I guess we still need to talk about gun control

I’m getting really sick of writing this column.

Because, essentially, I’ve already written this column on three separate occasions.
Time and time again, we are sadly reminded we need to be talking about gun control.

But now, the violence is right in our neighborhood.

You don’t need me to tell you a Purdue University TA was murdered on campus yesterday. That’s what the news is for. I’m here to tell you whether or not a
shooting happened in a movie theater in Colorado, a political meeting in
Arizona, an elementary school in Connecticut or Purdue University, the gun debate is not in the least bit settled.

Because the only thing more sickening than writing this column is the number of Wikipedia pages now being dedicated to gun massacres in the United States.

You would have thought enough was enough when 20 children lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

You would think that Congress would have the wherewithal to do something about this
issue, whether it would be passing laws for stricter gun control or an initiative for better mental health care.

But no, Congress has not done a damn thing.

In fact, they rejected a set of proposals to enact stricter gun control across the country. This was legislation 90 percent of Americans supported. It failed in the Senate 54 to 46.

To reiterate past columns, I am not anti-gun. I don’t believe gun owners should have their firearms stripped away from them by law.

If somebody really wants to get their hands on a gun, they will get their hands on a gun. Just like I believe a gun was simply the weapon of choice at Purdue.

The suspect could have used a knife or any other dangerous weapon at his disposal.
But he chose a gun. Which is why we, as a nation and as humans, still need to evaluate where we stand on gun control.

It is why Congress needs to stop fearing the wrath of the almighty NRA and do something about the violence perpetuated by their weapon of choice.

That reminds me, the NRA is having a convention in Indianapolis from April 25-27.
 
Three months after a young man lost his life from gun-inflicted injuries, the largest gun lobby in the country will be in our state capital.

I won’t tell you to go protest the NRA, or to challenge them in some way, shape or form.

I’m just asking you to consider the plain and simple fact something has to be done about guns, and they’re a huge roadblock in the way of progress.

Because I’m really tired of writing this column, and you should be tired of reading it.

­— wdmcdona@indiana.edu
Follow columnist
Dane McDonald on Twitter @W_DaneMcDonald.