Political Opportunists Try
to Capitalize on Tragedy
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"...The HCI press release called on Bush to support a federal law
that would allow the prosecution of an adult if a child gains
access to his 'unsecured' gun'. However, California already has
such a law..." |
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Feinstein (D-CA) and friend |
It never ceases to amaze mainstream Americans when gun-ban
extremists attempt to use tragic events, especially those
involving children, to advance their anti-gun agenda, and this
week has seen plenty of this despicable tactic. In the aftermath
of the horrific events at Santana High School in Santee,
California, attacks on our Right to Keep and Bear Arms have been
launched by the gun ban lobby - Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI) - its
newest ally in the anti-gun movement, Americans for Gun Safety,
and some of its oldest allies in Congress - U.S. Senators Dianne
Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and
U.S.
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), who have consistently
supported efforts to destroy the Second Amendment.
Chuck Schumer (D-NY) |
Fortunately,
the gun-ban movement no longer has Bill Clinton using the White
House as his bully-pulpit to attack gun owners and attempt to
score political points. Unlike his predecessor, who continually
used tragic events to promote his political agenda, President
George W. Bush called on America to pray for the children,
teachers, and parents affected by what he called a "disgraceful
act of cowardice." He also called on adults to help teach
children right from wrong.
Shiela Jackson Lee (D-TX) |
HCI, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to capitalize on
tragedy its media machine seemed to fire up its engines as
soon as reports of the awful event began to circulate.
Brady, HCI Chair, actually attacked President Bush in a press
release, challenging him to support gun control. She called for
the passage of a number of anti-gun measures, all of which are
either already law in California, would have had no effect on the
actions of the teenager responsible for the criminal act, or had
absolutely no relation to the Santana shooting whatsoever.
The HCI press release called on Bush to support a federal law
that would allow the prosecution of an adult if a child gains
access to his "unsecured" gun. However, California already has
such a law, and most states already provide penalties for
reckless endangerment, under which an adult found grossly
negligent in the storage of a firearm under certain circumstances
can be prosecuted. Furthermore, preliminary reports indicate the
firearm used at Santana High by the disturbed teen was secured in
alocked cabinet.
HCI also called for mandating the sale of
locking devices for every gun, even though virtually every new
handgun currently sold already comes with a locking device. HCI
also renewed its attack on gun shows, even though there is
absolutely no link between this tragedy and any gun show, and HCI
also defended its support of reckless lawsuits aimed at
bankrupting lawful gun makers.
The gun-ban group even had the
audacity to imply that California's gun laws are lax, even though
the state received one of HCI's highest "grades" in a "report
card" the gun ban lobby issues, which rates the states on their
"laws protecting children from gun violence." But maybe most
disturbing is the fact that HCI has turned the tragic event at
Santana High into a fund-raising scheme. Since Monday, any
visitor to HCI's website is immediately confronted not with HCI's
press release, but with a pop-up ad that requests money.
Bill Powers, NRA
Dir. of Public Affairs |
But HCI is not alone in trying to politicize the Santana High
tragedy. Always looking for media attention whenever the
discussion turns to guns, Senator Chuck Schumer called a press
conference on Tuesday, where he called for gun-ban organizations
to work with the pro-gun community to establish what he called a
"code of responsibility" for gun owners. In a coordinated
response, the anti-gun organization Americans for Gun Safety
praised Schumer's plan, as did HCI. Of course, this "code"
already exists in the form of gun safety programs NRA has been
teaching for nearly 130 years. Bill Powers, NRA's Director of
Public Affairs, responded to Schumer's proposal by stating,
"Welcome to the party. We've been [teaching responsibility]
since 1871....What we ought to be doing is teaching and not
holding news conferences."
Considering NRA already has extremely
effective safety and education programs in place (accidental
firearm-related fatalities are currently at an all-time low, and
have been steadily declining for years), perhaps Senator Schumer
and his fellow gun-ban extremists should simply work to promote
NRA and its safety programs. In addition, our support for the
full enforcement of existing laws, through programs like "Project
Exile," has dramatically reduced gun crime where these programs
have been implemented.
Not to be outdone in clamoring for media attention, Senator
Dianne Feinstein has also been using the Santee tragedy to
promote her own anti-gun agenda. Feinstein went on CNN Tuesday
night and ranted, "The gun didn't have a trigger lock. If that
gun had an effective trigger lock, clearly the youngster couldn't
have used it." Of course, the firearm was in a locked cabinet,
but that fact was carefully ignored by the California Senator.
We can anticipate that Feinstein, Schumer, and others will seek
to promote their anti-gun agenda in the Senate through whatever
means available, including using Senate procedural maneuvers to
attach anti-gun amendments to legislation that has nothing to do
with firearms. Expect the first attacks to start as soon as next
Tuesday, when the Senate prepares to take up debate on bankruptcy
reform legislation. Call your U.S. Senators and urge them to
oppose any anti-gun amendments from being attached to bankruptcy
reform legislation or the education bill that will also be on the
Senate floor soon. You can call your Senators at (202) 224-3121.
For those on the Internet, you can find contact information for
your Senators by using the "Write Your Reps" tool at
NRAILA.org.
Related Stories...
HCI's constant attacks on the Second Amendment
Dianne Feinstein Money Profile (opensecrets.com)
Chuck Schumer Money Profile (opensecrets.com)
Jackson Lee Money Profile (opensecrets.com)
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