#the gop is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NRA

[tomorrowusa]

As ABC News reports, Tennessee Republicans are in full blown thoughts and prayers mode. It doesn’t get more stereotypically Republican than this.

Nashville school shooting updates: Governor says now's not time to talk legislation

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has called for prayers in the wake of Monday's deadly mass shooting at a Nashville elementary school, while noting that "there will be a time to talk about the legislation."

"I am calling on the people of Tennessee to pray. For the families of victims, for the Covenant family, for those courageous officers, for the family of the shooter, for those who are hurting and angry and confused," Lee, a Republican, said in a video address on Tuesday evening. "Prayer is the first thing we should do, but it's not the only thing."

GOP Gov. Lee says that prayer is “not the only thing”. The other thing of course is quietly reminding the NRA that Tennessee Republicans are sticking up for AR-15s at the expense of Tennessee schoolchildren.

NPR describes how Tennessee GOP gun culture helped the Covenant School shooter obtain a small arsenal.

How the Nashville shooter was able to legally buy 7 guns  

In the case of the Nashville shooting, police say the perpetrator was being treated for a mental health disorder, yet bought seven guns, including assault-style rifles, legally. Police say the shooter's parents thought their child should not have access, but Tennessee does not have a law to request guns are removed temporarily, commonly known as a red flag law. Democratic lawmakers have introduced that in the past, but Republicans didn't pass it.

The gerrymandered heavily GOP Tennessee legislature is where gun safety legislation goes to die – figuratively shot full of holes with assault rifles.

Republicans around the US in recent years have blamed mass shootings on mental illness. But when they had a chance to do something about guns and mental illness in Tennessee, they consciously chose to do nothing. 

For the GOP, action is never an option. Instead of making schools safer, they will fixate on far right culture war issues to juice up their gradually declining base.

[scottbcrowley2]

Pelosi: GOP Congress beholden to NRA, other gun interests - Wed, 04 Oct 2017 PST

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans in Congress of being “a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America” as she and other Democrats bemoaned ... Pelosi: GOP Congress beholden to NRA, other gun interests - Wed, 04 Oct 2017 PST

[major53]

So, you want me to pray for the victims of the Las Vegas shootings and an end to gun violence?  No, I’ve got a better idea.  I’m going to ask my cat to get right on that.  It will do just as much good.  I’m utterly horrified by the shootings in Las Vegas but this is a call for actually doing something, not beseeching an invisible friend in the sky to save us.  It will take bold leadership, time, money, courage, intelligence and cooperation to bring about a change in our gun-sick culture and none of those virtues are to be found anywhere among our current leadership, least of all in the malevolent child who occupies the Oval Office.  The GOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NRA and the gun industry and the Democrats need to find some kind of a spine before they can accomplish anything.   We are awash in guns and disaffected crazy people and these events are just a part of our national landscape now.  We need to get used to it.