As we ponder the televised Jan. 6 Investigation Committee hearings, we should heed the wise counsel of our first President George Washington who knew best government’s role in preserving Americans’ rights and privileges as designed by the Founding Fathers. He said the following:
“The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish Government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established Government. … All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency.” — George Washington’s Farewell Address, Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser, Sept. 19, 1796.
Several TV stations are presenting “live” the committee’s proceedings, “the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities.” There will be much misinformation from “spin doctors” including a false claim that it is a committee of Democrats. Yet, the committee has Republicans too, including the vice-chair.
I hope people take seriously their civic duty by watching the proceedings and making judgments on their own.
Raul Field Escandon
Houston
Do-nothing
Republicans
In response to weekly mass shootings that happen only in America, Congress passed gun safety legislation to address this national tragedy.
-Raise the age of purchasing semiautomatic (military style) weapons from 18 to 21.
Fact: must be 21 to buy beer, rent a car etc.
-Outlaw large-capacity magazines and bump stocks.
Fact: bump stocks make a weapon fully automatic.
-Requirement for all firearms to be traceable.
Fact: driver’s licenses, car licenses, Social Security numbers and cellphones all make everyone traceable.
One big problem has emerged. Most Republican congressmen opposed any legislation at all. House Republican leaders in a memo told their members to vote against eight gun safety bills, citing opposition from the NRA, also stating that their vote could affect donations from the NRA Victory Fund.
Republican congressmen used ridiculous reasons like, “We didn’t ban airplanes after 9/11.”
They also stated that military-style weapons are needed to kill vermin, feral hogs and prairie dogs.
The law would deprive 18-year-olds of their Second Amendment rights. More Republican lies. In reality, the law passed in the House of Representatives has nothing to do with Second Amendment rights.
The bottom line is that Republican congressmen care more about NRA campaign contributions than they do about any measure of safety laws to protect children and all American citizens from mass shootings that are occurring every week in our country, and only in our country.
Republican congressmen’s job is to protect their constituents, but their answer to this national tragedy is to do nothing.
Beto Conde
Rancho Viejo
