Being a lifelong 49er fan, you can imagine my disappointment Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl in overtime. But that was just a game. It's nothing compared to the shooting that took place yesterday following the traditional victory parade before the hometown crowd. Sadly, I am forced to say, yet again, we are all residents of Kansas City now.
What's it going to take to reduce gun violence in America? As sure as I am writing this, I can tell you this: Thoughts and prayers will never be able to solve this problem but a Camp David summit with representatives from the National Rifle Association, 2nd Amendment proponents, law enforcement officials and families of victims in attendance can.
Back in 1978, First Lady Rosalynn Carter urged her husband to forge a peace agreement between Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel. Over the objections of the president's staff, Jimmy Carter and his two guests met for 13 days at Camp David before shaking hands in the White House Rose Garden. Thankfully, their peace accord still is in effect.
With this backdrop in mind, I am, once again, calling on First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to take a page out of Rosalynn Carter's playbook. It's time key leaders from the NRA and 2nd Amendment find common ground with peace officers and parents whose children have been murdered. It might take 13 days for these 2024 Camp David attendees to come up with new gun measures but that's OK. Their collective handshake will give members of Congress the cover they need to finally pass meaningful new gun safety laws.
You don't win a Super Bowl without a game plan. The same is true for reducing gun violence in America. Memo Jill Biden: Please urge your husband to convene a Camp David gun summit now.
-DF
Denny, don't worry about gun violence. Congress is sending thoughts and prayers.
How many more have to die before Congress steps up to actually do something. No one is talking about taking anyone's guns away, but there are common restrictions that can be made. Assault weapons should be outlawed - you can't hunt with them. No one needs them, except on the battlefield during the war. Making it harder and harder to buy a gun at gun shows - more identification required. The members of Congress get paid to sort this stuff out, it isn't brain surgery. They need to do their job.