Suffer the children

(RNS) As news about shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., began to spread last week, I could hear the gun lobby’s spin-masters kicking into high gear.

Don’t “politicize” a tragedy in order to deprive people of their constitutional rights, went the line. Our hands weren’t on those triggers.

Unless politicians summon previously unseen courage to face down the makers of assault rifles and high-powered pistols, 100-round clips and so-called “cop killer” ammo, the weapons industry could receive another free pass.

As Newtown joins Columbine and Aurora and other communities in the unique agony of massacres by guns, the weapons industry will continue to profit handsomely from arming Americans intent on murdering their families, their neighbors, strangers at malls and theaters, college students and little children — not to mention rival gang members, store owners, police officers, and politicians.

The commercializing of misery in America has gone beyond belief. This week it was another gun-toting loner on a rampage. Not long ago, it was the legalization of marijuana, a devastating drug that cripples the lives of users and leads them to worse drugs.

Also profiting are those who fuel the disease of alcoholism, causing billions of dollars of lost work time, medical expense, driving accidents, ruined pregnancies, and shattered families.

Plus the states that balance their budgets by pushing lotteries.

Plus food manufacturers who knowingly lead schoolchildren into obesity and adults into heart disease.

Plus the ever-resilient tobacco industry, which takes its lumps in court and then continues to sell addictive cancer sticks to fellow Americans.

Plus mortgage lenders and credit card issuers who prey on naivete and desperation.

Plus electronic game makers who teach children to consider anger and violence as normal responses to adversity.

Misery attracts commercial predators as carrion attracts vultures and vulnerability attracts coyotes. [More]

SOURCE

Religion News Service