November 12, 2017Gronda Morin

aside Republicans Choose NRA Donations With Prayers For Victims Over Sensible Gun Regulations

Image result for photos of republicans in US CONGRESS working on bills

I am tweeting this report along with other posts TO REPUBLICANS, like ones pertaining to their tax care plans, Niger, Judge Roy Moore, etc.

We all know that the vast majority of Americans want sensible gun regulation laws like barring peoples on terrorist list; convicted felons; convicted domestic and child abusers; mentally ill  folks determined to be violent from having access to guns; and that all gun purchasers have to undergo a background check (even at gun shows) which can take up to two weeks versus the current 3 day limit.

These minimal gun regulations cannot be enacted into law because too many republican legislators are in the pockets of the N.R.A. (National Rifle Association). These same lawmakers couldn’t even pass a bill to outlaw bump stocks, a device that turns a semi-automatic rifle into a machine gun.

Editorial cartoon on gun control

 

Here’s the rest of the story…

On November 6, 2017, David Leonhardt, Ian Prasad Philbrick and Stuart A. Thompson of the New York Times penned the following report, “Thoughts and Prayers for Texas. Funding for Washington.”

Excerpts:

“Most Americans support stronger gun laws — laws that would reduce deaths. But Republicans in Congress stand in the way. They fear alienating their primary voters and the National Rifle Association.”

Editorial cartoon on mass shootings and gun control and mental health

“Below are the top 10 career recipients of N.R.A. funding – through donations or spending to benefit the candidate – among both current House and Senate members, along with their statements about the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Tex. These representatives have a lot to say about it. All the while, they refuse to do anything to avoid the next massacre.”

Senate
1. Richard Burr
N.C.
“Praying for those affected in today’s unspeakable tragedy at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX.”
$6,986,620
FROM THE N.R.A.
2. Roy Blunt
Mo.
“My prayers are with the victims of the heartbreaking tragedy in Sutherland Springs, their families, & the First Baptist Church congregation.”
$4,551,146
FROM THE N.R.A.
3. Thom Tillis
N.C.
“My prayers are with the First Baptist Church and the community of Sutherland Springs, TX. What a horrific tragedy.”
$4,418,012
FROM THE N.R.A.
4. Cory Gardner
Co.
“Our hearts are with the people of Sutherland Springs, TX during this tragedy & thank you to our first responders & emergency personnel.”
$3,879,064
FROM THE N.R.A.
5. Marco Rubio
Fla.
“We pray for the Sutherland Springs community in this difficult time. So incredibly thankful to first responders.”
$3,303,355
FROM THE N.R.A.
6. Joni Ernst
Iowa
No statement released yet.
$3,124,273
FROM THE N.R.A.
7. Rob Portman
Ohio
“Jane & I are devastated by the news out of Sutherland Springs, Texas. We send our prayers to that community & first responders at the scene.”
$3,061,941
FROM THE N.R.A.
8. Todd Young
Ind.
“Heartbroken by the news out of Sutherland Springs, Texas. Praying for the victims and their families.”
$2,896,732
FROM THE N.R.A.
9. Bill Cassidy
La.
“Our prayers are with everyone affected by the tragic event in Sutherland Springs, Texas.”
$2,861,047
FROM THE N.R.A.
10. Tom Cotton
Ark.
No statement released yet.
$1,968,714
FROM THE N.R.A.
Editorial cartoon on the Republican Party and mass shootingsHouse
1. French Hill
Ark.
“We are praying for our Texas neighbors – for the victims and families of this tragic attack.”
$1,089,477
FROM THE N.R.A.
2. Ken Buck
Co.
“Saddened to hear about the events in Sutherland Springs, Texas today. The victims and their families need our prayers.”
$800,544
FROM THE N.R.A.
3. David Young
Iowa
No statement released yet.
$707,662
FROM THE N.R.A.
4. Mike Simpson
Idaho
No statement released yet.
$385,731
FROM THE N.R.A.
5. Greg Gianforte
Mont.
No statement released yet.
$344,630
FROM THE N.R.A.
6. Don Young
Alaska
No statement released yet.
$245,720
FROM THE N.R.A.
7. Lloyd Smucker
Pa.
“The people of Sutherland Springs, TX need our prayers and our support in this devastating time.”
$221,736
FROM THE N.R.A.
8. Bruce Poliquin
Maine
“My heart goes out to everyone involved, the first-responders and the entire community.”
$201,398
FROM THE N.R.A.
9. Pete Sessions
Tex.
“Heartbreaking news out of Sutherland, TX. Praying for all who were impacted by this horrific act of violence.”
$158,111
FROM THE N.R.A.
10. Barbara Comstock
Va.
“Our Prayers are with the victims and their families and our gratitude to our law enforcement and first responders.”
$137,232
FROM THE N.R.A.

“All of these representatives are Republican. The highest ranked Democrat in the House is Sanford Bishop, who ranks 41st in career donations from the N.R.A.

 

13 comments

    • Dear SonniQ,

      Thanks for the gracious feedback.

      It is an outrageous state of affairs. “We the people are much more likely to be shot by an idiot with a gun than by the actions of foreign terrorists.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Like

  2. We need to end Citizens United in order to return control of this government back to the people. Our elected officials spend so much time trying to stay in office that they sell themselves to the highest bidder instead of effectively speaking for “we the people”.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Doubledragon61,

      We need for the democrats to win back the majority of seats in the US Congress by 2018. In 2020, when the dems win back the White House, we can replace upcoming Supreme Court justices with those who would willingly reverse the “Citizens United” decision. We can start reversing the harm done by President Trump.

      Hugs, Gronda.

      Like

    • Dear Roger,

      There was a play “Book of Mormons” based on this premise that when peoples are in dire straights, they want help,not prayers and the Bible.

      Prayers don’t cut it when those who write the laws could have prevented so many tragedies.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Liked by 1 person

      • You can prayer for guidance, but I believe the old saw ‘The Lord Helps Those Who Helps Themselves’ still holds strong.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Gronda, unfortunately my two Senators are in the top five recipients. The NRA started out as concerned with gun safety. Now they are all about sales. Under the guise of a misconstrued second amendment, we now have people with arsenals that rival small military units. But, the larger gun death issue is what happens every day, not the mass shootings. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Keith,

      I fully concur with your analysis. There are so many lives that could be saved if the republican legislators would pass reasonable gun controls that even most gun owners could agree upon despite the NRA’s stranglehold on the party members.

      You would think that those of the republican party who claim to value the gift of life, would be in favor of solutions that would save lives while honoring the spirit of the second amendment.

      Hugs, Gronda

      Like

      • Gronda, between the gun issue, environmental deregulation, health care stance and climate change denial, the Republican Party is a Pro-Birth Party. Calling themselves Pro-Life does not hold up, in my view. Keith

        Liked by 1 person

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