School shooting: Lawmakers shirk duty to act

Re: “Inaction on gun safety is sadly predictable from lawmakers in Olympia,” (Matt Driscoll column, 2/18).

The youth of Parkland, Florida, cry out for government to “do something” about escalating school gun violence. Driscoll’s column explains part of why the Washington Legislature won’t pass laws that address this national problem.

Republicans do hide behind a mental health smokescreen while doing little about needed mental health reforms. But that is a separate issue.

In fact, very few mass shooters fit anyone’s idea of a mental illness. It is estimated that only about 20 percent of them could be classified as mentally ill.

Some legislators don’t act because they are paid by the gun lobby not to act. But many more are cowed by the threat of being attacked in a primary or general election. Some Democrats have that worry, too, but it is more a failure of will and leadership.

Yes, the Legislature has many problems to deal with, but none is more important than stopping killers.

Those graduating from high school today have spent their entire life in a post-Columbine world. Code red drills occur all the way down to kindergartners.

This has to stop. Washington legislators, quit shirking your duty or don’t get my vote.

This story was originally published February 27, 2018 at 8:56 AM with the headline "School shooting: Lawmakers shirk duty to act."