If the killing of 20 children and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012 did not convince Republican governors and lawmakers to make it harder to buy weapons, then dozens of LGBTQ Latinos killed this week won’t either.
Killing people in houses of worship, schools, movie theaters, restaurants and workplaces has not moved a cowardly Congress toward courage.
What will?
Voting – and following up with elected officials.
It’s not enough that Sen. Elizabeth Warren is such a enthralling attack dog this presidential election season on behalf of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. And though many of us are in the adoration section for U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern – and for good reason – that is not enough, either.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and all the rest of the Democratic delegation need to stop pointing to their voting records on gun control with pride – and do something more.
It’s past time for our federal lawmakers to circle the bullies and neutralize their power.
Malcolm X had it right: Desperate times call for desperate measures.
When members of Congress allow hate-mongers to buy guns legally, our state delegation needs to stop engaging with their colleagues across the aisle as if nothing catastrophic has happened again and again.
Too many Democrats tweet their prayers and issue vacuous press releases calling for gun control, then have lunch with Republican colleagues who vote against gun control.
Worlds are extinguished because armed boys and men have these cowards on their side.
Here’s what the party that is most representative of the United States needs to do: freeze out the GOP.
No afternoons playing racquetball, no lunches, no co-sponsoring, no golfing, no hardy-har-hars after hours. No nothing.
Members of the GOP who vote against gun control are aiding and abetting the enemy: the killers.
Put another way: Stop playing nice with the Republicans just because you guys manage to agree on some things.
Bring the GOP to its knees. Hold steady. Hold the line. Do not let one more law pass until the a gun control bill that succeeds in ending too-easy access to guns is passed.
We are all mourning because of lawmakers’ excuses. The GOP is in the majority. We can’t do anything. Our hands are tied.
Be the leaders you were elected to be, not apologists for the dead.
If this rattles you, which it should, imagine how the loved ones of the children still feel. Imagine how the survivors of Orlando feel because you complain about the GOP instead of doing something.
Natalia Muñoz is host of “Vaya con Muñoz” on WHMP talk radio 96.9 FM.