

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