Enough is Enough Part 2

Only two weeks ago, I wrote a blog post called, "Enough is Enough" about the murder-suicide of Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend Kasandra Perkins and how there is a need for stricter gun control laws. I discussed how politicians have mainly stayed away from this controversial topic probably because they are worried about their own reelection. However, this past Thursday, another horrible and tragic event occurred at a school in Connecticut. A 20 year old man entered Sandy Hook Elementary school and murdered 12 little girls and 8 little boys all of the ages six through seven. The gunman also killed his own mother, as well as seven other adults including the school principal, psychologist, and teachers. While it is still early for all of the facts of exactly what happened, the nation is now being brought back to the debate of gun control.

The democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein from California has been the first senator since the tragedy to present a bill for immediate action against assault weapons. According to the article on the Huffington Post the bill to be presented to Congress, "will ban the sale, transfer, importation, and possession" of military-style assault weapons, and "ban the sale of clips of more then ten bullets." I agree with Senator Feinstein and the immediate need to ban military style assault weapons. United States citizens do not need these types of weapons, even if they argue the Second Amendment allows them to bare arms.

It is hard to describe just how horrific this event was, but what happened has happened. Now the only thing to do is remember the very young victims as well as the school principal, psychologist, and the brave teachers who sacrificed their own lives to protect their students. What America can only do now is demand immediate action from their Senators and House members to pass bills that allow much stricter gun control laws. What do you think? Do you think after this horrible tragedy the American public will finally demand action?

           A image from Friday after the shooting shows children being led out of the elementary school.

$5 T-Shirts Over Human Rights

I have to admit, before this past Friday, I had never really given much thought to where my clothes have been made. I knew that they were manufactured in some country far away, but that a word like “slavery” could be tied to the clothes I wear everyday had never even occurred to me.

On Thursday in class, we continued our discussion involving slavery in the United States in the 1800’s. It was hard to imagine that a “progressive” country like the United States could of ever allowed that to happen just about 200 years ago. However, after the class discussion in class on Thursday and reading the front cover article in the New York Times on Friday morning it is now occurring to me that the United States support of slavery 200 years and even today, is not so hard to believe.

The New York Times article by Jim Yardley discusses a horrible garment factory fire in Ashulia, Bangladesh where 112 workers were killed last month. The factory called Tazreen Fashions, made clothes for major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Sears. The factory itself was a dangerous place to work, according to the article, “Fire safety preparations were woefully inadequate” and “Mounds of flammable yarn and fabric were illegally stored on the ground floor near electrical generators.”  Clearly, this factory was far from prepared for such a fire and because of that, the result is the loss of 112 innocent people. However, who’s responsibility was it for the factory to be prepared? Tazreen Fashions or Walmart, Target, and Sears?

As tragic as this event was, it should not of come to a surprise to anyone. This type of event has happened repeatedly. The first major event like this was in 1911 with the Triangle Factory fire with the death of 146 people. However, the main question to be asked now is if Americans will take action against future factory fires like this. It would be easy for Americans who shop at stores such as Walmart, Target, and Sears to demand better conditions and pay in the clothing factories that produce their clothes. But are Americans willing to give up their $5 t-shirts or $10 jeans so that workers in these factories can have basic human rights given to them? How many more people are going to be killed in horrific garment factory fires before Americans take action? 

Enough Is Enough

This week,  a horrible tragedy occurred that I believe, happens way to often. Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher committed a murder-suicide of himself as well as his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins. Clearly, something horrible must of happened to Mr. Belcher that made him decide to end his life as well as his girlfriends, but the real question comes back to the gun. When will the United States finally address gun control? And how many more tragedies are going to happen before this extremely important issue is finally addressed on the national stage?

I believe the issue of gun control has been put off for way to long. Clearly, many politicians try to avoid this topic because of how controversial it is, and the many different view points on it. To try to bring it up could be costly to their possible election or reelection, so the topic continues to go untouched. Right off the bat, the Second Amendment in the Constitution states, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." Because of how this is the second amendment, it shows the importance of it to the Founding Fathers. However, the views today vary on not on if it is a constitutional right, but to what extent it is and the laws each individual states pass.

Personally, I believe in strict gun control laws. I think that these laws could stop irresponsible people from obtaining laws as well as any potential shootings that could occur because of that. From the mass shootings at a movie theater in Colorado to a United States House member, Gabby Giffords, being seriously injured from a gun shot wound to even right here in Chicago. What do you think? What are your opinions on gun control?