In my humble estimation, the five greatest cities in America are Los Angeles, (I am prejudiced because this is where I grew up), New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Atlanta, (with a very close 6th of New Orleans). Each is unique and offers exciting things to see and do, as well as its own charm, scenic beauty, and historical sights. However, each also shares some negatives.
For the average working man, all of our nation’s major cities have priced themselves out of their ability to live within the city limits, and close-by suburbs.
Even more upsetting is the increase in domestic terrorism across America. In my beloved Los Angeles, 397 people lost their lives from gunshot and other forms of fatal attacks in 2021. New York experienced 485 murders, most from the use of a gun. Chicago had 797 homicides. San Francisco recorded 124 murders. 158 in Atlanta.
As I am sure you noticed, America’s “Second City” experienced the largest number of murders by far.
Gun violence, most specifically domestic terrorism, is a growing problem in America. “The truth lives here,” and I can tell you that no other country has this situation in 2022. Although there are simple solutions that would reduce this problem, our government refuses to do anything to protect our 331 million people. Because the NRA, the lobby which works for gun manufacturers and gun sellers, owns many of our Congressmen and Senators, regardless of how large the number of deaths becomes, nothing will ever be done to end the carnage. Money is more important than people in the “United Business of America.”
There is no stipulation in the second amendment guaranteeing the rights of average Americans to own military weapons designed to kill human beings as quickly as possible and in large numbers.
A 16-year-old boy was shot to death near the famous “The Bean” sculpture in Chicago’s Millennium Park on Saturday. This is what the mayor of Chicago had to say.
“Earlier this evening, a 16-year-old was tragically killed near Millennium Park. This senseless loss of life is utterly unacceptable,” Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement Saturday evening. “Tonight, a mother is grief-stricken, mourning the loss of her child and searching for answers. My heart is breaking for the mother as she grieves this unspeakable loss.”
Although the killer(s) may be arrested, nothing will be done about the increasing gun violence in Chicago.
On March 14, 2022, WTTW reported that “24 People Were Shot Over Weekend in Chicago, Including 7 in Mass Shooting Sunday.”
None of this is “news.” This is a normal day in America.
What upsets me the most, and should upset you, is deaths related to the use of guns, individual and some mass shootings, are unreported. If those in power informed the American people of the facts, that domestic terrorism is the greatest danger to America’s people, no one would leave their homes: nowhere is safe. The United States of America is the most dangerous country in the developed world.
If our government refuses to take action, what can we do? The answer is clear: use your vote. Phone, write, or e-mail the congressman who represents your district, and both of your state’s senators. Inform them that if they take money from the NRA, and continue to disregard your safety, you will give your vote to any opponent who shuns the gun lobby. Then, keep that promise.
You can also become involved in something as simple as a protest. Let President Biden, Moscow Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin McCarthy, and others know that you demand the reform of our gun laws, and banning military weapons and high-output magazines.
There must be no more mass killings at concerts like the one in Las Vegas, at churches like the one in Sutherland Springs, Texas, at another high school like what happened at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, or the unforgivable slaughter of 20 five- and six-year-old children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
If all 535 men and women in our legislature refuse to take immediate action, remove them from office. Your vote is the most powerful weapon in America.
Op-ed by James Turnage
Sources:
Fox News: Teenager shot to death at major Chicago tourist destination; by Anders Hagstrom
WTTW News: 24 People Shot Over Weekend in Chicago, Including 7 in Mass Shooting Sunday; by Matt Masterson
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Chad’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inline Image Courtesy of hardwarehank’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
