| 3/25/2005---Gun
control groups such as the Brady Campaign and Million Mom March
(formerly Handgun Control, Inc) have never been shy about exploiting
tragedies to advance their anti-gun agenda. More often than not,
they overstep the bounds of decency, as in the press release reprinted
below.
While authorities sought a motive for
the killings, and families tried to console each other, the Brady
Campaign used the horrific event to repeat their nonsensical calls
for bans on .50 caliber rifles, bans on so-called "armor-piercing
ammuntion," and extended waiting periods.
Nowhere in the press release is it mentioned
that the shooter killed his own grandfather (a police officer),
stole the grandfather's guns and squad car, drove to a school
that had an enormous "no weapons allowed" sign at the
entrance, then shot an unarmed security guard.
If ever there was a "target-rich"
environment, this school was it. Just as in so many other high-profile
shootings, the killer knew he would face no resistance.
Nor does the press release mention that
a concealed weapons permit holder, Mark Wilson, heroically gave
his life while saving the lives of others in the Tyler, Texas
shooting.
Neither does the press release mention
that, in the case of the Atlanta courtroom shooting, the killer
needed only to grapple away the gun from a single deputy sheriff
over whom he had an enormous physical advantage. No other person
in the courtroom, not even the judge, was armed, in accordance
with the law.
It's at times like these that the anti-gun
forces in this country show themselves for what they truly are:
ghouls. Further, if they are allowed to achieve their goals of
disarming America, the number of mass killings will increase,
not decrease.
For Immediate Release:
03-22-2005
Contact Communications:
(202) 898-0792
Washington D.C. - The bloody attack on a Native American high
school yesterday can't be viewed as an isolated incident. Though
the motivations of the young killer are as of yet unknown, his
rampage becomes another entry on a growing list of news reports
on horrific gun violence and reports on the ready availability
of ever-deadlier weapons.
"In recent months, we have seen horrible shooting attacks
in shopping malls, office buildings, courthouses, the homes of
judges, private hunting lands and it seems like every other kind
of place we like to believe is safe," said Brady Campaign
and Million Mom March President Michael Barnes. "And we're
deluged with reports about legal guns that can shoot down airplanes,
guns designed to kill police wearing body armor, and the FBI being
forced to watch as terrorist suspects arm themselves with firearms."
"Our leaders are preaching about the culture of life,"
Barnes said. "They should spend the same amount of energy
taking steps to stop our nation's culture of death."
In Red Lake, Minnesota, America yesterday suffered the worst school
related shooting incident since the Columbine shootings in April
of 1999. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvanian, a frustrated mayor is
urging the state's Governor and legislature to help stem the tide
of violence. In Atlanta, a beloved judge, an innocent court reporter
and a veteran police officer were laid to rest. In Tyler, Texas,
a brutal spouse killed his wife and a bystander and wounded his
son with an AK-47 copycat weapon.
In Washington D.C., by contrast, lawmakers have allowed the Federal
assault weapons ban to expire, limited law enforcement investigations
of gun sellers, mandated the immediate destruction of records
of gun sales, and stand poised to make it impossible for victims
of gun violence to seek justice against reckless gun sellers in
the courts.
"We need to do more to make sure our communities? -- and
especially our young people -- are safe from gun violence,"
said Kate Havelin, President of the Twin Cities, Minnesota Million
Mom March chapter. "Today I hope all of us think of those
who died, those who were injured, and all of those whose lives
have been changed because of gun violence."
"When will our leaders have enough?" asked Sarah Brady,
Chair of the Brady Campaign. "When will the government do
something to help stop the bloodshed? Red Lake sends all of America's
mothers and fathers a message about how vulnerable all of our
children are."
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