Gun-control advocates are lamenting that even in the wake of Friday's shocking mass murder in Aurora, Colo., efforts to restrict gun ownership still appear to be political non-starters.
“We’ve basically given up,” Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, told Rev. Al Sharpton Monday on PoliticsNation. “We don’t do anything to make it harder” for people to obtain guns.
Rep. Blumenauer spoke on the floor on the House of Representatives today, criticizing Congress for its “spineless” behavior in legislating gun control and slamming colleagues for bowing to the NRA.
“It’s reached the point where the NRA has actually colluded with some of its allies in Congress, that it’s illegal for the federal government to collect the information, to be able to analyze it, to study it,” Bluemenauer told Sharpton.
“More restricted gun laws may not have prevented James Homes from allegedly killing 12 people,” said Sharpton on Monday. “But what is certain is that the statistics of gun fatalities aren’t budging."
The number of mass shootings—around 20 a year—has stayed stable for years, while the number of homicides due to gun violence has remained around 10,000 for the last decade as well.
James Holmes, the alleged shooter in Aurora, is said to have obtained more than 6000 rounds of ammunition on the internet in preparation for his movie theater rampage. “He did this all with a click on the internet, without any sort of background check,” Sharpton added.
According to Bluemenauer, the NRA’s lobbying and campaigning efforts are “paralytic” to the government’s effort to legislate gun control. The NRA is “so extreme, they’re out of touch with the majority of their own members,” he said.
The country needs to heal from the tragedy first, but it does need to act, Blumenauer said. “It’s not acceptable to ignore it, to walk away,” he said, “this doesn’t happen in any other civilized country.”
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I have personally supported AMMUNITION CONTROL for years now; the 2nd Amendment doesn't cover that in the slightest! As a former MEMBER of the NRA, I know well how extreme they can be.
MARkB, Thank you for your input as a former NRA member you have insight into there organization and can shed light into the world of NRA. They could do the responsible thing here and stop the violence and yes ammunition must be treated and controlled like a drug. We have reached critical mass with this the worst tragedy with guns in history. Will the adults please stand up.
People are realizing they dont want their rights taken away, they want to keep them.
the 71 year old man in this video just weeks ago handled the situation the OLD FASHION AMERICAN way.
go to you tube and search " 71-year-old Super hero grandpa shot two robbers down in Florida "
AVERAGE POLICE 911 RESPONSE 10 MIN AT BEST. They got there in half the time and it still was too late. OPEN CARRY CITIZENS! DONT GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS!
First, there is no reason that ANY one should have an assault rifle outside of the Military. You don't need a AR-15 to go hunting. Second, there needs to be some gun control enforcement when it comes to the purchasing of several weapons within a short time span. No one needs to be out getting three and four guns at a single time.
Congress is to chicken@!$%# to actually attempt to push any legislation through, thanks to the NRA's constant lobbying. I'm quite sure the NRA would be congratulating some of the sick @!$%#s who do these kind of shootings if they knew it wouldn't harm their "image".
it seems that James Holmes didn't need the AR-15 either, since it jammed and he used another weapon to continue killing. it is NOT the weapon that is the problem, it is the person using the weapon. Stop demonizing inanimate objects, demonize the monster who pulled the trigger, demonize the monster who drowns her kids one after hte other, demonize the old man who drives down a sidewalk because he is too old to drive, demonize the black bloc demonstrator who infiltrates an occupy protest and incites the riot... start pointing fingers at the problem.
since you like to blame the NRA- when will you blame the doctors for letting these people roam the streets? I bet you like to criticize the priests who molest kids and the churches that hide them, but will quickly defend the Teachers Unions who move hundreds of molestor/teachers around the US to avoid publicity... but since the church has billions and the teachers union only has votes, that isn;t really a hard target for lawsuits.
People are realizing they dont want their rights taken away, they want to keep them.
the 71 year old man in this video just weeks ago handled the situation the OLD FASHION AMERICAN way.
go to youtube and search " 71-year-old Super hero grandpa shot two robbers down in Florida "
AVERAGE POLICE 911 RESPONSE 10 MIN AT BEST. They got there in half the time and it still was too late. OPEN CARRY CITIZENS! DONT GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS!
I am confused! Right to life members of our government want to overturn roe v wade, but 6000 ROUNDS of ammo is acceptable?? I support a persons constitutional right to bear arms, but there needs to be some rights to go to school, the movies or the grocery store without the fear of being open fired upon by someone who knows how to click a few buttons on a computer.
you are confused... so just be quiet.
he didn't fire 6000 rounds, he didn't even get to empty the rifle, it jammed so no amount of ammo would have helped him. You see, it is illegal to kill people, but he did just that. HOW he killed people is not the point.... maybe if we made a new law that said "we really, REALY, mean it - killing is illegal!!!" we could prevent people from killing..?? maybe?
I hear that bombs are illegal, but kids are making them each day and posting videos on youtoob... how do you plan on stopping that? any new laws you want to create? new laws to be ignored?
I am confused! Many members of our government and this nation that fight so intensely to overturn Roe v. Wade under the "right to life" movement, are protecting the rights for someone to have 6000 rounds of ammunition. I wholly support the right to bear arms, stand your ground and protect your property. However, as far as "rights" go, I need my children to be able to go to the movies, school or the grocery store without fear of being open fired upon by someone who has the thoughtless desire to go on a shooting rampage.
not only are you confused - you are redundant.