In an OpEd published on Medium, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois called for universal back ground checks and raising the legal age for gun purchases to 21.
Kinzinger also admitted that our country has a “gun violence epidemic,” which needs addressing by changing some laws and having more states enact ‘red flag’ laws.
“I believe it’s time for universal background checks for gun purchases, raising the age to 21 to purchase a firearm, and banning certain high capacity magazines, like the 100-round drum the Dayton shooter used this weekend.”
After stating some very logical and reasonable solutions, Kinzinger reverted to several Republican talking points:
“When people are told that there is no life after death, no accountability to God, and have no hope when life feels miserable, people succumb to the sadness, despair, and violence. “
He then added that violence seen on television, movies, video games and social media contribute to our culture of violence.
Kinzinger also said the media needed to serve the public better as opposed to serving their bottom line:
“News outlets need to stop naming mass shooters, showing pictures of them, publishing their insane manifestos, and unintentionally glorifying them to otherwise insane and desperate people. We know this leads to copycats, so rather than seeking more click-bait, let’s focus on the victims and pulling together for the communities.”
He finished his OpEd by pledging allegiance to the Second Amendment and calling Antifa activists, the Neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, and the shooter in El Paso “evildoers’ who are sowing domestic terrorism.
