The Toxic NRA Brand

It's taken far too long and cost far too much blood and tears, but the NRA brand is finally becoming toxic. A growing list of airlines (United and Delta), rental car companies (Enterprise, Hertz, pretty much all of them), insurance companies (Chubb, Met) and Symantec virus protection are cutting corporate ties with the NRA. Pressure is coming down on Apple, Google, and Amazon to drop NRA TV from streaming services.

So they can't fly, rent a car or get insurance and we'll be able to hack their computers before long. And they won't be able to watch TV or use a cell phone when they start boycotting all these companies.

I can see the day rapidly coming when even some Republican politicians will be running from that NRA "A" ranking, returning or rejecting campaign cash and declining their support.

It's a long overdue and welcome change to the discussion.

And a child shall lead us.

Amen.

Tipping Point and 3 Questions

Have we reached a tipping point in the gun debate? It’s been a week since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida. I am sensing something different in the tone.

It’s a combination of things. This is a major, nationally publicized shooting at a high school in the social media age. These kids are angry, they know how to communicate and they don’t give a damn about protocol and politeness. Politicians have done nothing to address the problem of gun violence and the kids are calling them out for it.

Second, it feels like the NRA brand is getting toxic. The NRA crowd is attacking survivors and other kids who are speaking out against gun violence and demanding action. It’s ugly.

Which brings me to three questions for local political leaders, in several parts:

1.     US Congressman Rob Woodall took $2,000 in NRA cash. Will he return it? He voted for concealed carry reciprocity which would allow people from states with little or no licensing required to carry weapons license free in Georgia. Any regrets on this vote?

2.     Georgia State Representative Todd Jones (R-25), bragged in his campaign literature here (http://jonesfor.us/dont-believe-the-last-minute-smears/) that he achieved the “highest ranking…from the NRA.” Is he still proud of this “honor?” Any regrets on the vote for Campus Carry?

3.     Greg Dolezal, running to replace Michael William as our state senator, has removed Michael from his “steering committee” on his website. He was there last fall. Was it the protest outside the high school in Cherokee county, the bump stock giveaway after the Las Vegas shooting or something else? Also, on his website he promises to “support and expand 2^nd amendment rights.” In the last few years Georgia Republicans have expanded the presence of guns into bars, churches, parks, areas of the airport and most recently college campuses. Where else would he like to expand them to? Under the Gold Dome possibly?

These kids are holding their leaders accountable in a way the grown ups never have. We need to stand behind them.

And a child shall lead them.

Amen. 

Day 2

Day 2 of my Lenten fast begins. The thing on my mind this morning is impact fees. I saw on the news last night that Go Fund Me accounts have been set up for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Because medical care is not a basic right in this country, and I am sure many of the victims' parents were not responsible enough to have money set aside to bury their teenagers.

An estimate a few years back pegged the annual cost of gun violence in the US at $229 billion. That's direct costs for healthcare and funeral expenses, plus other costs such as incarcerating the perpetrators and lost wages for the victims. 

How about an impact fee, on every gun, bullet, scope, and associated gear. I don't mean to boil this notional tragedy and embarrassment down to dollars and cents, but at a minimum it seems that people who choose not to play have to bear the cost of all the hobbyist, patriots, etc out there who want to be heavily armed.

And while we are at it, let’s make sure it covers the cost of metal detectors and armed security in every school. And the cost of training teachers and administrators to carry guns. And we also need to cover the cost of a national mental health program. Actually, I’d be happy to kick in for that one.
This is not an uncommon thing. Impact fees are often charged on new development projects and the cost of guns and ammunition are in some ways artificially underpriced because manufacturers and distributors are protected from the normal products liability exposures on other consumer goods. When you buy a can of Coke, or a hammer or a baseball bat, their is products liability insurance covering these items in cases anyone is harmed by them. Not the case with firearms, since there is no exposure.

On one hand, a financial approach feels less satisfying than more direct attacks on the problem of gun violence. On the other hand, tax evasion put Capone away.

Whatever it takes.

Amen.

Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day and Parkland, Florida

Ash Wednesday. Valentine's Day. 17 dead at a school shooting in Florida. What will I do this time.

I keep saying when will somebody do something. Politicians, religious leaders. When will "they" do "something". Meanwhile I rant and rage and fume and scroll Facebook looking for opinions I agree with mine to say Hell Yes to or opinions I disagree with to stew on or argue with or mute or unfriend.

And nothing changes. And nothing will as long as I wait for somebody to do something.

The messages I heard at the Ash Wednesday service yesterday told me to return to the Lord with all my heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning (Joel). The Book of Common Prayer invites us to observe Lent

"by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and
meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning
of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now."

This is where I am headed for the next few days. I don't know where the journey will take me. I am sure that God puts too much on my heart each time this happens to be satisfied with virtual "shouts" for somebody to do something.

Amen

That's not pro-life

A few recent events:

• Congress fails to renew the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) putting health insurance for 9 million low income kids at risk. 
• 59 dead in a mass shooting in Las Vegas followed by the predictable silence combined with a defense of the everyone’s right to own 43 guns by the Republicans.
• The president threatening to cut off aid to Puerto Rico out because his feeling were apparently hurt by the mayor of San Juan. The island is still largely without power and drinking water and reports of disease are starting to spread.
• Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue yesterday floated the idea of cutting working people from food stamps. 
• And in the last 24 hours, actions by Trump to destabilize the (admittedly flawed) Obamacare market will likely cause millions to lose coverage and access to healthcare when subsidies are cancelled. Various estimates from the CBO and the New England Journal of Medicine estimate between 26,000 and 96,00 deaths due to the loss of insurance coverage. 

This administration and the Republican Party have long claimed to be the “pro-life” party. These are not “pro-life” positions. Pro-life means access to health-care and prenatal care. It means living wages and drug treatment programs and an end to mass incarceration so families can stay together. Pro-life means working through diplomacy vs. intentionally agitating an unstable despot with war mongering rhetoric. I’ll leave it for the reader to decide if I am referring to Trump of Kim Jong-Un. It means ensuring access to education, nutrition, and clean air and water. It means reasonable controls on access to guns. And it means welcoming victims of war and famine sanctuary and safety in our country. Pro-life means honoring the basic dignity in all people.

This administration and the GOP congress claim to be pro-life, but their actions belie their words. Saying it doesn't make it so.