by Lindsey Donovan, USA Today, March 29, 2017 [All 3 Chester County congressmen–Reps. Costello (R-6), Meehan (R-7) and Smucker (R-16)–voted for the bill, which passed the US House on March 16 and went to the Senate. See Tom Buglio’s comment on HR 1181 here.].
This isn’t about the Second Amendment. It’s about protecting those who served us so bravely.
I am a proud veteran of the Army. The seven Army Values are a part of my moral DNA. Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage are at the heart of who I am today.
These values serve as the backbone to every servicemember who has served or is still serving in our armed forces, and they deserve better than what our federal lawmakers have given them. Instead of protecting our most vulnerable veterans — men and women with severe mental illness — the House recently passed a bill that made it easier for them to get guns.
Our veteran population is facing a devastating suicide crisis. Every day, 20 veterans take their lives — not surprisingly, two-thirds of them use a gun. And the veteran suicide rate is more than 20% higher than for civilian Americans. Yet in the midst of this crisis, our elected officials voted to remove from the background check system nearly 170,000 records of veterans with severe mental illnesses. These veterans will now be able to purchase and possess firearms, even if they have been determined to be incapable of managing their own affairs….
read more at USA Today
GunSenseUs 