Another horrific incident led S.C. Rep. Wendell Gilliard to do what he’s done many times in career: bemoan the continuing scourge of gun violence and call for change. This time, the spark was the recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, which rocked both red and blue America.
Something Charleston’s Gilliard said stood out.
“We must recognize that there are currently over 436 million guns circulating in America, surpassing our population. Since the shooting of President Reagan in 1981, gun violence has remained a serious problem, with a particular focus on assault weapons,” said Gilliard, a longtime proponent of tougher gun laws.
Four hundred thirty six million guns. That’s 100 million more than the number of people in the country. It’s 100 million more than 25 years ago.
And that estimate may be low, according to an analysis by The Trace, a publication reporting on gun violence: “We found that more than 494 million firearms have been produced for the U.S. market since 1899, and the pace of that production has been increasing. This figure includes imports from foreign gunmakers, but excludes exports by domestic gunmakers.”
In his statement on the violent attempt on Trump’s life, Gilliard said he recalled other fatal shootings, including those of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Bobby, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
“These events not only shook our nation to its core but also sparked a wave of positive change, as good men and women stepped up and became more actively involved in the political process,” he said. “Now, more than ever, our country needs positive-minded individuals who are committed to making a difference.”
So let’s conclude with what the Charleston City Paper asked in a new editorial: “So what’s it going to take for serious, bipartisan and real action on reducing gun violence in America, a nation that has more guns than people? Another assassination attempt? More school shootings? An attempted coup?
“Our nation, a tinderbox of division, avoided a tragedy Saturday when a 20-year-old Pennsylvania shooter failed to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Penn. In the days ahead, there will be lots of questions about how the shooter was able to access a line-of-sight shooting position and which security agencies failed and why.
“But what must not be lost in this time of national angst is the common understanding that we live in a gun culture in which violence is an answer to volatility too much of the time. As Democratic and many Republican leaders have said, it’s time to ratchet down incendiary rhetoric and unify – something current President Joe Biden and challenger Donald Trump agree on.
“Biden: ‘We’re neighbors or friends, coworkers, citizens. Most importantly, we are fellow Americans, we must stand together … We can’t allow this violence to be normalized. I believe politics ought to be an arena for peaceful debate.’
“Trump: ‘In this moment, it is more important than ever that we stand united, and show our true character as Americans, remaining strong and determined, and not allowing evil to win.’
“So what can we do, particularly in an environment in which tragic shootings of children in schools all over the country didn’t galvanize the forces of bipartisan change?
“First, we must recognize there is a partisan divide fueled by the gun lobby. Republican leaders need to wake up and understand they’re being used as pawns too often. Democrats haven’t ‘taken away their guns,’ but instead want some responsible policy offerings, such as bans on the kind of assault rifle used to attack Trump, to be enacted in a bipartisan manner.
“And Democratic leaders can stop vilifying Republicans for standing up for Second Amendment rights. Rather, they can use this moment in time to sit down anew and focus on realistic strategies to reduce gun violence so we don’t have more school shootings and assassination attempts.
“Gun violence is out of control. Let’s use this narrow window of opportunity to pull together as a nation and make America safer, not just greater.”
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper.
