Speaker Paul Ryan Is The Tail, NRA The Dog

It was perhaps the most dramatic event that has occurred in the House of Representatives since the last impeachment proceedings.  Every person in the nation soon took notice when Congressman John Lewis and his fellow Democrats made their way to the center of the House floor and stated they would not be leaving until the leadership placed a gun control measure before the body.  Social media went into over-drive.  Many people who felt that congress did not hear the voices in the hinterlands about the never-ending amount of gun violence wanted to learn more about the tactic.

Following the horrific and deadliest mass murder by a gunman in our nation’s history there has been a clamor for congress to act on some common sense gun control legislation.   What has been discussed is not revolutionary.   It is, in fact, rather small in comparison to the solutions that need to be implemented.

Demanding a background system that has time to work prior to a gun purchase, not allowing people on watch lists from obtaining a weapon, and denying those on the no-fly list from purchasing a gun are all the common-sense measures that the populace strongly supports.

But there are some lobbyists at the National Rifle Association who absolutely demand Speaker Paul Ryan not bend or compromise to the Democrats in congress who seek a more sane way for guns to be bought in this nation.

But more importantly the NRA is telling Ryan to ignore the compelling pleas from the citizenry across the nation who have expressed their desire to not allow terrorists to purchase guns.  Ryan has downplayed the legitimate reasons Democrats took to the floor.  He cheapened the loss of life in Orlando by not recognizing the real concerns felt in neighborhoods all over the country when it comes to gun violence.

Ryan also made the November elections a lot more enticing for Democrats.  With his political blunder Ryan has now helped create the 30-second ads that will feature an incumbent congressional Republican with the tag line that reads “Would Not Vote To Stop Terrorists From Buying A Gun”.

The issue I have with Ryan on this matter is that I know him to be a policy wonk.  He knows deep within the gun control measures are needed and should be passed immediately.  But his partisan steak and purposes do not allow him to act as his mind would dictate.    He has allowed the NRA to control him, and sadder still, the levers of power in the house.

Once again, the voters are watching as the tail wags the dog.

And more people will die as a result from guns.