June 22, 2016 (updated)
Concerning the recent massacre in Orlando, FL, and the many others before it. We should look to those who are responsible for these deaths: our elected Representatives and Senators in Congress who support the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA I grew up with – an organization for hunters and sports enthusiasts – is no longer. It has been taken over by big gun manufacturers who contribute massive dollars to politicians to support the sale of weapons, terrorism and money to line their pockets while putting hundreds of thousands at risk every day.
The names of each of the elected officials who receive campaign contributions from the NRA need to ring out, far and wide: they know who they are. The NRA has contributed millions of dollars to NC Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr. Nine U.S. Senators have received over $22 million in campaign contributions from the NRA.
Sen. Tillis, a Republican, NC, is among the top nine raking in a total of $4,418,833. According to Tillis’ contributions from the NRA include direct campaign contributions, independent spending (PACs and other groups) and independent spending against their opponents. To date Senator Richard Burr has received $805,219 from the NRA. Source: USA TODAY.
Senator Burr is up for re-election this year.
Is it not surprising, then, that both NC Senators Tillis and Burr recently voted against requiring background checks for private sellers, the single largest gap in the federal background check requirement? Unlicensed, private sellers are not required to conduct background checks resulting in convicted felons and other ineligible people who can quickly and easily buy guns in most states nationwide. Senators Tillis and Burr also voted against banning the sales of assault weapons to an expanded terrorist list comprised of hundreds of thousands of “individuals of concern” who have free access to purchasing assault weapons.
People have chastised the FBI for “dropping the ball” on the Orlando tragedy. It is our elected officials who are currently responsible for the hundreds of deaths that we are seeing each day, each month, each year. Our elected officials who place their political agendas before the health and safety and well-being of the American people.
This is a MORAL TRAGEDY that needs to end.
Un-elect them.
Susan C. Dayton, Ocracoke
In a representative democracy it’s not the Representatives who are responsible but those who elect them. Like Pogo said, we have met the enemy…
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