Editorial for June 21, 2007 edition:


Make them do it

Summer’s officially here. Time for the politicians in Harrisburg to do their Get Out of Dodge act.

Before they go, however, they should consider this: Any lawmaker who claims to be pro-life and yet whose position in the pockets, hearts and souls of the NRA prevents him from sending meaningful gun-control legislation to the governor, such as limiting gun purchasers to one gun a month — yes, 12 guns a year! — shame on you. How on earth can you look yourself in the mirror and claim to value the sanctity of human life while human beings, many of them decent people who don’t deserve to die, are getting shot to death every day?

State legislators, Republicans and Democrats alike, who oppose reasonable measures like one-gun-a-month and won’t even allow it to come up for a vote have a lot of guts calling themselves human beings. Their inaction gives new meaning to humanity. Just ask the many friends and family members who knew and loved police officer Gary Skerski, Detective John Cousin and the countless other victims of gun violence, a cycle that never should have been allowed to spiral out of control.

So, all you folks out there who think common sense and reason should prevail over the NRA and the Neanderthal state lawmakers that act like they’re on the NRA’s payroll, please don’t sit on your butts this summer. Bombard the district offices of your state representatives and senators with personal visits, letters, e-mail and phone calls warning them that they will be kicked out of office next year if they don’t pass gun control. Drastic times demand drastic measures; one-gun-a-month is drab, not drastic.

And one other thing, gentle readers. When you see a police officer, let him know he is appreciated. A simple thank-you can go a long way. He could use some good news. ••

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