MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Once again, America is saddened and angry. Another horrific massacre at a school has occurred, this time at an elementary school in a small south central Texas town. And just like Sandy Hook in 2012, Tuesday’s killing spree took the lives of innocent children as young as 7 and 8.
Obviously, there is a lot we still don’t know about this latest act of mass murder. But one thing we do know is that it’s finally time to go beyond thoughts and prayers - it’s time to act.
It’s time for federal lawmakers to pass real reforms -if not an outright ban on certain high-powered assault weapons, which I support, then certainly expanded background checks - a national ban on 18-year-olds being allowed to purchase any firearm, and the ability of law enforcement to take guns away from potentially dangerous people.
After Tuesday’s deadly rampage, any member of the U.S. House and Senate who still opposes reforms should hang their heads in shame. In fact, I believe the repeated statement that the Texas killer acted alone is incorrect. Politicians in Texas, Washington, D.C., Tennessee and various other states who oppose even modest gun restrictions are in effect aiders and abettors to the killings.
Interestingly, the National Rifle Association is holding its annual meeting this weekend in Houston – some 300 miles from Tuesday’s killing. Hopefully the road to reforms will start there, but I doubt it.