Hope for gun control dims in the darkness of self-interest

 The outcome is uncertain and hope dims and cries and reason go unheard.

If not a sin, this selfish blind politicking, is at least self-centered disregard for the common good and the welfare of others. 

 It holds up self-indulgent individualism and self-love as a constitutional right.  Where concern for others should drive compassionate sacrifice, it only fuels party politics and personal agenda.  Even the passionate pleas from families of the Newtown victims and Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was severely injured in a gun attack in Tucson in 2011, many in power are not moved and there is little concern shown  by those who feel the right to own any kind of gun out weighs common sense and the rights of others.

It is saddening that even a watered down and an embarrassing weak measure that would fall far short of the package of reforms urged by Obama in the weeks after Newtown, including restoring a Clinton-era ban on assault weapons and limiting the size of magazine clips will fail to get the votes needed. But, even this limited and surly reasonable measures have met opposition in Congress which has been bolstered by fierce lobbying by the National Rifle Association, which raised record amounts of money in the months after Newtown to lobby politicians, and has threatened political retribution against any that voted for the Toomey-Manchin proposal.  

 Yes, it would not eliminate guns, but any measure that goes any distance to help keep the insane amount of guns on the street is good.  Can reasonable citizens own a hunting or target shooting rifle, why not.  Should they be able to own a machine gun or military style assault weapon -WHY!

If not a sin this political action taken by those who fear any changes in the gun laws is at least a crime against the innocent and a sorry victory of self-interest over selflessness.  This is no way to love one another as Christ has loved us.