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The OC Register reports that one of the children killed in the Santa Fe High School shooting, Jared Black, had family members from Anaheim. The discussion in the paper’s comments section turned to the issue of guns, and as expected they were dominated by the typical Register readers opposing reasonable gun safety measures.
The discussions on this issue feel unproductive, as no matter how many shootings take place, we have got to the point of accepting them as normal, as one of the Santa Fe students said it : “It’s been happening everywhere; I’ve always kind of felt like eventually it was going to happen here too”. This has been called the “contagion effect” by academics who caution in their research paper that “what’s missed often is the other conclusion of that paper, which found that the availability of firearms is clearly playing a role, a significant role”
The reluctance of hardcore gun rights advocates to accept safety proposals draw strong reactions from people fed up with mass shootings, such as the Houston Police Chief, Art Acevedo. He wrote in response to the Santa Fe shooting:
“To all my Facebook friends. Today I spent the day dealing with another mass shooting of children and a responding police officer who is clinging to life. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve shed tears of sadness, pain and anger.
I know some have strong feelings about gun rights but I want you to know I’ve hit rock bottom and I am not interested in your views as it pertains to this issue. Please do not post anything about guns aren’t the problem and there’s little we can do. My feelings won’t be hurt if you de-friend me and I hope yours won’t be if you decide to post about your views and I de-friend you.
I have never accepted the status-quo in anything I do and I’ve never accepted defeat. And I won’t do it now. I will continue to speak up and will stand up for what my heart and my God commands me to do, and I assure you he hasn’t instructed me to believe that gun-rights are bestowed by him.
The hatred being spewed in our country and the new norms we, so-called people of faith are accepting, is as much to blame for so much of the violence in our once pragmatic Nation.
This isn’t a time for prayers, study and inaction, it’s a time for prayers, action and the asking of God’s forgiveness for our inaction (especially the elected officials that ran to the cameras today, acted in a solemn manner, called for prayers, and will once again do absolutely nothing).
I close by saying, I wish those that move on from this page the best. May God Bless you and keep you.”
Chief Acevedo is no relation to chairman Vern’s wife Donna, but I think his position and statements on Sanctuary Cities should resonate here in the OC. This is what he had to say in a recent interview with the Texas Observer:
Texas Weekly: You were vocal in opposing the “sanctuary cities” ban, and in April you announced a 43 percent reduction in sexual assault reporting among Houston’s Hispanics. What have you seen since then?
Acevedo: “It’s fear. My cops are out on the street; they tell me people are afraid. It is not a win for the people of Houston or Texas when we create an environment through this very ugly, mean-spirited rhetoric, where potentially 11 to 15 million witnesses of crime, or victims of crime, don’t come forward. Here’s the deal: Your kid, somebody you love, is at the bus stop waiting to get picked up, and here comes this pedophile in a van that grabs them and takes off, and the only witness to that crime is that nanny or gardener or whatever undocumented immigrant, but now they might be in fear because the cops might be just as interested in their status as they are in solving that crime, and that person doesn’t come forward. How have we made society safer?”
I hope that organizations such as Every Town for Gun Safety and March for Our Lives, and others, will succeed in promoting the changes needed on the gun safety issue. I hope that conservative friends will be open to consider reforms. Supporting candidates who have embraced Trump’s NRA positions and bigotry on immigration may not help to build a better place for all of us.
The argument that sanctuary helps, rather than hinders, law enforcement is a good one – but will always be anecdotal. It doesn’t matter if the ratio of undocumented people who actively stop crimes v. the number who commit them is 50:1 – the undocumented person will disappear before the cameras are turned on them, the public will never know how much they contributed to stopping crimes and catching criminals.
That’s why I favor focusing not on the positive gains for law enforcement from undocumented migrants/sanctuary – but on the exploitation schemes of those who abuse undocumented status to obtain ‘perfect victims’ for exploitation: workers they can avoid paying minimum wages to, tenants they can evict cheaply, spouses they can beat with impunity. The opponents of sanctuary do not realize that their efforts will actually protect exploiters, extorters, and abusers – and when they do, they’ll be far less energetic in voicing their opposition.
BTW, it’s also why the police can’t/won’t make this argument consistently, even though anyone well-versed in the facts knows that the exploitation I refer to is quite real. If the taxpayers paying police salaries include some number of elites who’ve made their money by abusing immigrants, the police should not be expected to speak against the hands that feed them.
Given the various political structures at work, a few police may speak up honestly about sanctuary, and a few will actually embrace and exploit racism to retain power. The majority will do neither, trying to stay clear of contentious matters and ‘focus on doing their jobs’ (even if that means actually serving powerful interests in each community that profit from exploiting undocumented immigrants).
Good logic there!
Good logic, however in this mean-spirited environment promoted by Trump, it is highly relevant that a police chief acknowledges the fear among millions of immigrants, and the value of the sanctuary intent.
The OC Register has become the paper of record for events occurring during weekend. This is the link to the story:
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/05/20/orange-county-family-members-mourn-student-killed-in-texas-school-shooting/
Regardless of our stand, I’m sure that we all mourn the victims of school shooting. Our sympathy to Jared’s family.
*The issue of course has nothing to do with immigration studies. It has everything to do with Big Pharma and their influence on our lawmakers. Everyone loves to blame the NRA and many times with very good reason….that even we can agree with. However, the true culprits in the Gun Control National Argument is Big Pharma. They are dreadfully afraid that Mandatory Drug Testing for all NEW Firearm Purchases and Transfers will create not only an excellent deterrent effect, but a chilling affect on Prescription Drug sales. As Life Members of the NRA – Benefactor since 1971 and the CRPA in 1973 (However, our membership was suspended when we attempted to root out corrupt behavior). We can say that ANY Law Abiding Citizen is entitled to have whatever firearm they want and with whatever magazines they want. However, if they want ANOTHER firearm or want to be Transferred a firearm, they should be Drug Tested for all Class 2 and above Drugs, which include Fentanyl and the various Opioid Derivatives, Cocaine, Meth and any Cannabis that has Enhanced Class 2 Additives. Since Cannabis is a Class One so-called Gateway Drug…..in the current social society and attitudes it should be exempted in its natural state. TSA has what they call Glove Swab technology, non-invasive, just touching the back of the hand. This test is currently used for Flight Crews, NTSB Rail Employees, Public Transportation Operations, such as Bus and Trolley Operators and certain Public Safety Officers. It is strictly a PASS or FAIL System and with instant results. No Lab Work, isolated testing or guesswork. Whatever mass shooter you are talking about, they all have or had Drug Problems. We of course need Expanded background checks, which includes Current (18 months) Mental Impairment Treatment, as well. Common Sense solutions. The reason why
lawmakers are scared to death to touch this issue is simple: Big Pharma Cash. Check every Congressman, US Senator, Judges, Bureaucrats and Governors for their taste
from Big Pharma….it is a total outrage! But what do we know? .
“The issue of course has nothing to do with immigration”
Disagree. There is a much closer link between the gun rights activists and the anti-immigration activists. Race is an inherent ingredient in our gun culture, always has been, always will be.
Big Pharma’s influence is significantly bigger over a much bigger chunk of the economy, but even people who self-profess being too mentally unstable to work are still authorized to buy guns. Nothing could block an actual purchase short of a criminal conviction, actual suicide attempt and confinement, or a commitment proceeding. This is a ‘right’ – whereas receipt of ‘welfare’ is a privilege that can be conditioned on drug testing (whether it actually should be is a different story). Similar restraints just cannot be imposed on gun buyers without reconsidering the 2nd Amendment jurisprudence in a really big way.
*Donavan, you do make a lot of sense, we must admit. However, the prime issue is: Deterrence! How is it possible to alter bad behavior? You make the process either fundamentally fair across the board, implementing the law equally and of course affordably. Taking away AR-15’s or AK-47’s or a pee shooter will not fundamentally affect behavior. You can say it will, but we bring to your attention the NRA Charleton Heston Mantra: “From my cold dead hands….”
OK, many folks are unstable in our society…far too many…that being said we should at least admit that fact. So far, if its takes cash out of a campaign….it remains off the table for discussion. That is unacceptable. California is uniquely positioned to ask for Drug Testing for Firearm Purchases and Transfers because we already have some of the most onerous Firearms Laws in the Country. Just the list of “Banned and Restricted Firearms in California” now ranges into the 100’s! Magazine? Who cares? It only take one round in many cases to take a human life. Anyway, instant background checks were considered impossible several years ago. Now they are common place. Instant Drug Testing is something that can be done NOW. It is just a matter of getting started with ONE Elected Politician that is not in back pocket of Big
Pharma.
Ron & Anna: Deterrence works exclusively by assuming people or groups are reasonable. Most mass shooters are not exactly ‘reasonable’ people likely to be deterred. Whether you test them, or threaten them (what, with the likelihood of death? some WANT to die!) – there’s pretty much no clear means of stopping them.
So, we look at what we can control instead…
“Taking away AR-15’s or AK-47’s or a pee shooter will not fundamentally affect behavior.”
We can design weapons and restrict circulation of weapons designed to kill as many people as possible: our military has a clear and important use for such weapons, no civilian does. We tried that for 10 years, saw a drop in total deaths but still saw several cases where assault weapons that had been grandfathered in were utilized to cause major attacks – and let it expire in 2004. We’ve had several thousand people die since then. That almost certainly would have been reduced had the ban remained in effect.
Charleton Heston, Charles Manson, and every other crazy old man who calls for killing others or calls for recklessly enabling them to be killed – merit no respect from civilized society.
*Mandatory Drug Testing for all NEW Firearm Purchases and Transfers accomplishes something far greater than keeping Nutcases out of Mass Shooting situations. It gives a pause for every Gunowner to rededicate themselves to Responsible Behavior and sends a Societal Message……”Drug taking and Firearms….don’t mix! and we are serious about that!” A new “Social Contract”……like stopping at red lights and such. The law says Stop.
Does everybody stop? No….but luckily….most do! It may not stop Jeffrey Daumer…..for eating people….but then that’s why they have Vegetarian Restaurants.
Well, you certainly are persistent.
It’s not primarily the drug-addled who end up using guns inappropriately. I’d say that it’s more likely to overlap with the domestic violence perps.