Orlando Shooting + Gov’t Hypocrisy = Approval for US Weapons Spending Abroad, and Strict Gun Control at Home

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The shooting in Orlando, Florida has rekindled the conversation of gun rights, and the establishment has of course seized upon the tragedy to further their own agenda. According to reports, on the same day politicians “pushed for excessively strict gun control legislation,” the US Senate “overwhelmingly” approved a $602 billion defense bill (the NDAA) for the next year, even though President Obama warned that he would veto the bill because it would impede the closing of Guantanamo Bay.

Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have called for increased attacks against ISIS, who we can all agree are deplorable and deserve whatever crap can be dished out (fabulous makeovers, Anonymous), but who didn’t technically have anything to do with the Orlando shooting.

In a statement from Clinton:

“For now, we can say for certain that we need to redouble our efforts to defend our country from threats at home and abroad. That means defeating international terror groups, working with allies and partners to go after them wherever they are, countering their attempts to recruit people here and everywhere, and hardening our defenses at home.”

In an interview with “Fox and Friends,” Trump made this statement in regards to the shooting and ISIS:

“We have generals that feel we can win this thing so fast and so strong, but we have to be furious for a short period of time, and we’re not doing it!”

Despite the fact ISIS took no part in the massacre in Florida, it’s still being used as an additional excuse to provide the US military with an insane budget for yet another year. Not only does this continue to burden American taxpayers who are burdened enough (while lavishly feeding the military-industrial-complex), it is sure to result in additional civilian casualties overseas.

Meanwhile, when it comes to gun regulation inside the US, both Clinton and Trump are pushing for gun control legislation that is being described by many as excessive. It goes without saying that regulations of any sort should be present, otherwise politicians, corporations, and civilians alike would soon be out of control.

One such relevant topic on regulation that has arisen is whether or not civilians should have access to AR-15’s, which were once banned for civilian use, and is the weapon the Orlando shooter used. AR-15’s are military-grade weapons designed to take out multiple targets at once on the battlefield, and have no relevant use in legal activities—such as hunting and target practice—considering there are a multitude of other weapons that can accomplish the same means, but were not created with military-use in mind.

However, what both Clinton and Trump are proposing is that individuals who are placed on the highly controversial “Terror Watch List,” which according to the ACLU already had over a million people listed by 2007, be completely stripped of their 2^nd Amendment right to own firearms. This has of course alarmed gun rights and liberty advocates, such as the NRA, due to the broad nature of the list, and how easy it apparently is to be placed on it.

On a side-note, the NRA is in a bit of hot-water with the media, first over its lack of response to the Orlando massacre, and then to its eventual retweet from @NRABlog—“Need a gift for #FathersDay? How about a gift from the #NRA store?!”—which is being called highly insensitive.

To make matters worse, reports claim that the NDAA will allow the next president to detain US citizens anywhere in the world without due process, and as mentioned above, will prohibit closing Guantanamo Bay. Whatever your stance on gun rights, one cannot deny the hypocrisy of the US government. As stated by Claire Bernish of The Free Thought Project:

“…Politicians will blame the most conveniently broad enemy after a national tragedy – and up the ante by speaking from both sides of their collective mouths to justify killing more people after people were just killed.”

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