Abbott’s Solution for Mass School Shootings
Texas is now distributing DNA kits to schools. Abbott signed the law to do so at the end of the 2021 legislative session, feigning that they were to be distributed to identify children who were kidnapped and trafficked. The occurrence child kidnapping is tragic, but rare. What is more common, especially in Texas, is mass shootings by deranged young men who are legally allowed to purchase assault rifles and unlimited ammunition that can kill dozens of kids in just a few minutes. The law was passed after the mass shooting at a public school in Santa Fe. The state says the kits are to be used in the event of an “emergency” and are trying to make it about kidnapping, but since bullets fired from an AR-15 cause massive injuries, including decapitating 6 year old school children, the kits are necessary to identify the bodies of victims of these now commonplace shootings. In Uvalde, some of the children’s bodies were so mangled that they had to be identified by their shoes.
The answer to mass shootings is unbelievably “complicated”, and only 32 of 33 advanced countries around the world have figured it out. The only way we stop these shootings is banning these weapons and the ammunition shot from them. We can only do that with brave leadership. Because Americans don’t vote like they should, that brave leadership will never materialize and the problem won’t be fixed. The gun and DNA kit manufacturers are perfectly happy with the status quo.
Well, isn’t that special?
1Again, the most appalling and sad thing is that some people will agree with this…..
Totally craven.
2Let’s not forget that we want to make sure girls are girls and boys are boys and nothing does that like a DNA test. Let’s keep the government out of our lives except for them actually invading our bodies so that Joe doesn’t become Jody and dominate in girls basketball.
3Yep- neighbors to the North just used US as an example of too many guns without better owner responsibility, regulations, insurance, etc etc and has just passed some inclusive gun access restrictions.
4During basic training in 1969, I was part of a small group chosen to fire the M-16 assault weapon. Limited supplies did not allow trainees access to such weapons until late in the Vietnam War. We attended classes on the design and function of the weapon. The instruction was clear that these weapons were intended to kill humans – not maim or simply injure, but to kill. We were told how the small caliber (compared to the M-14) projectile exited the rifle chamber at an extremely high velocity, tumbling through the air before it reached its target. Bones were not simply broken, but were shattered. Organs were obliterated. A truly devastating weapon, proving once again that man’s ingenuity reached its apex in devising ways to eliminate other humans. After one of the mass shootings, I sent a letter to the Houston Chronicle stating my belief that these weapons should never be allowed in the general population. To my surprise, the letter was published (with my permission). Shortly afterwards I received two anonymous letters claiming that if the government took away these weapons, they (?) would come for your sporting rifles and shotguns. I was told to “think about it!” Of course, the cowardly act of anonymity prevented me from responding. This is the mindset of the gun supporters. I am at a loss regarding a cure.
5I have no disagreement with El Jefe on this. I’ll agree that calling them “deranged young men” is reasonable and accurate. But when talking with Republicans and other white nationalists, use the kind of terms they would. E.g., “nut cases” or “bat-quano crazies”. It puts them in the position of arguing that we need to let insanity be heavily armed and loose in the country.
It also leverages off the current Republican argument that the problem is mental health, not availability of guns. Tell them you agree that we’ve got to keep guns out of the hands of the wild-eyed crackpots. Put them into the position of claiming that the nation’s freedom depends on arming maniacs who gun down dozens of elementary school kids. That’s not the discourse I’d use when talking at a university, but it’s the kind I use with the guys at my local barber shop, or with the road crew working in my neighborhood. Many (most?) of them are intelligent and level-headed, and need to hear non-Fox News voices.
We’ve let the right-wingers choose the terminology and framework for too many political issues, and that allows them to convince many otherwise reasonable and common sense folks.
6I know people here luv their guns, but I’m with Justin Trudeau in that we need to get rid of handguns too!
7Texans love their gun fantasy more than they love real kids.
Voting proves it, again and again.
Sane states and their citizens should treat Texans like the pariahs they are, maybe then they could change.
8Vote blue, TX!
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