Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDog
One might believe, judging by the amount of media coverage dedicated to the significance of the flag's removal, that everything WILL be "all good." I agree with the writer:
I'm happy the flag is coming down. But it's a knee jerk reaction. Does anyone believe that had it been removed in 2000 instead of relocated to the confederate soldiers memorial this shooting would not have occurred? Likewise, does anyone believe that any of the gun laws proposed after Sandy Hook would have prevented it?
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I agree that hate and violence won't stop with the removal of a symbol, or gun laws but that's not the point....when one perceives something as "wrong", one is obligated to try and fix it. The rebel flag is an affront to not only blacks but all folks who see it as both a reminder of past and present racism. I support rational gun laws, the ones that restrict automatic and semi-automatic weapons, require background checks for everyone desiring to purchase any gun and regulates the sale and transportation of lethal weapons. I also support reforms and increased funding for the mental health system, coupled with a national data base allowing professionals to identify potential violent folks and a process allowing said folks to get treatment. None of this will stop violence, but it will, in my opinion, be steps in the right direction. Again, removal of the rebel flag from government domains isn't a knee-jerk reaction rather a long overdue reform.