Today's @NRA #FAIL

When will they ever learn? Here's one more to file in the "Totally Ironic Department": The NRA cares about safety! And even better, "NRA News" commentator Billy Johnson endorses socialism!

Oh, yes. That's right. "Everyone gets a gun."



Billy Johnson thinks more guns and "proper gun education" can magically solve all our problems and make our world a safer place. What could possibly go wrong? Who could ever imagine...

Oh, wait. Did we just hear something from Sparks Middle School?



"More guns" in the hands of minors didn't save Michael Landsberry. Actually, the opposite occurred. And 2 other kids were badly injured last October. Oh yes, and the shooter skillfully demonstrated his "gun education" by committing suicide after killing Landsberry and wounding his 2 other victims.

Look, we get it. The NRA will do and/or say anything to sell more firearms and thereby boost its membership rolls. That doesn't mean the NRA is correct. After all, we've seen what happens when "heat packing" comes to school.

Perhaps instead of setting up the framework for the next Troutdale, Sparks, or Newtown, can't we consider taking action to prevent more of these horrific tragedies? Perhaps instead of creating an environment of even more fear and bloodshed, can't we ensure our schools actually provide a safe and welcoming environment where our kids can focus on learning?

Do Over

Last year, he had been considered the Democrat least likely to vote for any gun safety legislation. But then, Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) eventually backed a very modest background checks package. And the NRA still conspired to kill it.

But now, he's back. He wants to try expanding background checks again. And he's not alone.

After all, Senator Manchin wasn't the only Senate Democrat who evolved on gun violence. So did Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. In fact, he went further, way beyond a mere milquetoast background checks compromise. But now, he may be ready to try for those mere milquetoast background checks again.



So what's happened since then? Sunday, for one. Jerad Miller was able to access firearms despite his felony convictions. And now, three innocent people are dead.

What's also happened since then? Well, we've just experienced 74 more school shootings since Newtown. Troutdale just happened to be #74. We don't remember which number Sparks Middle School is.

What else has happened since then? More extremism. More senseless tragedies. More family losses. And even more blood shed.

Now, the only question is: What's changed on Capitol Hill since then? Has Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA) grown a spine yet? Hell, has he sorted out his relationship with Cliven Bundy yet?

We shall find out soon. Last year, Congress put on one of the worst sh*tshows in American history (actually, one of several). Now, they have a chance at a do-over. Will they take it? Or will we have to endure 74 more unnecessary and horrifically bloody tragedies?

Another Bloody Tragedy

Another one? Already? Another one is happening? Already? How can this be so?

But alas, it's happening. Again. This time, it's at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon.

Just outside Portland, Troutdale has typically been known as a quiet and peaceful suburb. But today, that's no longer the case. Today, Troutdale became the latest in a string of armed battles on what was supposed to be civilian territory. Today, Troutdale became another notorious gun violence statistic.



It probably won't be long before we see the usual tweets of condolence from the usual politicians. It probably won't be long before the usual suspects in the "mainstream media" start bloviating on whether the shooter "had enough dates" and/or video games. And it probably won't be long before the NRA tries to "redefine" this latest "unfortunate accident".

In Troutdale, the shooter killed a student before killing oneself. And when the first flurry of media reports surfaced, parents throughout Greater Portland were scrambling to figure out whether it was their kids' school. For some unfortunate parents, it was.

Less than 48 hours ago, Metro Police Officers Alyn Beck & Igor Soldo were murdered. Shortly after they shot these officers dead at CiCi's Pizza in the Northeast Las Vegas Valley, Jerad & Amanda Miller moved to the nearby Walmart, where they shot Joseph Robert Wilcox dead before killing themselves.

Jerad Miller had felony convictions on his record. He had also made it clear for some time that he wanted "the start of the revolution". Yet somehow, he was able to obtain firearms anyway. All he had to do was rant on Facebook.

Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NRA), Senator Dean Heller (R-NRA), Rep. Joe Heck, and other G-O-TEA politicians have boasted about being "what stood in the way" of better gun safety laws. Just as the NRA has allowed the likes of Open Carry Texas to call the shots at its headquarters, far too many politicians have allowed the NRA to call the shots on Capitol Hill and in state capitols across the nation (including ours).

It's only a matter of time before someone else who obtained military grade weapons under suspicious circumstances opens fire in another public place and leaves a bloody trail behind. It's only a matter of time before the next tragedy occurs.

How many more of these must occur? What else must happen before our elected "leaders" stop being cowards and start taking action? When will we finally reach the day when we wake up without experiencing yet another bloody tragedy?