Must read: The Washington Post's "The Blast Effect"
In response to my video commentary, which I shared last night, on the devastating tragedy at The Covenant School in Nashville, a The Warning community member suggested that the media do the “horrendous but necessary” job of showing what a semi-automatic weapon does to a child’s body. This morning, The Washington Post did just that. I would encourage you to read this, and to share it with your family and friends.
Why are an AR-15 and other high-velocity assault rifles so deadly? A bigger bullet isn’t necessarily deadlier because it’s slower. The smaller bullet is faster, and it's the speed of the bullet cavitating, which makes it so devastating.
Entire categories of weapons have been illegal in America since 1934, including the Thompson submachine gun (the “Gangster gun”) and sawed-off shotguns.
There is a singular question that should be advanced through legislation: should this gun and all of its imitators be added to that list in a stand-alone, clean piece of legislation? There should be federal legislation filed, which seeks to place every .223 caliber high-velocity assault rifle on the illegal list under the 1934 Federal Firearms Act. Less children will be murdered. In fact, more American children will die by guns than car accidents. How tragic.
While I agree with the idea of banning certain weapons, I am coming to the realization that the only way to create safer communities is to increase the cost of firearm ownership. For example - firearm-specific licenses should be implemented. We don’t let people with passenger car licenses drive 18-wheelers, nor should we have one license for all firearms. If you really want an AR-15, then you must he licensed accordingly with separate training & education requirements, safe storage & mental health history. Your health and liability insurance providers must be notified of your choice and charge you for the increased risks involved. Don’t go after the guns, go after the money and things will change.
The WAPO article was a good start but that's all it was. A start. I am a nurse practitioner and I have been saying for years that we need to show actual photos of the damage these weapons of war inflict. Let Americans have a real look at the horror they condone. Make Republicans explain every day why a six week old fetus must be defended at all cost but it is perfectly acceptable to obliterate a six year old child to the point they can only be identified by DNA. Quit referring to the "also wounded" as if they're John Wayne who got grazed but jump right back in the saddle. These are life altering wounds. Many of the wounded will never walk or be fully functioning again. Calculate the cost of months or years of care and make Republicans defend that. Over forty years ago one of my first patients was a young police officer with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. After all these decades the sight and smell of his injury is still vivid. Every American should have the image of his feeding tube and colostomy bag burned into their memory. Everyone should have to watch as a robust young man in the prime of life breaks into a sweat and trembles as he struggles to take two steps from the bed to the chair. Picture that. Then talk to me about your second amendment rights.