The NRA Is Wrong: Guns Do Kill People, as the Pittsburgh Shootings Show
By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.
We should all bow our heads in silence for three police officers slain over the weekend by a 23-year-old alleged gunman apparently gone mad by the name of Richard Poplawski:
The three slain officers were Eric Kelly, 41, Stephen Mayhle, 29, and Paul Sciullo III, 37. Kelly had been on the force for 14 years, Mayhle and Sciullo for two years each. Another officer, Timothy McManaway, was shot in the hand and a fifth broke his leg on a fence.
Poplawski had gunshot wounds in his legs but was otherwise unharmed because he was wearing a bulletproof vest, Harper said. He was charged with three counts of homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons violation.
The shooting occurred just two weeks after four police officers were fatally shot in Oakland, Calif., in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001. The officers were the first Pittsburgh city officers to die in the line of duty in 18 years.
Poplawski allegedly mowed down the police officers with an AK-47. News reports said he was lying in wait for them, and the officers lay bleeding to death in the street before backups could secure the area and try to save them. There is no reason in the world why any American should be allowed to own an assault weapon, much less a meandering loser who was booted out of Marine boot camp for throwing a tray at an officer (an indication of his violent proclivities). But if the charges are true, Poplawski should serve as a poster child for the NRA:
Poplawski feared "the Obama gun ban that's on the way" and "didn't like our rights being infringed upon," said Edward Perkovic, his best friend.
Some progressive websites are blaming Poplawski's actions, in part, on right-wing commentators who are stirring up gun owners.
It's time America came to its senses again on gun control. Seven officers of the law being mowed down in two weeks is too many. Any is too many. But if you listen to the NRA, guns don't kill people, people kill people. Could Poplawski have killed these Pittsburgh police without all his sophisticated weaponry? Heck no!
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Reader Comments
Cars kill people
Several years ago in Green Bay we had a young driver purposely drive into a police car killing both officers. CARS DO KILL PEOPLE. We also had a deputy sheriff murder 6 young people in Crandon, Wi. I think it is time we disarm the police. Do you agree?
Guns killing people
I am not going sit here and call you stupid or any other harsh names, I just want to say you are missed informed. I am ex-military I have never seen a gun jump up on it on accord an kill someone, to this day I still go to the shooting range and expend many rounds from my so call assault rifles and hand guns, The gun is just a tool to be used for defense, to hunt, recreation or murder. like a hammer it can not be use unless it is in someone's hand (a hammer can be use to kill someone, will they ban hammers?)it is true when it is said "Guns don't kill people, it is the person behind the gun pulling the trigger". If you are behind the wheel of a car or trunk and you have the urge to kill some one you will use that vehicle as a weapon. there is no gun that will think I am going to kill something today
Bonnie are you stupid?
How whacky is this article? All you prved is your hatred for guns. Using your pen to push your feelings? I've been around alot of guns in my life and I never saw one shoot anyone. With-out someone standing behind the sights guns don't do anything. Car are more dangerious, people break laws almost every time they get behind the wheel, speeding, DUI, seat belts, baby seats Etc... How many people were killed last year by guns? How many were killed by cars? Oh you make us all throw-up with your ignorance.
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