Dear President Obama,
I read your recent editorial calling for “agreement on gun reforms,” assuming that “almost all gun owners in America are highly responsible.” I did so with a barrel of salt next to my desk. During the campaign, you derided my fellow firearms owners for clinging to “their guns and their bibles.” It is also highly disingenuous that the same man in charge of enforcing the present firearms laws—which permitted hundreds of guns to flow into criminal hands via “Project Gunwalker”—is now advocating for “consensus” to “prevent future bloodshed.” I remind you that one of those ATF-enabled guns in the hands of a criminal killed a federal officer . . .
You base your call to action on the murders committed by this deranged fellow in Arizona. But the law is not to blame. Considering his past history, Jared Lee Loughner should not of been able to buy razor blades, never mind a lawfully-purchased firearm.
Mr. Loughner’s attack was due to a breakdown in what society is supposed to do with an obviously “troubled” young man; a man who had prior interaction with the local police department.
Remember Mr. Obama: Loughner made his classmates so nervous that one of them felt the need to sit closer to the door “just in case.” One of Loughner’s professors felt so concerned for his safety that he also made comments about the spree killer’s behavior.
Addressing the obvious danger posed by Mr. Loughner did not require a NICS background check. It required a law enforcement and judicial system that takes action when notified of a continuing problem with an at-risk citizen. A citizen who wrote letters to politicians threatening their life.
Had liberals like your self not hamstrung both the police and the courts in an effort to “protect a perps’ rights” it is highly likely that this fellow would have become an officer’s “special project.” In today’s litigious environment, if an officer touches one hair on this kid’s head, even after all the evil he has perpetrated, he or she loses their job, pension, everything. And society pays the price.
As for Mr. Louhner being rejected from the service in the United States Army, it’s wrong to focus on the fact that the decision to show up on the NICS system. Any such policy would discourage young men and women from apply to the armed services, just as a mental health qualification would discourage gun-owning Americans to seek psychological help.
The more important questions: why did the Army turn away Mr. Loughner?
The reason the armed services reject people like Loughner is not so much their drug habits or mental state. The military used to have methods to “fix” people like this, and give them jobs appropriate to their capabilities. The reason why they’re deemed unsuitable is that these methods are no longer considered politically correct; the Army rejects an entire class of individuals out of hand.
Finally, it has been two months since this terrible attack occurred. Why has Jared Lee Loughner’s trial and execution not been fast-tracked? Is their any doubt he did it? Is there any doubt of the motive or the opportunity and the murder weapon? All we need is a jury, a judge, couple of lawyers, and an electric chair.
This is also part of the problem. How can we fight gun crime when there are no immediate consequences for horrendous acts involving guns? Nadal Hassan Malik and Faisal Shazad will likely live long lives and become pen pals. Loughner will no doubt join this club, if only for a decade or so.
We spend massive resources incarcerating human waste like this that have abdicated any right to draw breath. Absolutely he and they are innocent until proven guilty. But he is guilty and this is not 1902. We’ve got the video. The receipt. The email. The threatening letters. All we need now is the extension cord and the correct amount of amperage.
Not to be too cold-hearted here, but who really deserves our limited resources Japan or these dirtbags?
In closing, your call for more laws and more complete NICS data will fail. The lawless ask permission from no one before they harm innocent people.
Respectfully,
Joe Doakes