She doesn’t get half the press as her more media-friendly colleagues of the freshman class, but Lucy McBath is also a star whose brilliance shines as brightly as any of them. She is proving that the only thing that stops a powerful blood-soaked lobby with guns, is a determined, motivated mother and a Congress willing to act to protect its collective constituency.
Let’s give Lucy McBath her respect.
We were all introduced to Ms. McBath In November of 2012 when her only child became the victim of an entitled white man who was emboldened to act on his racism only because he had a gun. (Do we really think he’d have challenged those four kids to a fisticuff without his gun?) While we were yet mourning the unjust murder of Trayvon Martin we were hit with this fresh horror: another 17-year black boy unjustifiably shot dead in Florida. Lucy McBath, going through what I know to be the darkest days of her life, knew one thing for sure: the laws pertaining to guns in this country must be changed. She rolled up her sleeves and went to work.
Before running for Congress, Lucy held dual roles as the national spokesperson for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, as well as Faith and Outreach Leader for both. Her work included testifying in state capitols and speaking with lawmakers, activists, universities and community organizers across the county. In Washington, D.C. she has testified before the US Senate Judiciary Committee, lobbied members of Congress, and spoke at the White House Summit on Educational Excellence for African Americans. She served as a surrogate for the Hillary Clinton for President campaign in 2016 as one of the “Mothers of The Movement”. Here at home, McBath lobbies Georgia’s Congressional, State House and State Senate delegations to enact common sense gun violence prevention laws that save lives.
And then she ran for office and won.
Nine other Representatives joined the congresswoman in co-sponsoring the historic gun reform legislation that passed the House last Wednesday.
The Bipartisan Background Check Act of 2019 (H.R. 8), which would require background checks for all gun purchases across the country, passed 240-190, gaining the support of nearly all Democrats and eight Republicans.
What does it mean?
-The legislation mandates background checks be performed on all gun sales, including firearm purchases made privately, whether it be online or at gun shows. Under current law, only licensed gun dealers are required to conduct a background check for someone seeking to obtain a gun.
The law will put a major dent in our free-wheeling gun culture.
Lucy McBath had reasons to be proud:
Know that the NRA fought long and hard long to thwart the will of the people and their duly elected representatives. But It is with malicious glee that I share the hopeful news that the glory days of that organization may be numbered. They are going down! It is quite unlikely that Russia will be replenishing their depleting bank account anytime soon and some American gun owners are signaling that they no longer want to share their hard-earned money with Wayne Lapierre. No money in the coffers will mean no money to buy off corruptible congresscritters. No money in the coffers will mean no money to influence elections. Yep, the times they are a-changing.
The National Rifle Association of America reported $98 million in contributions in 2017, down from nearly $125 million in 2016, according to new tax records obtained by The Daily Beast. Nearly one-fifth of its contributions last year came from a single anonymous donor, who chipped in nearly $19 million to the group.
More noteworthy than its drop in contributions, though, was its decline in membership dues. The NRA took in more than $128 million in dues last year—a significant sum, but down considerably from the $163 million it took in the year prior.
Now is the time to hit them while they are down. We are entertaining ideas as to how to make them even more unhappy. Have any projects you wanna share?
Chances are, Representative McBath efforts — and that of Gabby Giffords, Nancy Pelosi, and all the other peace-loving patriots — will hit a temporary roadblock in the Senate as presently constituted. If McTurtle remains true to form, the bill will not even be put up for a vote. Not to worry, 2020 is just around the corner and I have it on good authority that the political arm of the NRA — the Republikkklans — will not be in a position to stop this bill then.
Rest in peace, Jordan. I know that you are just beaming with pride at your mom.