Banning Semi-Automatic Weapons Is The Only Way To Stop Mass Shootings

8/8/2019

Put universal background checks and red-flagging of mental illness on the back burner.
Those ideas are made of cotton-candy and would be just as effective in preventing mass shootings, even if our NRA-controlled Congress could get around to effectuating them,

...or wanted to.

The only thing that will end the epidemic of mass death by gunshot wound in this country is a federal ban on semi-automatic weapons. There's nothing else to say, no other discussion to be had.

Ban the AR-15 and its lethal relatives.

      Seriously, how hard would that be? Pass one law banning the possession of semi-automatic assault weapons. Give owners a few months to get rid of their outlawed guns. And throw in a generous government buy-back of the guns.
       That is what Australia did in 1996 after a man killed 35 people in a matter of minutes with an AR-15, and since then there has not been another mass shooting in Australia.
       It's what New Zealand did after that country's first mass shooting this past March. There has not been another mass shooting in New Zealand since then; however there have been four mass shootings in the United States since then: in Virginia Beach in May; in Gilroy, California in July; and in El Paso and Dayton in August.
        And these shootings would be so easy to stop. Our law-makers have the power in their hands.
   But in the meantime my daughter is terrified that her young children might be caught in a mass shooting at their school or in some other public place. And how can I calm her fears or console her when I, too, am terrified that my grand children might be caught in a mass shooting? I fear for my grand children, my children, my husband, my friends, everyone that love, everyone that I know, myself included.
          Even yesterday morning as I was sitting in Panera with my friends as I do every Wednesday morning, having a pleasant time, I looked around at all the tables and booths crowded with people who also appeared to be having a pleasant time, eating, drinking, chatting with each other; and instead of thinking to myself, "What a wonderful world," I thought to myself, "What a lot of people would be killed if a guy with an AR-15 came in here."
           A question for anyone who would oppose a ban on semi-automatic assault weapons: Do you, too, not fear for yourself and your loved ones?

Reference
https://fortune.com/2018/02/20/australia-gun-control-success/

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/711820023/new-zealand-passes-law-banning-most-semi-automatic-weapons

2 Comments

Carole Schwartz link

8/12/2019 05:16:45 am

I enjoyed reading your book, especially since I lived in the Philadelphia area for 2 years.
However, I was disappointed in your slanderous comments about "wealthy Jews" and"queers and Angelo's case of money. As a Jewish person raising 4 children alone, and having to make a trip to
the City of Columbus drop box, so we didn't have our water turned off, I guess I don't fit "the stereo type" I don't think those comments make your writing any stronger.

Patti

8/12/2019 06:28:51 am

Dear Ms. Schwartz,
I'm glad you enjoyed "Equal and Opposite Reactions" for the most part, though I am sorry that you were offended by parts. Much to my my surprise, some readers were offended by some of the characters, and many people down-right hated some of the characters and yet enjoyed the book, couldn't put it down. It seems I'm good at creating characters that people love to hate.
I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and feel that I personally knew most of the characters that I put into the book, some lovable, others not so much, and the things my characters say - even the detestable things that the character of Angelo Barbieri says - are things I've heard people say in real life. Chances are you've heard people say those detestable things, too. I know the book brought out some strong emotional reactions.
Bear in mind that Angelo Barbieri is a villain in the book. He not only demeans Jews, but also members of the LGBTQ community, African Americans, Hispanics, women, not to mention his prey, poor Darren Miller. Angelo Barbieri demeans everybody. I suppose I could thus be accused of slandering Italian Americans, as Barbieri is Italian, except that the lovable hero of the book, Silvio, is also Italian, as is the character of Joanne Ponticello, who is also quite admirable.
Here's a question which I've heard batted around at book discussion groups on "Equal and Opposite Reactions": Do you think the character of the "rich jew" Harold Sill actually exists? Or is he just part of a tale Barbieri was spinning to lure in Darren?
Finally, Ms. Schwartz, I hope you see my book rather as a reflection of real people, some good, some bad, some infuriating, most flawed.
Anyway, thank you for reading "Equal and Opposite Reactions," and if you can stand more of the evil Angelo Barbieri and all the other characters, a sequel is on the way.

Banning Semi-Automatic Weapons Is The Only Way To Stop Mass Shootings

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