On Monday in Boston, we were assaulted by two bombings carried out by unknown assailants for unknown reasons. This stealth act of terrorism, perpetrated on unsuspecting, peaceful and innocent civilians needs to be called out for what it is: cowardice.
On Wednesday in the United States Senate, we were assaulted by the tyranny of the National Rifle Association when forty-five sycophant Senators voted against background checks for gun purchases and transfers for reasons that they can neither articulate nor defend without deceit or deflection.
Today, Thursday April 18, 2013, is the anniversary of the day when two hundred and thirty-eight years ago men of courage stood up against tyranny at the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Two hundred and thirty-eight years ago today, a handful of determined farmers standing in for hundreds of thousands of their fellow citizens fought against a tyrant that neither represented nor honored the interests of the people.
Yesterday, forty-five senators grossly dishonored the spirit of that first Patriot’s Day. Yesterday, forty-five senators buckled to the tyranny of the National Rifle Association, and refused to fight for the interests of the 90% of the American people who support background checks as a measure to guard against guns falling into the hands of criminals and terrorists. Yesterday, forty-five senators betrayed their duty to represent their constituents and chose instead to succumb to the tyranny of the NRA representing not the American people but gun manufacturers and arms dealers.
The “no” vote by these forty-five senators needs to be called out for what it is: cowardice.
As yet, we have no names or motive to attach to the cowards responsible for the carnage in Boston. But we do have the names of each and every one of the senators whose shameful votes yesterday will contribute to the continued carnage made possible by the unfettered sale and distribution of guns and assault weapons to individuals with no precautions legislated for background checks.
Should you chose to voice your outrage at their betrayal of the values of representative government for which American patriots have fought and sacrificed for two hundred and thirty-eight years, here are the twitter handles of those cowardly senators:
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) — @SenAlexander
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) — @KellyAyotte
Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) — @SenJohnBarrasso
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) — @MaxBaucus
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) — @SenatorBegich
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) — @RoyBlunt
Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) — @JohnBoozeman
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) — @SenatorBurr
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) — @SaxbyChambliss
Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) — @SenDanCoats
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) — @TomCoburn
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) — @SenThadCochran
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) — @SenBobCorker
Sen. Jon Cornyn (R-Texas) — @JohnCornyn
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) — @MikeCrapo
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) — @SenTedCruz
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) — @SenatorEnzi
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) — @SenatorFischer
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) — @JeffFlake
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) — @GrahamBlog
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) — @ChuckGrassley
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) — @SenOrrinHatch
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) — @SenatorHeitkamp
Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) — @SenDeanHeller
Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) — @SenJohnHoeven
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) — @jiminhofe
Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) — @SenatorIsakson
Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) — @Mike_Johanns
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) — @SenRonJohnson
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) — @SenMikeLee
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) — @McConnellPress
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) — @JerryMoran
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) — @lisamurkowski
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) — @SenRandPaul
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) — @robportman
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) — @SenMarkPryor
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) — @SenatorRisch
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) — @SenPatRoberts
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — @marcorubio
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) — @SenatorTimScott
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) — @SenatorSessions
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) — @SenShelbyPress
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) — @SenJohnThune
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) — @DavidVitter
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) — @SenatorWicker
Related Readings:
“Shame On You!”: Senate Rejects Gun Background Check Compromise
WATCH: President Obama Slams ‘Shameful Day For Washington’ After Senate Kills Gun Bill
Catholic bishops: Background check vote shows a ‘failure in moral leadership’