Earl Blumenauer: “I appreciate my colleague discussing the issue of gun violence, but I could not disagree with his assessment more. A…”

“I appreciate my colleague discussing the issue of gun violence, but I could not disagree with his assessment more. A livable community is one where people are safe, healthy, and economically secure. Gun violence undercuts each of those elements. We are not safe today in the epidemic of gun violence, whether it is in Mount Morris Township, Michigan; Littleton, Colorado; or Springfield, Oregon. Gun violence is a leading cause of death and injury, 12 per day for children alone. And our families are not economically secure. Gun injuries, injuries, cost almost $20,000 per incident to treat, and the cost of a gun-related death is approximately one-third of a million dollars. In the face of overwhelming evidence about gun violence, the gun apologists continue to argue that guns somehow make us safer, and simple common sense gun legislation is unnecessary. By their logic, we could get rid of metal detectors in airports. Yes, a few guns might get through, but almost certainly well-armed passengers would gun down the terrorists. A little article in today's Post notes that for the second time in a week, a passenger was arrested on a plane for assaulting a pilot. Would we be better off if that passenger had been armed so that there would have been a gun battle instead of a fist fight? The NRA argues that the people who want to reduce gun violence have blood on their hands, that they want a certain level of violence.…”