Republicans Bought and Paid For By the NRA Refuse to Cross the Bridge of Common Sense

The Senate's bi-partisan committee studying gun regulations has submitted their bills to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who will now decide which bills to present to the Senate for a vote.
Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) were both quoted over the past weekend as saying that universal background checks, which have overwhelming citizen support--even from gun owning members of the NRA, are "a bridge too far for most of us". 

When Mr. Graham was asked if he thought the universal background requirement could pass the full Senate, he replied, "I don't think so.  I don't think it makes any sense.  The current system is broken.  Fix the current system."

what eye thynk:   The latest polls show that 80-90% of the people--including gun owners--support universal background checks.  These statistics have been widely reported and commented on, but the NRA funded Republican Party Talking Heads continue to act as though the polls say just the opposite.  "A bridge too far for most of us".  Who is this "us"?  Can Mr. Graham or Mr. Flake offer any proof that their invisible "us" exists?   

Mr. Flake, in his Meet the Press interview on Sunday, went on to say that "The paperwork requirements alone would be significant".  To that, any person possessed of a modicum of common sense would say "So what?".  Ask any Sandy Hook parent who lost a child last December if they think their child's life was spent wisely in the all important fight to avoid paperwork.

Asa Hutchinson, former Republican congressman from Arkansas was recently chosen to head an NRA funded, "independent" review of school safety standards.  Not surprisingly, when the results were announced last Tuesday, the study called for gun toting guards and voluntarily armed teachers in every school and on every campus in the U.S.   The report did not address the mass attacks we saw last year in a shopping mall and in a movie theater.  Will the next "independent" NRA study call for armed clerks at Macy's perfume counter?  Will it be recommended that every Starbucks barista have access to a company Bushmaster?  Will the kid who sells you your Regal Cinema popcorn be required to have a rifle hidden under the Milk Duds?  

Senator Graham is right about one thing--the current system is broken.  But Mr. Graham's Republican/NRA position that more guns is the answer just goes against all logic.  If South Carolina found it had too many alligators, would Mr. Graham suggest solving the problem by importing more alligator eggs?

We have to start somewhere; and universal background checks are a good first step--whether Lindsey Graham thinks they make sense or not.