(ThyBlackMan.com) The President of the United States does not believe our country is facing a crisis in the area of gun control. Las Vegas saw hundreds perish in a mass shooting, and now a small town in Texas is reeling from the pain of a gunman walking into a church opening fire killing over 20 people. No place in this country is safe, nor sacred. In the aftermath of the shooting in Texas Senator Paul Ryan encouraged Americans to pray, and the president excused the act as one of mental illness. In this moment, the safety of the nation is being defined. We elect members of congress to pass needed legislation; we don’t need them to tell us to pray. America needs them to do their job.
How many more mass shootings must this nation endure before we hold leadership accountable for the safety of America? When safety is put on the table many must acknowledge that the NRA, and 
trigger happy White Men threaten this nation. The members of congress that won’t dare confront the NRA, and gun control are, in large, White Men. There is a correlation here, and mental illness is the guise under which this nations safety will continue to be compromised.
It must be stated that the race issue regarding gun violence is in part the problem. When blacks are killed the outcry is not the same, if they are the shooter they are branded as thugs, of course if a person of Middle Eastern descent is the shooter they are terrorist. White men get the privilege of mental illness which takes attention away from the need for tighter gun regulation. It doesn’t matter who they kill, nor how many people, they are deemed as needing medical attention verses being labeled as the terrorist they are. In order for congress, and the white house, to take an honest look at gun laws they must be willing to tell the truth about gun violence. As white citizens, and babies, are killed in mass gun shooting this may force white voters to consider their understanding of gun regulations. No one is trying to take their guns away, nor their rights as Americans.
However, Americans are dying and it is happening in part due to the lack of necessary gun regulation. If seems as though congress has sold its soul to the NRA, and they seem to believe the argument that good citizens need to be able to defend themselves. Even if that is the case mentally ill persons should not be able to have access to guns. Furthermore, assault rifles should not be in the hands of citizens.
At the age of 16 Americans tend to look forward to getting a driver’s license which is a rite of passage to adulthood. However, everyone will not be eligible to operate a car. Certain illnesses would render one ineligible. These regulations don’t stop all car accidents, but it does help regulate the drivers on the road. Why is this so hard to understand when we talk of gun regulation? The problem is simple owning guns is a part of the white male identity in this country. White men tend to feel some level of control when carrying gun, and the assault rifle kind. They are not willing to give up one of the things that makes them feel both safe, and empowered. White men are afraid they are “losing” their country, and they realize black people also have guns. They want to protect what they feel belongs to them.
It’s important to mention all white men don’t have this issue, but enough do. It is important for Americans to realize what is happening, and be honest about it. Everyone is a terrorist but white men, who have terrorized this country more than anyone else. The president has not given the mental illness pass to anyone else, but a white male shooter who has killed 27 people. If Congress cares for the safety of this nation they must come to terms with the who threatens to peace. They must stand up to the NRA, which will require dealing with race, and pass proper gun legislation.
Staff Writer; Larry Jackson
LJ is an old school poet, new school writer… Also the “Web Admin” for the following blogs; ThyBlackMan, ThySistas, and BlackFitness101…
