Opinion

Point of View: Founding Fathers: "Are You People Stupid?"

In just the last week, we learned of an unhinged young man who walked into Saugus High School and murdered two people and wounded three more.

There were five people killed in a murder suicide in San Diego.  Four dead, six wounded at a family gathering in Fresno.   Three dead in a shooting in Oklahoma.  All in the last week!

There have been 371 mass shooting in the U.S. in 2019 alone.  

Next time, who knows where it will be, but one thing we know for sure: there will be a next time.  After these senseless shootings, our political leaders always talk about keeping guns from mentally unstable people, but nobody ever really does anything.  Ever.  We just talk.  Oh!  And offer our thoughts and prayers, which is literally the least we could do, so let’s make sure we do that.

We now know that nothing changes because certain members of Congress have been ordered by the NRA to oppose any change and they must do the NRA’s bidding.  So, I’m asking Wayne LaPierre, the CEO of the NRA directly, will you please answer three questions?  

First, why would enhanced background checks to look deeper into a person’s mental health history or potential violent past threaten the 2nd Amendment?  

Second, why would anyone oppose a very well though out and restricted Red Flag Law that has passed in many states including California?

Finally, can you offer your own plan to reduce mass shootings rather than just opposing all plans that do?

I support the second amendment, but if we could ask the founding fathers if they intended for the second amendment to guarantee mentally ill people the right to bear arms, I promise you they would say, “Of course not!  Don’t be stupid!”  

Thoughts and prayers are nice, but as founding father Ben Franklin said, “God helps those who help themselves.”  

If I hear back from Mr. LaPierre I will let you know.  In the meantime, call us with your thoughts at 310-584-2030 or email at FOX11POV@foxtv.com. I know there will be many.

I’m Bill Lamb, and that’s my Point of View.

The views expressed are not necessarily those of the station or its employees.