Since an overwhelming majority of Americans want common sense gun laws, and our politicians in power (allegedly) work for the people, what stands in our way of finally bringing gun sense? The general answer comes to two parts, with every detail adhering to one of the two categories.
Today we look at the cultural or macro level obstacles that stand in the way. Later, in part two, we’ll explore the policy or micro level issues that halt change for the better.
Traditionally, there has always been a very wide enthusiasm gap between the gun fetishists and gun sense groups of people. The National Rifle Association leadership, not the everyday members of the group, but the people running the NRA have done an astounding job of redefining what the second amendment and gun ownership really means.
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By
Paul M. Banks,
February 27, 2018 at 11:17 am
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Gun control is the most important issue of the day, and the topic that’s dominating political talk shows these days. Coincidentally, a man whose childhood was rocked by gun violence, Chris Kennedy, is now emerging in the Illinois gubernatorial race.
Kennedy was just five when his father, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968. Bobby Kennedy was likely on his way to winning the Democratic Party nomination and perhaps also the presidency when he was gunned down. Congressman Joseph Kennedy III (D-MA, 4th District) is Chris Kennedy’s nephew, and a rising star in American politics. He was chosen to give the Democratic Party response to the Presidential State of the Union address earlier this month.
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By
Paul M. Banks,
February 25, 2018 at 12:55 am
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Since the adults in the room, in every single room it seems, will do nothing but dawdle, the younger generation will step up and take the lead in the fight for gun control. In the wake of the tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School in south Florida, American youth are shattering the widely held stereotypes of millenials in the political arena.
Yesterday Emma Gonzalez just completely destroyed every tired cliche endlessly regurgitated by Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and every other politician in the pocket of the Gun lobby.
You know the drill after every mass shooting- “it’s too early to have a gun control discussion.” That’s what we always hear from the NRA bought GOP congressional leadership in the wake of all mass shootings. Guess what guys?
It’s NOT up to you. It’s up to the survivors, and they tell us when it’s time to talk sensible gun legislation. Gonzalez, and the rest of the Parkland survivors say that it's right now.
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By
Paul M. Banks,
February 19, 2018 at 3:45 pm
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Without a doubt, the most memorable and powerful portion of today's press conference announcing the filing of the Duerson Act was when Mike Adamle took to the podium. The former Chicago Bears and Northwestern Wildcats running back, was a television broadcaster in Chicago for over three decades, until a 2016 diagnosis of CTE-induced dementia forced his retirement from television.
Adamle, through his time at WLS channel 7 (ABC) from 1983-89, WBBM channel 2 (CBS) 2001-04 and WMAQ channel 5 (1998-2001, 2004-2016) has become extremely familiar to most Chicagoans.
During today's press conference, Adamle certainly did not hold back, and gave new meaning to the phrase wearing your heart on your sleeve...
By
Paul M. Banks,
January 25, 2018 at 11:09 pm
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Tom Steyer is a hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, progressive activist, and fundraiser with a net worth of $1.6 billion. You know him as the man who appears in that "Need to Impeach" President Donald Trump ad campaign that runs on television quite frequently.
Tom Steyer was also the highlight of the speaking program at yesterday's
Women's March Chicago: March to the Polls, as he delivered a powerful call to action...
By
Paul M. Banks,
January 21, 2018 at 1:31 pm
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As the calendar flips from 2017 to 2018, gun sense needs to be America's legislative priority, because the issue is top of mind. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll asked respondents "what was the most significant event of 2017?"
Mass shootings topped the list, and it was followed by natural disasters, the inauguration of Donald Trump, terrorist attacks, the tax plan in Congress and sexual harassment/#metoo movement.
Take a moment to review and examine that list again.
Common sense gun laws resonate with Americans more than even forces of nature, the world's biggest attention seeker/narcissist, and the issues that the media tends to focus on the most. America is much more united than it is divided when it comes to wanting gun sense, a term almost all of us can agree on...
By
Paul M. Banks,
January 2, 2018 at 9:36 pm
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Americans are more with Colin Kaepernick and the NFL players who protest racial injustice during the national anthem than the media likes to portray. The ideals of Kaepernick and his protesting brethren resonate with the people, but just like the Democratic party, there's a major messaging issue going on here.
Polls show that more Americans agree with the Democrats on the actual substance of the major issues than do not, but the left continues to lose the communications battle....
By
Paul M. Banks,
November 26, 2017 at 6:11 am
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If you’re not following
Mom's Demand Action Founder and
Everytown for Gun Safety activist
Shannon Watts on Twitter, then you really should be. In the wake of the Sutherland Springs mass shooting, she truly put
Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his place.
Abbott did the stereotypical meaningless and completely cliche “thoughts and prayers” bit, and as you obviously know, thinking and praying is not taking action. If you clicked on this, then you most likely read or would be interested in reading
our essay on the total worthlessness that is the act of tweeting thoughts and prayers...
By
Paul M. Banks,
November 20, 2017 at 4:38 pm
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Desi Lydic is a comedian/actress who became a correspondent on
The Daily Show in September of 2015. She also stars as guidance counselor Valerie Marks on the MTV comedy-drama series
Awkward.
Lydic got her start in the 2001 parody film
Not Another Teen Movie, and her previous credits include We Bought a Zoo, Legally Blonde 2, Two and a Half Men, CSI: NY and The League...
By
Paul M. Banks,
October 25, 2017 at 8:04 pm
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While
The Daily Show has now wrapped in Chicago, you still have a chance to catch the comedy program's
Donald J. Trump Twitter Presidential Library.
It's hilarious, interactive and thought-provoking, so you don't want to miss it this weekend.
The satirical library, which both lampoons Presidential libraries while poking fun at the president’s strong distaste for reading, will occupy the Burlington Room in Union Station (225 S. Canal) and be free of charge to all. It's a pretty extensive and impressive collection...
By
Paul M. Banks,
October 20, 2017 at 12:09 am
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