I found Rep. Mike Michaud’s statement in the Press Herald to be outrageous (“Pingree, King: Time to revisit gun control,” Dec. 17). When referencing a discussion on gun control, he stated, “At a time when so many continue to grieve, this is not the time for politics.”

By this logic there will never be an opportunity to talk about gun control. Every day in America 32 families grieve loved ones lost to gun violence.

Gun control discussions are not politics. However, avoiding the discussion with a dimwitted, emotionally vacant statement is.

How many lives must be lost before our leaders are willing to stand on behalf of the victims and have this discussion?

This statement is a platitude, a sham designed to deflect attention from the issue. If his desire to act is hindered only by a respectful period of time to grieve, then he would have moved strongly on gun control after any of the previous episodes of mass killings inflicted on our nation.

Where was his call for gun control after a respectful period of time had passed when innocents were killed in the theater in Aurora? Where was his outrage after a respectful period of time had passed when innocents were gunned down in the mosque in Wisconsin? Where was his leadership?

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There are so many examples of this kind of horror being inflicted on the psyche of our nation, but we dare not offend the psyche of a gun owner.

More shocking is the idea that gun ownership has become so sacrosanct in this country that individuals charged with safeguarding the people are cowards before it.

My fervent prayer is that our next great gun tragedy will have the decency not to occur until after a respectful period of time to grieve this one has passed. So that then, we may finally feel comfortable talking about gun control.

Christopher Zechman is a resident of South Portland.

 


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