The Gun Industry and Blood Money

It was with much disgust that I saw the news about the killing of at least one young person by another in Marysville, Washington. The snuffing out the life of our youth by other young people is an indication of how our proud and democratic nation has deteriorated based on what too many consider the “constitutional right” to bear arms in order to defend themselves. Over the last few years we have seen the massacre of our youth by other young people in Newtown, Aurora, University of Virginia, Isla Vista and too many other supposedly safe grammar schools, high schools and universities.

Both those killed or wounded as well as the shooters are the victims of a society which feels that more guns, no restrictions, guns in schools and in everybody’s home is the answer to violence and to threats from the unknown. The NRA, the Tea Party and others feel that students should be taught how to use guns and feel that teachers should be armed as they teach their students. The NRA and others are even against banning the sale of assault weapons such as those used in Newtown and in Isla Vista. It is interesting to note that the weapons used both in Marysville and in Isla Vista were purchased in Oxnard, California. Imagine the carnage if a student, such as the one in Marysville, has an argument with another student or a grudge to settle. Imagine what would happen if a teacher loses control and shoots a student who is having a tantrum or involved in a fight. This can very easily occur. Schools would be very unsafe if teachers and students were taught how to fire a gun and allowed to have a gun on school property. We read too often of “accidents” with guns. The NRA supports “entertainment” centers where children of any age can fire all types of weapons; whatever they choose. This past August a 9 year old girl was given a Uzi to fire at targets. She accidently killed the instructor. The name of the entertainment center in Arizona is called Bullets and Burgers. Why the hell should a 9 year old child be allowed to be given a machine gun to shoot at targets? Maybe the State of Arizona feels that she will need one to protect herself in their schools or from other children entering Arizona? Do we really want our children to look at guns as entertainment and connect the use of guns to fun eating? I hope not!!

We see an increase of gang members having guns and other young people being shot either on purpose or by accident. The NRA does not care. The one on one killings are not a concern to the NRA. The ease at which anybody can purchase a gun, even an assault weapon, at gun shows, online at local gun shops in many states is a threat to our young people and to all of us. In our nation the NRA and the gun industry are not looking out to protect constitutional rights. They are looking out to make money: Blood Money. The gun industry contributes millions to the NRA. The NRA rakes in around $200 million dollars from the gun industry and other sources every year. That figure also includes merchandising, dues, investment and admission to exhibits. Recently a toaster which burns into the NRA logo sold for $650 at an auction. Some of its corporate sponsors donate $1,000,000 a year. Yes One Million dollars. In 2012 the gun industry raked in $11.7 Billion in sales. The NRA received an enormous share of that money. The NRA and the gun industry work hand in hand to make money off of death. In researching this column I was SHOCKED to learn that Wal-Mart has become the largest seller of guns and ammunition in the United States. I was more shocked to see their advertisements for guns including assault weapons. There are at least five types of assault weapons one can purchase through Wal-Mart. They donate handily to the NRA. Please peruse current Wal-Mart ads I have posted for assault weapons. They and other stores are even selling “toy” machine guns for children for Halloween. This is another reason we do not need Wal-Mart in the NYC urban environment or really anywhere. Is this what our nation needs? Murder for profit is how I look at this.

There is another factor often overlooked. Most killing of youths is black on black and Latino on Latino. The gun industry thrives on gun sales in urban minority areas. A Washington Post analysis in 2013 demonstrated that in America gun deaths are shaped by race. Whites are far more likely to shoot themselves and African Americans are far more likely to be shot by someone else, probably of the same race. African Americans tend to be much more supportive of gun control than whites and for good reason: they are the ones most often killed or injured by a bullet. In 2011, the last year for which the FBI has complete data, 1,668 blacks under the age of 22 were killed in this country. That’s more than triple the 469 American servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan that year. In 2008 and 2009, black children and teenagers were just 15% of the nation’s population but 45% of young people killed by guns. If that doesn’t cause a churning in your gut, maybe this will: The leading cause of death for black males ages 15-19 in those years came from the barrel of a gun. Blacks in this age group were eight times more likely than whites and two-and-a-half times more likely than Hispanics to be killed by gunfire, the Children’s Defense Fund said in “Protect Children, Not Guns,” a 2012 report on effects of gun violence on this nation’s children. Sandy Hook was horrible. The number of young children killed by Adam Lanza made headlines as it should have. Yet, we need to look at how the number of minority children killed in our urban areas far surpasses those killed at Sandy Hook and there is little publicity. I wonder if the statistics were reversed and if there were more white on white murders would the objection to gun control be as vehement and would the NRA and the gun industry be as opposed to control? That is a question to ponder. It is interesting to note that 93% of the NRA Board of Directors is white. The NRA no longer has the members of its Board and their pictures on line. Two African-Americans on The NRA Board are the former NBA player Karl Malone and Roy Innis who heads the Congress of Racial Equality.

I am not asking that guns be taken away from those with a legitimate reason to have one. I am asking that strict gun control be enacted nationally. Our youth and all of our citizens need to be protected from the uncontrolled ability to purchase weapons and to use them. We need to protect our nations from the George Zimmermans and the Adam Lanzas.

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