Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Harry Reid takes a dive for the NRA, without even feigning a fight

Harry Reid's resume claims that he was a boxer before turning to politics.  From his performance as Senate Majority Leader, I suspect he may have thrown a few matches in the ring without putting up that much of a fight, as that is certainly what he did in not including an assault weapons ban in the legislation that the Senate will be considering.  Diane Feinstein deserves a lot of credit for fighting for its inclusion, while Reid's decision to not even have it considered is disgraceful.  After the tragedies that have all too frequently occured, the timing could not be more ideal.  The American people by a large majority favor it.  Most Democrats in the Senate strongly support it, and Republican opposition in an insuing debate would further the alienation of most Americans from the prevaling Republican obstinance.  The NRA has their strong, well-organized support system, and the money of the gun manufacturing industry behind it, but most Americans are increasingly seeing through their ludicrous reasoning, especially in regard to assault weapons.   Their argument that when there are more people with guns, society will be safer, is so asinine it is laughable, and its corallary, the more powerful the weapons, the safer society will be, is an insult to the intelligence of the American people.  If that were true, Tombstone in old Arizona must have been the safest town in the US, and the shoot-out at OK Corral wouldn't have happened if assault rifles had only been available then.   So against the wishes of a majority of Americans, Harry Reid had the audacity to single-handedly eliminate assault weapons from consideration in the bill.  He rather likes guns himself, and guns are quite popular in his state, but in his role in the Senate he is to represent and speak for all the Senate Democrats.  The NRA is delighted, they can concentrate their efforts on other aspects of any emerging bill,  the gun industry is ecstatic, they can continue making and selling one of their highest profit margin items, Republicans have won a battle without even having to fight for the victory, and most Americans are disgusted, their preferences and pleadings are ignored, and they wait in fear of the next tragedy that will occur.  Good job, Harry Reid, you just took another shameful dive.