Keeping America Safe

There have been numerous terrorist attacks around the world in the past year, and each time they occur we want to know why more isn't done to prevent this.  Some politicians say we have to get "tougher."  I'm not sure what that means.  International organizations are working to combat Isis and other terrorist organizations.  It is a daunting task.  In the mean time, I have a few words to say about this.

Terrorism is horrific.  It puts us on edge, afraid, and suspicious of people that look different than us.  The fact of the matter is  that not many people are killed worldwide by terrorism.  Think about guns, and the fact that 30 people are killed each day in our country alone, from gun violence.  What is congress doing about this?  Nothing!  They say gun violence, like terrorism, is a terrible thing, and want to pray for the victims and their family.  No, no, no.  Don't pray, DO SOMETHING!  Gun violence, unlike global terrorism, is something we can actually do something about.  Terrorism is out of the hands of the common citizen.  We have to rely on national security.  Guns, however, could be controlled and not issued to those that are mentally ill or on the no fly list.  We're up in arms about terrorism, but something that we could do something about, gun violence, we do nothing.

Drunk driving kills 9,967 people in the U.S. in 2015.  Again, this is something we could do something about.  We may not be able to stop it completely, but through tougher laws, we could reduce it.  Did you know that 3 women die every day in America from domestic violence?  That doesn't even consider the hundreds that are abused and live!  Again, this is a terrible thing and something we could do more to prevent.

I am in no way minimizing the problem of international terrorism, but I am saying that other violent acts, like gun violence, domestic violence, and drunk driving, kill thousands in the U.S. every year.  Why aren't we doing more to prevent these acts?  We know  we can, but we refuse.  Is the NRA so powerful that congress members will do anything to keep  an A rating with them, even at the expense of not following their heart?  It's sad, and as far as I'm concerned, any member of congress who refuses to even discuss gun violence and take a vote on minimum changes, should be voted out of office.