On the day of the Aurora, Illinois workplace shooting, I read a compassionate message an admired law enforcement leader posted on Facebook: “Another senseless act of gun violence in the city of Aurora, IL resulting in the murder of five people. Five brave police officers —running toward danger— were wounded by gunfire. We stand in solidarity with all those affected by this tragic incident.”
Most of the responses to this heartfelt post were similar wishes that the victims and their families might find some small comfort through camaraderie. These well-wishes were most of the responses but not all of them were supportive. Such as this one: “Hey NRA and your supporters, have you no conscience? Hey pro-gun Congressional supporters, have you no shame? And the president, oh never mind!”
Strange, this Facebook poster fails to mention the vermin who actually committed the crime. The man who pulled the trigger, killed five people, and wounded six police officers. Oh, and he was not an NRA member.
I hesitate to participate in the politicization of a tragedy that inevitably follows such reprehensible events. However, the right has allowed the anti-gun left to spout far too much anti-gun rubbish without challenge. And, while ignoring such nonsense is tempting, the right has too often allowed this vile drivel from our enemies to go unchallenged. Yes, enemies because it’s more than a political opponent who wants to take away your inalienable right to self-defense. We must challenge them, or their filth stands unopposed and festers in the public consciousness.
How dare people who think like this spew such toxic waste from the shadow of an immediate tragedy! Think about the posting of such a contemptible response to a wonderful offer of sympathy. It shows you the difference between quality human beings and that smudge of something stuck to the bottom of your shoe.
Attacking the NRA, its members, and Congressional supporters because a fired employee lunatic shoots up a factory is abhorrent. And it makes about as much sense to blame the NRA for the Aurora, Illinois shooting as it does to blame the AAA because some Islamist terrorist used an automobile to kill and injure innocent people on a New York City bike path.
