Cerberus was reaping millions in profits from the taxpayer from its Pentagon sales through Remington, while Bushmaster catered to the Lanza family demographic. And now we learn that William Spengler, named by police as the killer of two firefighters in upstate New York, used the same Bushmaster ACR -- a weapon he obtained despite his conviction for beating his grandmother to death with a hammer.
Tell me again: Why is it wrong to deny people like that the "right to bear arms"? If we had, two firefighters -- including a 19-year-old dispatcher -- might be alive today. On the other hand, Bushmaster might have lost a sale. And at a list price $2,685 (although it can be found for $1,500), who wants that?
Cerberus said it would sell its interests in Freedom Group to avoid being "drawn into the national policy debate." It was also likely to lose tens of millions of dollars in investor cash for its fund, including $50 million from the New York state retirement fund. That probably had a more immediate impact on its decision.
That's how we make change -- not just with our votes, but with our wallets.
Michael Bloomberg has been a leading spokesperson for more than 700 mayors who've been pushing for sensible gun controls. He rightly chastised the do-nothing attitude of Obama and the Democrats after July's Colorado shooting, and mocked Mitt Romney for saying that the way to end gun violence is by "changing the heart of the American people."
How are we going to change our hearts when so much is invested in keeping them hardened?
Now the Death Lobby's insisting that the problem -- the only problem -- is mental illness. But it's odd: The ones blaming mental illness are usually the same people who block funds for the treatment of mental illness.
In Greek mythology Cerberus is the three-headed dog who guards the gate of Hades. One head stares into Hell to make sure nobody escapes, while another looks back at the world of the living and the third looks toward the future. It's time to look away from the inferno, to escape from a hell in which kindergartners are target practice and firefighters are prey.
In this holiday season it's worth remembering the words of Moses, a key prophetic figure in the three Abrahamic religions:
"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."
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