It happened again

Because I don't truly know who is reading this blog, I will make the assumption that I am preaching to the choir.  Today, news sites are reporting yet another mass shooting, this time in Arizona at North Arizona University: 4 injured and one confirmed dead.

It's a week since the last mass shooting.

The "guns don't kill people,  people kill people" argument sucks for many reasons.  One, if that's true, why is our military trained in the use of firearms?  Defense?  Why not send in a bunch of bare-knuckled Navy Seals to rid us of evil-doers?  Right, ridiculous.

The thing is, I believe in hunting for food.  I believe that, due to the fringe ecosystems we maintain (i.e. yards, suburban development), we've caused an explosion of certain wildlife, which, are not just responsible for auto accidents in NJ, but also loss of indigenous species due to overgrazing.  I get it.  And, to hunt, you're not sneaking up on the deer with a bowie knife held in your teeth.  You're using a longer-ranged weapon, bow or rifle or shotgun.  That said, hunting also requires, not just a weapon, but a permit as well.  There's documentation.

And, NJ, due to its density, tends to have more restrictive gun laws on the books.  NJ requires a permit, runs universal background checks, has no silly "stand your ground" policy, makes it difficult to carry (both concealed and open), and has a 7-day wait period.  This graphic link is well sourced (Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, CDC, NRA) and shows that, using 2013 data, NJ had 5.7 per 100,000 people gun-related deaths.  Only 6 people still sounds like too many, but compared to Arkansas' 20 per 100k, where you can practically walk into a gas station and buy a gun, it's far better.


The thing is, laws like NJ's should be the norm across the country.  It doesn't prevent the purchase of firearms.  It doesn't violate the constitution.  It's just common sense shit.

The problem is the squeaky wheels on the opposite side of the isle who don't understand the facts...and when presented with them, won't listen.  It's our job, then, to politicize this in an effort to elect like-minded politicians who can push common sense and keep out the lunatics who are frequently in the news for their outrageous statements, including our "pander to the right" governor. 

To help, here's a link to help you write your NJ State legislators:

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp

Here's a link to NJ's national representatives:

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NJ

And, here's what you're going to copy and paste (edit as necessary):

Dear Congressman:

As a NJ resident, I would like to encourage you to support Senator Chuck Schumer's (D, NY) proposal to start a national referendum on improving gun laws in our country.  In light of the tragedy this morning at Northern Arizona University, -- and in and in Oregon, and in Charleston, and in Newtown, and in Aurora, and in Tucson, and in Fort Hood, and at Virginia Tech, and in Columbine, and in Oak Creek, and so many more -- we know that no more time can be wasted.  As citizens of the United States, we have a moral obligation to keep guns out of the hands of people who may harm themselves or others.

Research demonstrates that in the states that already require background check for private sales, gun-related deaths are substantially lower.  Congress must act to ensure that background checks are required to protect innocent lives nationwide.  This is not a "States" issue.  By virtue of all the communities listed above, gun violence knows no boundary.

Our national reluctance to pass common sense gun laws has made us a violent laughing stock in front of our international peers.  The time to draft sweeping legislation to prevent more unnecessary deaths is now.  The alternative is apathy, and guaranteed blood on the hands on those who refuse to act.  The time to take back our country from gun violence is now so that average, every-day citizens can go to the movies, university, gas station, park, elementary school or grocery store unafraid.

The time is now.

Thank you in advance for your hard work to make common sense gun laws a reality in our nation.

Sincerely,