(This editorial was published by WRAL-TV over the weekend and has been updated with new numbers of deaths.)
After the shooting rampages in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio we are saddened. We mourn the losses to the families of those killed and feel for the injured. These communities will never be the same. The devastation of a few minutes is an indelible memory for the ages.
How could this happen?
We’re angered that, amid the recriminations and speeches, the calls for change and action will be muted by the political maneuvering of the National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers. Soon, it will be back to business as usual for those who should know better and who need to act.
It is past time to get something done.
In much of the world, news of mass killings comes from places in the midst of civil wars, international conflicts or violent rebellion. Weapons of mass destruction are car bombs; explosive vests worn by suicidal partisans; or combatants armed with military weapons.
In the United States news of rampages comes from places of peace where people are doing back-to-school shopping, spending an evening out on the town or celebrating local heritage. The weapons of mass destruction can be purchased at a local sporting goods store by almost anyone.
In a bit more than two months, here’s the grim toll: nine killed, 27 wounded in Dayton, Ohio Sunday morning; 22 killed, 26 wounded in El Paso, Texas Saturday; three killed, 12 injured in Gilroy, California Sunday, July 28; and 12 killed, four injured in Virginia Beach, Virginia Friday, May 31. The list doesn’t include all those who died in crime-related mass shootings.
It just as easily could have been revelers on Glenwood South in Raleigh; families at a Walmart in Charlotte; or Peach Festival attendees in Candor. It could have been the General Assembly where just last week a man nearly made it through security with a handgun and extra ammo.
It will be a few days before Republicans wake from their NRA-funded malaise. Then they’ll fall back on their favorite talking points:
- The Constitution guarantees us the right to own guns.
- Guns don’t kill people, it’s the person that uses the gun that kills people.
We support the 2nd Amendment — the right of Americans to be armed for basic self defense and sporting (hunting and target shooting) activities. That’s what the Constitution intended.
But we oppose the notion that anyone needs or should possess weapons of mass destruction. They should be banned.
This is not a radical view. Walmart, Dicks Sporting Goods, L.L. Bean, Kroger and REI all have stopped selling these weapons – as well as even air guns and toys that look like them. Walmart has even raised the age for gun and ammunition purchases from 18 to 21.
As for the mantra that it’s the people that do the shooting that are the problem, not their guns — that’s not the point.
The point is that powerful automatic weaponry can kill many people very quickly. There is no legal or moral reason that those weapons should be available….
North Carolina’s congressional delegation needs to be in the forefront of support for common-sense laws that will keep these weapons of mass destruction out of civilian hands and away from the public. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis need to abandon their partisan orthodoxy and back the common sense House-passed bill to require background checks for nearly all gun purchases or exchanges. This is a small, but important step in the correct direction.
The state legislature should show it’s as concerned with public safety as it is with currying favor with the NRA and firearms manufacturers. Pass responsible legislation to require a background check BEFORE the purchase of rifles. Prohibit the sale and possession of large capacity ammunition magazines. There is no need for these – other than trouble. Require gun owners notify law enforcement when a gun is lost or stolen.
These are common sense steps that don’t infringe on anyone’s rights
Don’t let the anger go. It is time to get something done!
8 Responses
I agree with you Carol. It’s past time to do something.
Thanks !!! Agree !! Lacy Presnell, Jr.
Carol — As a former news anchor and reporter … I’m ashamed of you.
You get my eyeballs every week. For one thing: NEWS in Wake Forest.
As a former “journalist” yourself — you should have held yourself to a higher standard. Publishing an editorial as your lead is inexcusable.
I grew up idolizing WRAL. I dreamed of one day anchoring the news in the vein of Charlie Gaddy on WRAL. Today — I don’t watch WRAL. You want to know why, Carol? Because of unbalanced stories. I don’t watch because of editorializing. I don’t watch because the fundamentals that once made that station great have been hijacked by a runaway owner in Jim Goodmon to promote his liberal agenda.
When I was an anchor and reporter — I presented it straight. I presented it fairly. I presented BOTH sides. And I would expect to be FIRED if I did not follow the principles of journalistic integrity.
It is an honor — it is a privilege — to inform the public. It is a fundamental necessity of our Democratic Republic to question and shine a light without fear or favor.
Yet, this editorializing has killed the Press.
I’m ashamed for WRAL. I’m ashamed of The Wake Forest Gazette for peddling this muck on the front page.
Have you lost your way that much, Carol?
You know what you just did? You justified President Trump calling the media “Fake News.” You justified it because you just threw out your journalistic integrity.
Want to express this point of view? Fine. You know where it belongs — on the editorial page.
In the meantime, I suppose I will have to read your publication with a discerning eye going forward. I’ll have to do so questioning whether or not what you are “reporting” is actual news — or whether it is editorializing.
You should have done better.
Your readers deserve better.
Since you grew up idolizing WRAL was it because it was CBS? WRAL is now NBC .So do you watch CBS 17 -WNCN the old WRAL.
Actually, I was grew up watching WRAL from the time they were an ABC affiliate in the 70s and 80s.
WRAL was the premier source for news. It wasn’t until 1985 that WRAL made “The Big Switch” and became a CBS affiliate. WTVD took over the ABC affiliation as they had been purchased by “Cap Cities” which had previously purchased ABC. Thus, it made no sense for a parent company to own a local O&O that used another affiliate.
Therefore, an agreement was reached and the two stations switched affiliations.
I have watched CBS17. They have improved their product over the last few years. That being said, I believe WTVD now has the best news product in the Triangle. I refrain, however, from watching much local news in this modern era. I read more online than anything else.
The NRA is not the enemy. The NRA is your neighbors and your neighbors did not kill these people. Some NRA members actually support reasonable approaches like raising the age to buy to 21 (also the age to vote, if you can’t be trusted with a firearm how can you be trusted to vote intelligently?). Bump stocks are not needed. Perhaps a special purchase validation requirement for high capacity magazines. A system that connects all points of sale to a universal database, provided that there is a quick process to challenge the content of that database. ‘Red flag’ but with similar quick response appeal. The real problem is not the tool but the user of that tool. As we have seen in other countries, the tool can be other than a firearm. Lots of damage has been done with knives. A truck or car even could have taken as many, if not more, lives at either of these locations of last weekend’s tragedies. The point is that someone with the intent to do harm has lots of means to that harm. What would be the discussion points if a registered vehicle had been used by a licensed driver who legally purchased gasoline to mow down dozens of people? What would the politicians be calling for? As the focus should have been, after Parkland, Sandy Hook, etc and now El Paso and Dayton, on identifying, ‘red-flagging’ and getting help to troubled individuals. We would be deluding ourselves if we think restricting guns will prevent another tragedy. Don’t blame President Trump or the NRA or anyone other than the shooters.
What we do need to do as a culture is to tone down the rhetoric regarding personal attacks. We need to foster a #CultureOfRespect where we can have a meaningful dialog on any subject and not defile the discussion with name-calling, nicknaming, chastising, etc. We need to start by acting unilaterally vs responding with personal attacks. We need to say “I see you and recognize you also have equal right to dwell on this planet.” We need to demand that our elected representatives act in the same manner. Yes, I have told him so. We need to not tolerate the hatred and violence in our streets where protests should be peaceful. If we do not raise the dialog out of the gutter of “you are racist” – “no, you are racist” and get to root issues, the violence will escalate. If you can’t discuss it, you lose. Doxxing, harassing people’s homes, restaurant confrontations – these are not in civil society and should not be tolerated. It is up to us. Who are we? God gave us this country so we could be a blessing to the world, not self-destruct. Our 2nd President, John Adams, noted:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
If we can not behave well enough for our Constitution, how will we be governed? Socialist/Communist nanny-state? Think about it.
I don’t watch WRAL because of their partison political stance. We don’t need partison political stuff here. I realize this is an opinion page, but it does no good to turn off at least one half of your readers. Of course, I realize this is your e-paper, and you can do whatever you want with it. Still, if you turn off readers, at least some will stop reading this.
Whoa Nelly!
I suggest we read the Declaration of Independence & Bill of Rights, asap.
NC implements background checks for long guns, aka rifles NICS.
NC implements background checks for pistols via NICS.
NCGA security stopped a gun and magazine( in a bag )from ever getting past security.
I’m counting on Congressmen/women to keep their noses out of the freedoms of the States and the People they’re put there to represent.
NRA is a let-down to 2A defenders(bump stock bans & now rights-eroding Red Flag / Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) promotions ).
The 2nd Amendment is in place to protect people from an overbearing federal branch of government.
We must become better informed with fact, not opinion. Get involved and contact your state, congressional and executive offices… it’s very easy.
The only difference between a mob and a trained army is organization. -Calvin Coolidge