Don Lemon on guns

Last Sunday another madman killed 26 people in church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. I was groping for words to discuss yet another mass shooting, the why, the how. I heard Don Lemon's remarks Monday night and I want to share them:

"Please pay attention. If you are doing something, I really want your attention this evening, and with an open mind. How many more times are we going to have to do this? Mourn with people we don't know, but meet under the most horrific circumstances, their loved ones' lives snuffed out in an instant for no good reason. How many times are we going to look up at the TV and see and hear people grieving, sobbing their hearts out in front of the world, for the whole world to see. And before you even know the full story, the responses from our leaders are sadly as familiar as the details of the shootings. Cases in point. 

Paul Ryan: 'Reports out of Texas are devastating. The people of Sutherland Springs need our parayers right now.' 
Vice President Pence: 'Karen and I send prayers to vctims and their families in Texas...' 
John Cornyn: 'Truly heartbreaking news in Sutherland Springs. Please say a prayer for First Baptist congregation, first responders and the community there.' 
Joe Manchin, who tried and failed to pass bipartisan anti-gun measures after the Sandy Hook massacre, said this: 'Gayle and I are heartbroken to learn of the shooting in Sutherland Springs, TX. Sending prayers from West Virginia.' 
Ted Cruz: 'Keeping all harmed in Sutherland Springs in our prayers and grateful for our brave first responders on the scene.' 

Thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers. 

Don't get me wrong, prayers are important, they really are. But can we just be honest for a moment? 

This isn't about religion. It's not about politics. Democrats do it too. President Obama has responded similarly in other shootings...I'm not anti-thoughts-and-prayers, by any means. I grew up in the very religious deep South, a Baptist who went to a Catholic school where we prayed at least four times a day, plus mass on Fridays and church on Sundays, sometimes twice, so spare me the anti-religion tweats. You can keep them. I won't even read them. I don't care. 

These god fearing Christians were in church. They were already praying. Thoughts and prayer did not stop an oversight from the justice system, which enabled a guy who attacked his step-son and assaulted his wife, from getting a gun. 

Thoughts and prayers didn't stop a troubled person from buying assault grade weapons that took the lives of 26 people in an instant. 

And please don't get me wrong. This is not at all about the second amendment, or taking guns out of the hands of responsible gun owners. I am a firm believer in the second amendment. I'll say that again. I am a firm believer in the second amendment. I grew up with hunters, family members, friends, all around me, Louisiana, it's all about hunting. 

I also think responsible adults should be able to protect their homes, their property, and themselves.

But think about this: how many guns, and of what caliber, does one person need? Does a civilian really need an arsenal? Does a civilian really need body armour? Those are good questions that we should all be asking. Maybe you think they should [have an aresenal], but we should at least be asking those questions. Those are the questions our leaders should be debating. 

Our leaders should be leading, not following, not afraid to be honest with their constituents, even when it is unpopular...especially when, really, it is the constituents' lives that are at stake.

Leaders stand up to lobbyists.

Yes, thoughts and prayers are important, so tonight I hope you will join me in praying that our leaders will actually do something of substance and action this time, that precludes another thoughts-and-prayers moment.

Remember this: faith, without works, is dead.

Now let's begin."