The pledge reads, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” However, if you have ever attended any Republications’ gathering, you might think it is actually “Under Gun.” Why?

By A. Govea

Does the gun lobby pay all of us? No, but they seem to have most of the GOP in their back pocket. Since Governor Abbot was elected in Texas, the gun laws have become some of the most relaxed in the nation. About a year ago, the Texas Republican-controlled state lawmakers removed one of the last gun restrictions in Texas, background checks, mandatory training, and licensing. This change was soon after the Walmart shooting in El Paso.

This Friday, the biggest gun lobby will gather in Houston to thank Abbot and his water boys for doing as “They are told to do.” Meanwhile, according to reporting in Washington Post, at least 554 children, educators, and school staff have been victims of school shootings since 1999. In 1999 after Columbine, most Americans thought the horrific incident would create an uprising that would change gun laws forever.

Well, of course, it didn’t, and now add 19 more children and two educators to that list. And unfortunately, it has been reported that the number may grow. When is enough? People on the scene reported a father crying on his phone, saying, “She is gone,” and a mother shaking her fist, stamping her feet, and crying uncontrollably. As of this writing, it is believed all the reported killed were from the same fourth-grade class. Think about what that horror must have been like for those children and their teachers.

That thought and image should haunt all of us, the so-called responsible adults that let them down. Most of us profess to be Christians and take care of our fellow men/women. Pero prayer without action does no one any good except maybe it makes you feel good about yourself. In England, they have had one mass shooting since 2010. In Texas, there has had 129 or more. America has had 57 times more school shootings than any other major industrialized nation. There have been 288 school shootings since 2009.

This violence is happening in a nation with God in its pledge. God should ask to have his name removed until we do better.

The families of all those killed or injured need your prayers today; pray for them today. Pero tomorrow and the next day, make it “Your Responsibility” to work for gun laws that save people. Do it in the name of the children that will never have an opportunity to vote. Contact all your local, state, and national elected officials and demand that the gun laws in our state and nation Change and Save Lives! And only Vote for people that are willing to stand up to the Gun Lobby. Our children are watching and waiting.