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President Trump makes it all worse. Here's how it could be different.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-presidential-president-could-do-something-about-mass-shootings-heres-how/2019/08/04/ddd5f72e-b6d4-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html?utm_term=.df856843e92e
WE KNOW by now not to waste time calling on President Trump to do the right thing. He sows division and bigotry rather than promoting unity and understanding. Whatever he promises, in the crunch he capitulates to the gun lobby.
But on a weekend of horrifying and hate-fueled violence, we also know that it doesn't have to be this way. Mass shootings need not be routine, as most every other country demonstrates. Leadership need not be negative and supine.
Here is what a presidential president might say:
My fellow Americans,
These are dark days and nights of August. A weekend — a time for Americans to gather at the beach, the mall, a music festival — has brought us horror. Let us resolve to transform our great anguish into action, permanent and effective action. This horror will no longer be normal in our country.
Today, I am calling on Congress to return to Washington for an immediate joint session, to give up their district politicking and take action to combat gun violence. Enact a ban on sales of military-style assault rifles, as well as high-capacity magazines. This weaponry was made for war; its purpose is to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. It doesn’t belong on our streets.
Make background checks mandatory. And for those who have other ideas, such as federal licensing and buy-backs, come forward, and we will work on them. I have instructed my administration to undertake a major scientific research effort on gun violence that will help us chart more answers in the long term. We must free ourselves of a special interest lobby. I will personally campaign for the solutions as hard as I can and invite those from both parties to join me.
WE KNOW by now not to waste time calling on President Trump to do the right thing. He sows division and bigotry rather than promoting unity and understanding. Whatever he promises, in the crunch he capitulates to the gun lobby.
But on a weekend of horrifying and hate-fueled violence, we also know that it doesn't have to be this way. Mass shootings need not be routine, as most every other country demonstrates. Leadership need not be negative and supine.
Here is what a presidential president might say:
My fellow Americans,
These are dark days and nights of August. A weekend — a time for Americans to gather at the beach, the mall, a music festival — has brought us horror. Let us resolve to transform our great anguish into action, permanent and effective action. This horror will no longer be normal in our country.
Today, I am calling on Congress to return to Washington for an immediate joint session, to give up their district politicking and take action to combat gun violence. Enact a ban on sales of military-style assault rifles, as well as high-capacity magazines. This weaponry was made for war; its purpose is to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. It doesn’t belong on our streets.
Make background checks mandatory. And for those who have other ideas, such as federal licensing and buy-backs, come forward, and we will work on them. I have instructed my administration to undertake a major scientific research effort on gun violence that will help us chart more answers in the long term. We must free ourselves of a special interest lobby. I will personally campaign for the solutions as hard as I can and invite those from both parties to join me.
We all need to work together to get a presidential president again, and take the Senate so we can actually get sensible legislation passed again.