The events of the Boston Marathon Bombing have been pretty horrendous. But the death toll was still a lot lower than the usual spree shooting. And while this whole terrorism story was playing out across our TV screens, our Senate quietly voted down a bill that actually might have helped curtail gun violence a bit: expanded background checks. Now please understand that I get the arguments against this, but I think trying to help solve this very real problem is more important right about now. It's not really banning guns; it's just making sure they can't as easily fall into the wrong hands. Will it stop it all? No, but does that mean we can't try to stop it some? Some might help a lot. Because after all, we'll never hear about the spree shootings we prevent; but we will hear about the ones we don't. And will our family or loved ones be among the dead? (Oh, sorry, is that unfair to say? Answer me when your spouse or child or family member or friend has been gunned down.)
So here's my idea for a political ad for gun control to shake people out of their complacency on gun violence. (Warning: it might get offensive, but it's for a purpose. Oh, and generally speaking, I support gun rights. But we have to do something about this spree shooting thing, and the background checks are not much to ask, I think, to help, even if it's only a little bit.)
A news report mentions the bombing attacks on the Boston Marathon. Then we cut to a news talk show, like Piers Morgan (I generally hate him for being such an immature jerk when he needs to act like an adult to argue his points, but he is the big lighting rod for the gun lobby, so let's use him anyway), and he mentions bomb control, and some guest (from the {obviously fictional} NBA: The National Bomb Association) says: "Bombs don't kill people, people kill people." And then Piers Morgan rolls his eyes and argues back, and then we cut to a political ad by the NBA, saying: "You can take my bomb when you pry it from my cold, blown-off hands!" And then the announcer says: Does this scenario seem ridiculous or offensive to you? Well, that's how the families of gun violence feel when guns kill (whatever the statistics say percent-wise) more Americans every year than bombs, and yet we still do nothing about it!" And then the ad ends with the slogan: "Gun violence is terrorism: In a spree shooting, guns are the bomb."
(BTW: I'm sorry if this sounds cynical, whether you're being sensitive to the bombing victims, or you're a gun rights advocate. I don't want to take away gun rights, but we have to try to solve this spree shooting problem somehow. And I'm sorry if this is insensitive to bombing victims or their families: it's just that I would like to think of how to prevent further deaths and maiming, and gun attacks are really not so much different. But if we sought to curtail bomb materials, no-one would complain much; but guns? Forget it. And while, again, I support gun rights, it's pretty clear what kills more people each year. If only there was a way to try to make sure the wrong people didn't get guns, just like with bombs...)
