The News Courier encourages letters to the editor. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and include name, address and telephone number for verification. Submissions that do not meet requirements are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one published letter every 30 days. Send letters to P.O. Box 670, Athens AL 35613 or email to adam@athensnews-courier.com. The deadline for letters is Thursday at noon.

The NRA and blood money

Dear Editor:

When I was in the eighth grade I was accidentally shot with a .22 rifle while playing with friends.

That being said, it seems that if an incident doesn’t directly effect a person, they are not moved. I hope no one has to go through being shot for them to realize assault weapons should be banned.

How many more people are going to have to die before people come to their senses? The students of Lakeland, Florida, and others, are doing the only thing that they can do. That is turn to the leaders of the nation for help, and if that doesn’t work, get them voted out of office.

How many deaths must come before it overrides the political bribery, aka political donations, our elected officials accept from the NRA? How much more money are they willing to take in the future to make them vote for more deaths? This is nothing but blood money.

Weapons, like the one used in Lakeland, are military killing machines. Yet, for a few thousand dollars, elected officials uphold the NRA as if it were a government agency and their offices depended on it. The NRA is solely out there, not to protect the Second Amendment as intended or the people of the USA, but to protect the businesses that sell guns and ammo. The NRA is there just to keep the gun business in business.

The following figures are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more. All donations were made during the 2016 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission. Figures for the current election cycle are based on data released May 16, 2017:

• Mo Brooks: $1,000 in 2016, $5,000 overall;

• Richard Shelby: $4,950 in 2016, $21,350 overall;

• Robert Aderholt: $3,500 in 2016, $44,739 overall;

• Mike Rogers: $2,000 in 2016, $38,850 overall; and

• Martha Roby: $2,000 in 2016, $8,000 overall.

I will tell you what is going to make America great again and it’s not Trump, Democrats or Republicans, but legislators who listen to their constituents and do the right thing. Ban assault weapons now, ban bump stocks for those assault weapons already out there and ban high-capacity clips for these hateful vile weapons of mass destruction.

Lastly, tighten up gun restrictions (close loopholes) and vote for universal background checks for any gun sold.

Sincerely,

Kelly Range

Athens