We still have little information about yesterday’s assassination attempt. Nevertheless, a flood of ill-informed, fearful and angry speculation about the shooter and his motives is pouring onto social media.
Please do not recirculate this speculation.
There is enough anger and hatred in this country without us spreading half-baked conspiracy theories. These theories contribute to the fear and rage that’s already rampant, so please.
Be judicious.
But if lots about the assassination attempt remains obscure, we do know the attempt was carried out with a semi-automatic AR-15-style rifle.
And we also know that the AR-15 is one of the most popular firearms in the United States. Manufactured by companies like Smith & Wesson (based in Springfield, Mass.), Ruger (Southport, Conn.), Sig Sauer (Newington, New Hampshire), and Colt (West Hartford, Conn.), the AR-15 is designed to kill people.
These guns are not designed for hunting: these are slightly-modified weapons of war. They are, in effect, civilian versions of the M16 rifle used by the U.S. military.
Unlike traditional hunting rifles, the AR-15 can fire many rounds quickly, causing maximum damage in minimum time. Designed for rapid fire and quick reloading, they are devastatingly effective in combat situations—and tragically lethal in mass shootings.
The last thing we need is angry confrontations over stories for which there is no evidence. The truth is that we don’t know why it happened, nor do we know anything (yet) about the shooter’s motives.
The gun lobby wants us to believe that guns keep us safe. That is bullshit — and the gun manufacturers know it.
American gun manufacturers, including those producing AR-15 style rifles, have actively opposed most attempts at increased firearms regulation over the past few decades. This includes:
- Lobbying against assault weapons bans
- Opposing expanded background checks
- Fighting attempts to hold manufacturers liable for gun violence
- Resisting magazine capacity limits
- Challenging state-level gun control laws
The firearms industry, working through organizations like the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and in alignment with the National Rifle Association (NRA), has consistently used its financial and political influence to resist gun control measures.
They have prioritized maintaining their market and profits over concerns about the public health impact of gun violence. They have often downplayed their role in mass shootings and other gun deaths.
They have spent a fortune shaping policy and public opinion to maintain a regulatory environment favorable to their business interests, despite overwhelming evidence of public safety concerns.
They and their allies in the Republican Party have made it just about impossible to control these weapons of mass murder.
So — while there will be all sorts of speculation about why someone shot at Donald Trump yesterday, who that person is, what that person’s motives were, one thing is certain: the GOP and its pro-gun policies helped arm that person.
It’s time to stop this nonsense. Guns are out of control.
Vote for people who will enact gun control. Vote for people who believe that free speech is more important than unfettered access to weapons of war. Vote for people who will make sure the Supreme Court does not once again gut every attempt to make our country safe again.
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