Thursday, October 4, 2018

#188) An Inverse Relationship


Senator Mitch McConnell
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC   20510

October 4, 2018

Dear Senator McConnell,

Because I've written so many letters to our lunatic in chief – Donald J. Trump – I am on several of his mailing lists and I get email alerts and short videos about his doings and lately I've noticed a trend:  his base is smaller and perhaps even shrinking.  His rallies are being held in smaller halls to make the crowds look a little bigger.  There's more orchestration of who stands where, which placards are held up to the camera, and what supporters get close ups.  I've noticed something else too:  as the crowds get smaller, Trump's rhetoric gets crazier.  It's like he's got to work a little harder for that adoration that he so craves.  A mathematician would call this an inverse relationship and can be expressed thusly:
x*y=k where k is some constant

Let's say x is the crowd size and y is Trump's speech.  That makes k, the constant, the positive reinforcement Trump needs from his attention seeking behavior.  To get enough feedback from a small crowd he's got to go big (and crazy), to really whip them up.  It's not enough anymore to just walk out onto the stage and pump his fists.  In the good old days of the campaign he only had to say the name "Hilary Clinton" and the crowd would begin chanting "Lock her up".   It was a slam-dunk for him.  He didn't even need to speak in complete sentences because a big x (crowd size) only needs a small y (rhetoric).

But now things seem just a little harder for Mr. Trump. He and his team have to work to create situations of positive attention where he can be praised, thanked and admired.  And he's got to do things like mock Christine Blasey Ford (increase the y) to maintain the rewarding stimuli of that k (positive feedback).

So where does this all stop?  Do we just allow this maniac to spout false, obnoxious and hurtful things in his pathetic effort to buoy up his own self-esteem?  When is enough enough?  When he's yelling at the walls?  Or when his rants are limited to just Twitter? 

Stopping this madness is your responsibility and if you can't or won't assume that responsibility then get out of the way and let someone else in who WILL.

Sincerely,


Amy Beaton

P.S.  If you can read and understand that equation, thank a teacher (or maybe you were just lucky enough to attend a well funded public school like I was).

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

#187) Defending the Indefensible (...again)


Senator Mitch McConnell
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC  20510

October 3, 2018

Dear Senator McConnell,

At Donald Trump's Tuesday night rally in Mississippi he mocked Dr. Ford's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  It was inappropriate, demeaning, and disgraceful.

I'd also like to say it was indefensible, except that there is a Republican strategist – John Brabender - who does defend it.  Happily.  He is proud of the fact that Donald Trump acts like a horse's ass.  When asked to comment on the incident he actually said, "Is he going to start talking like the expectation we have for a president?  Go back and watch the campaign. He never talked like a president on the campaign or in his two years as president so let's take that expectation [that he can act and speak presidential] right off the table and all of us agree that Donald Trump is never going to act like a traditional president."

But here's the thing; most Americans have given up the hope that Trump can speak and act presidential.  No, we're just looking for him to speak and act like a decent human being.  Yup, that's how low we're aiming now...simple, basic human decency. 

Unfortunately it seems like the Republican Party can't even stand up for that any more. 

Sincerely Disgusted in Vermont,


Amy Beaton


P.S.  Have you noticed that Mr. Trump's bombast and rhetoric is inversely proportional to the size of his base?  Like as the crowd gets smaller his noise gets bigger (by noise I mean hate speech and by bigger I mean more outrageous).  It's like an impossible see saw.



Thursday, July 19, 2018

#186) Woops! - My Mistake


July 19, 2018

Dear Mr. President,

I hope that you are sitting down right now because I have some shocking and terrible news for you:  the Lone Ranger's mask was not white (which is really weird because what other color could possibly represent American virtue, integrity, and honesty?)  Well, I nearly fell off my chair when I found out and it breaks my heart to have to tell you this, but apparently, because the show was shot in black and white, the mask which looked black on the screen was, in fact, purple (which is also really weird because everyone knows purple is the color for the gays.)  I feel like a terrible friend trying to buoy up your confidence by comparing you to the Lone Ranger when really he was just a liberal, gay fraud only disguised as a good-hearted do-gooder while he sneakily infiltrated hard working American's living rooms every week.  What a terrible trick to play on us poor, unsuspecting Americans (almost as bad as that purple Teletubby Tinky Winky that my youth pastor warned me about.)

But wait, that's not the worst of it - there's more.  I have also recently learned that the Congressional Medal of Honor can only be bestowed on a member of the military.  You can just imagine my frustration and disappointment that a make-up artist with the obvious talent that yours has cannot be recognized by Congress at the level which she so clearly deserves.  Apparently, the highest award for a civilian is the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  This is very unfortunate because the Presidential Medal of Freedom is A) purple (the gays!) and B) can be awarded to someone who is NOT a U.S. citizen (unbelievable!).  So apparently the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the most
un-American award ever devised.  Those liberals will stoop to just about any level of trickery and deception to forward their immigrant-loving gay agenda.  It is shocking.

I was so shattered by these revelations that I decided to go on-line and purchase 5,000 bright red t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase NO COLLUSION and will be dispensing them liberally (no pun intended!) to everyone I meet.  You will also be happy to learn that I did not order them from Amazon because that leftist fucker Jeff Bezos is already the richest person in history (so he doesn't need any of my money) AND he probably funnels funds from Amazon to prop up his failing Washington Post (because obviously no one reads it so how else does it stay in business?).  Robert Mueller should investigate him for money laundering and tax fraud instead of wasting time investigating you when everyone knows there was #NOCOLLUSION.  Duh. (Vladimir Putin even told us that.)  No, I ordered my t-shirts from a nice Chinese factory that only employs 9 year olds and boy did I get a great price. I think it's the same place that makes your MAGA hats and really it's just wonderful the way those Asian cultures value the contributions of children.  We could probably learn something from them (but that's another story that you will never hear about in the fake news.)

Anyway, it's been a tough few days for me as I'm sure it has been for you.  I do hope you take my advice and invest in a bronzer make up line with only shades of orange (call it brorange!) just in case those nasty Democrats try to impeach you and you find yourself out of a job.  The presidency may be fleeting but a good make up line is forever.  Remember that.

Yours in Solidarity (but not really, ha ha),

Amy Beaton

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

#185) It's So Unfair


July 18, 2018

Dear Mr. Trump,

It breaks my heart to see the way liberal media outlets like Fox News continue to rake you over the coals for your performance at yesterday's press conference with Vladimir Putin instead of highlighting all of the good points.  For instance, your hair was totally on point.  The comb-over was masterful but the way the whole thing just looked light enough to float off your head was breathtaking, almost gravity defying.  (I would say magical but of course magic is satanic because it opens the way for demonic possession which I am totally against.)  I couldn't look away.  It was almost like the words that came out of your mouth didn't matter because I was blinded by the meringue of your hair and sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen if a big gust of wind came along.

Also, whoever does your bronzing should get the Congressional Medal of Honor.  I especially love the way they avoid putting it around your eyes so that they are more white than the rest of your face.  It makes your eyes really pop.  It puts me in mind of the Lone Ranger (another stalwart defender of freedom, justice, and the American way!) who wore a white mask but yours is way better because it is real.  You don't need the artifice of a leather mask that can be taken off or put on as the situation demands because you're always on and ready to stand up to defend your country like the true American that you are.  It's like there's nothing fake about you because you don't hide behind anything.  I appreciate that.

So don't let the pundits get you down Mr. Trump.  You do you and just let the haters go hate on someone else for a while.  I'm sure this whole thing will blow over before you know it.


Sincerely,

Amy Beaton

P.S. You could probably trademark that shade of orange you wear so well.  It would be a wonderful addition to the Trump business empire.  Just look at how much money Kylie Jenner has made off of lipsticks.  Make up lines are HUGE right now and thanks to the hippy health conscious liberals steak and vodka are out.  So it's probably time to diversify anyway.

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

#184) Another Job Well Done


July 17, 2018

Dear Asshole,

Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on that impressively disastrous press conference in Helsinki with Vladimir Putin.  Truly, it was a remarkable performance.  Not only did you go against your own national security, justice department and country...but also against reality!   Well done, sir. It must not have been an easy feat but you managed to pull it off with aplomb and barely even broke a sweat.

You know usually when you do something like this (embarrassing, stupid, inexplicable, un-presidential...really you can just fill in your own word for my "this") there is a contingent of Republicans who stand up for you, even if they have to hold their noses while they do it.  But this time you're facing nearly unanimous condemnation.  (I mean, you know you've messed up when even Newt Gingrich tell you you've messed up.)  So congratulations on uniting the country!  Nice job.  That's another win for Team Trump.

Sincerely,



Amy Beaton

P.S.  I saw your interview with Sean Hannity following your success in Helsinki...but what the heck is this "nuclear warming" crisis you are trying to solve?  It sounds like a hybrid of nuclear war and global warming.  I'm so glad you brought this new threat to our attention.  Probably the liberal media has brushed it under the rug because it doesn't forward their leftist-communist agenda.  Luckily for us you're not afraid to speak the truth.  What would we do without you?!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

#183) Loyalty vs. Competence




March 15, 2018

Dear Mr. President,

It will come as no surprise to you that I was never a fan of Rex Tillerson and I'm not sad to see him go, however, he did have a good head on his shoulders, seemed rational, reasonable, and at least open to new ideas.  The same cannot be said for his replacement, Mike Pompeo.  Mike Pompeo is a yes man.  He will tell you what you want to hear when you want to hear it and that will make you very happy (at least for a while).  It will also make the world a much more dangerous and unstable place because a Secretary of State's job is not to assuage your fragile ego and tell you what you want to hear, but to maintain world order while securing the peace and prosperity of our country within that order.

I find it ironic that you portray yourself as a manager and deal-maker (in fact, I believe these were the only relevant skills on your resume for the job of POTUS) but are failing colossally at both.  You reward loyalty above skill or experience no matter how many times it blows up in your face.  (Isn't the very definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?)  Choosing devotion over competence in your staff not only makes you an ineffective leader, it also makes our country unstable.  I guess it's hard for you to see this when your most trusted advisor is only yourself and you fire anyone who might point it out to you.

I've said it before but I'll say it again:  you are dangerously unfit to hold the office of President of the United States.

Sincerely,

Amy Beaton

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

#182) Truth in Numbers


Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House
H-232 The Capital
Washington, DC  20515

March 14, 2018

Dear Mr. Speaker,

I like data.  I find that numbers can really help to give shape to ideas.  Here are some numbers for you to think about today while tens of thousands of public school students and staff walk out of their schools to bring awareness to the need for reasonable gun control laws in this country.

There are 5 million NRA members in the United States.
There are over 200 million registered voters in the United States (that's 195 million voters who are not NRA members) 
In 2018, the millennial generation (people aged 18-34) is set to pass baby boomers as the largest voter eligible group in the country. 
8,346,246 teenagers who weren't old enough to vote in 2016 will be eligible in 2018.
16,692,493 will be eligible to vote in 2020.

I don't think the odds are in your favor on this one.  I think you and the Republican Party should be bracing yourselves for some very disruptive mid-term elections this fall and then a complete sea change in 2020. 

Don't say you weren't warned.

Sincerely,
Amy Beaton

P.S.  I saw a great bumper sticker this morning that said, "You can't fix stupid, but you can vote it out of office."

Friday, March 2, 2018

#181) Steel and Aluminum Tariffs


March 2, 2018

Dear Mr. President,

I may be a little out of my depth here, but I'd like to weigh in on your recent decision to put a 25% tax on steel imports and a 10% tax on aluminum imports coming into this country (because sometimes an unvarnished outsider's perspective really can help to clarify things).

From where I'm sitting you, and your administration, have had a colossally awful couple of weeks.  You're losing critical staff left and right, every teenager in America hates you, massive gun control rallies are planned all over the country for later this month, your good buddies at the NRA are publicly dissing you, and calling Jeff Sessions mean names on Twitter seems to have backfired.  So I totally understand your need to save face and do something to rally your voter base.  In other words, you need a "win".  I get it.  But imposing huge tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and possibly sparking a global trade war is not the best way to do that.

Republican Senator Ben Sasse said, "You'd expect a policy this bad from a leftist administration not a supposedly Republican one."  The Canadian Foreign Minister as well as several officials from the EU  also made very derogatory public comments about your plan.  And China flat out said it was, "stupid."  (I am not making this up.  They literally said it was "stupid".)

These tariffs will definitely make the steel and aluminum industry happy, but they are the only people who will be happy because these tariffs will most likely increase prices for American consumers.  Anything an American might want to purchase that is made with steel or aluminum will be more expensive plus prices on things that we import from other countries will probably rise as our trading partners seek retaliation for your short-sighted protectionism.  So basically, it looks as if you have prioritized the needs of 115,000 steel and aluminum workers over the needs of millions of consumers.  Hmmmmm, I'm not an economist but this seems like a bad idea to me.

I guess this is what happens when your most trusted advisor is yourself and yourself doesn't really know what he's doing.

Sincerely,

Amy Beaton
 

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

#180) Dick's Sporting Goods



Edward Stack, Chairman and CEO
Dick's Sporting Goods
345 Court St.
Coraopolis, PA  15108

March 1, 2018

Dear Mr. Stack,

I spend an inordinate amount of time writing angry letters to politicians who can't or won't do what's right for the American people.  So it is with much relief and gratitude that I write to you today to thank you for stopping the sale of assault-style rifles and limiting other gun sales to those over 21 in your stores nationwide.

As you said so perfectly in your open letter, "But thoughts and prayers are not enough.  We have to help solve the problem that's in front of us.  Gun violence is an epidemic that's taking the lives of too many people, including the brightest hope for the future of America – our kids."

Thank you for being willing to take the lead on this issue.  I'm sure that you will lose some customers because of it, but me and my family of six will make it a point to buy from you from now on.

Sincerely,

Amy Beaton

#179) Defense vs. Prevention (yes, they are different)


February 28, 2018

Dear Mr. President,

As we all know, nuance is not your strength (you're more of a short, simple, declarative sentence kind of guy) so I'm going to explain a somewhat nuanced argument to you as simply as I can.  You and the NRA keep talking about defending schools with more fire power, more secure perimeters, and more displays of strength and might but what the people are actually asking for is prevention.  Prevention is NOT THE SAME as defense.  The Parkland, Florida students who have mobilized so effectively and so eloquently are talking about preventing school gun violence by removing the f*cking guns, especially automatics and semi-automatics.  Defending vs. preventing may seem like a subtle difference to you but to the rest of the world (those of us who are able to think about big ideas) it is huge.  Arming teachers and bringing more weapons into schools is the complete opposite of what most teachers, students, and families are asking for.

Violence begets violence.  History has shown us this over and over again and I believe that introducing more fire power into an already stressful and chaotic environment could have catastrophic consequences.  First off, accidents will happen.  As any parent or adult who spends a lot of time with children knows, they are unpredictable, curious and sometimes just impulsive little people who do not always follow directions.  This makes a loaded weapon in the classroom setting an accident waiting to happen.  Second off, an armed and scared teacher could accidentally shoot the wrong person.  They may have the best intentions in the world and even weapons training, but under the stress of an active shooter situation mistakes could be made that can never be un-made.  Thirdly, and most importantly, the police won't know who's who when they show up with their guns.  So now we've just got a bunch of stressed, scared and armed people trying to do the right thing by shooting someone...especially someone brandishing a gun (which could be a teacher, student or staff member). 

Mr. President, I am in favor of preventing school shootings.  Neither I nor my family would feel safer with armed teachers, armed guards, or arms of any kind in our schools.  Schools should be places of learning and creativity, but the defensive measures that you are describing would turn my school into a prison.

It's time to limit – rather than increase - ownership of automatic weapons.  I believe that is the best way to make our communities safe again.

Sincerely,


Amy Beaton

P.S.  If you spent a few days in any public school anywhere in America you would very quickly realize what a dangerously stupid idea arming teachers and school staff is.  

Thursday, February 22, 2018

#178) Just The Facts


February 22, 2018

Dear Mr. President,

I've got good news for you today...I'm not going to bore you with another super long nagging letter about what a crap job you are doing running this country.  I'm just going to let the facts speak for themselves.

Since January 1 (that's 54 days) firearms have been used to
kill 2,073 people in the United States and wound 3,551.

Sincerely,


Amy Beaton
*This statistic is from the group Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit organization 
that tracks incidents of gun violence from media, law enforcement, government, 
and commercial sources.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

#177) How We Got Here


Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House
H-232 The Capital
Washington, DC  20515

February 21, 2018

Dear Mr. Speaker,

In case you are wondering why your office is suddenly being inundated with angry phone calls, letters and emails about your lack of leadership on banning automatic and semi-automatic weapons let me break it down simply for you.

December 3, 2015
After 14 were shot and killed at a disability center in California you said:
"We need to fix our mental illness laws."

June 12, 2016
After 49 were shot and killed at a nightclub in Florida you said:
"It is horrifying to see so many innocent lives cut short by cowardice."

October 3, 2017
After 58 were shot and killed at a concert in Las Vegas you said:
"Right now, we're focused on passing our budget."

November 6, 2017
After 26 people were shot and killed at a church in Texas you said:
"The right thing to do is to pray in moments like this, because you know what?  Prayer works."

February 15, 2018
After 17 people were shot and killed at a high school in Florida you said:
"Right now, I think we need to take a breath."

This is the nuts and bolts of it, but let me flush it out a little more for you just so you can see where all this hate and anger towards you is coming from.
·      It is not illegal to have a mental illness.  And in a country where it is easier to purchase a gun than to access mental health care it should not surprise you that people see that as a option to end their suffering.
·      In February 2017 you and Donald Trump overturned the Obama-era regulation that provided background checks for people with mental illnesses purchasing guns.
·       Not a single one of these shooters was an Islamic terrorist or an illegal immigrant.  No wall would have stopped these people.
·      These innocent lives were not "cut short by cowardice" they were cut short by bullets fired from very powerful guns.
·      While 58 people were killed in the Las Vegas concert shooting, remember that over 500 were injured.  These people survived the largest mass shooting in American history.  They are alive, they are traumatized, they have families and friends who want to prevent this from every happening again, and they vote.
·      The surviving children from the Parkland, Florida school shooting are organizing.  They have had enough and they do not need to "take a breath".  They are taking matters into their own hands, turning their grief into action and you should be very scared of their movement because they are coming for you and the NRA.

Sincerely,

Amy Beaton

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

#176) Please Don't Get Murdered At School Today


Senator Rand Paul
167 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC  20510

February 22, 2018

Dear Senator Paul,

This story was written by Kimberly Harrington (a Vermonter) and published in McSweeney's  January 27, 2016.

Please Don't Get Murdered At School Today

Do you have everything? Homework? Lunch? Field trip money?

I love you.

I remember that one of the Sandy Hook parents said that they took comfort in the fact that they had seen their child off to school that morning — you know that morning — and said, “I love you.” So before their first grader was gunned down in her classroom, she knew that she was loved. I bet they all did though.

But just in case, I love you.

We’ve talked about all kinds of scary things, like I’ve told you never to get into a car with anyone you don’t know and don’t ever believe that an adult needs your help finding a puppy or a kitten. Also: no one will ever give you a free iPad or Legos from their car, that’s just not how the world works.
But for some reason, amidst all the talk of stranger danger and pedophiles, cancer and dying, and me sheepishly asking your friends’ parents if they have a gun in the house, we haven’t really talked about one of the scariest things of all. Those lockdown drills you’re always having at school? No one’s being straight with you about those. They’re to prepare you in case someone decides to come into your school and murder you, your friends, your principal, the secretaries, and teachers before killing himself (it’s pretty much always a him). Sorry about that.

I love you.

I know that may sound scary, but what you need to remember is that this country was founded on freedom. And that includes the freedom of all people (sane, crazy, whatever) to have unchallenged access to guns that are capable of executing at least 20 first graders or 12 moviegoers or 9 of the faithful at a church service or even a baby asleep in her car seat. This is very, very important in terms of staying true to the principles and spirit upon which this country was founded. Just ask the Internet.

I love you.

Also: I think the real victims here are the politicians, how can they be expected to do what’s morally right when they lost their way, not to mention their souls, so very long ago? These politicians — most of whom have children, grandchildren, maybe even great grandchildren of their own — have no qualms about walking past grief-stricken parents who clutch photos of their murdered children to their chests and telling them in so many words, “You don’t have to go home but you can’t cry here.”
They have to know, deep down, that what they’re doing is wrong and the world certainly knows that what they’re doing is wrong but they put their suits on like it’s any other job or maybe they’re convinced that they’re righteous people doing God’s work. But they are no more doing God’s work than the ones who have pulled the trigger over and over again.

And again.

And yet again.

Ad infinitum.
 
I love you.

I’m sorry, I wish I had better news. But let’s keep our sympathies where they belong — with the powerful and the armed. With those who feel threatened in the face of the most toothless efforts to hold back the bloodshed and those who believe scary monster stories about their guns being taken away. Let’s face it, it would be easier to take away the ocean or the stars. Did you know that there are more guns than people in this country? That means everyone in your class already has a gun with their name on it, so to speak. Maybe mention that at share time.

I love you.

You could also tell your class that sometimes when I hear a lot of ambulances and fire trucks go by, sirens filling the air with panic, I pay close attention to whether they’re heading in the direction of your school. And if they are, I check Twitter and our town hashtag and the fire department account to see if anyone’s mentioned your school. When I get the all clear I think, “Someone else’s tragedy today, suckers!”

And sometimes I wonder, what if one or both of you gets murdered at school? How will I ever forgive myself for sending you there? You know, to school. But do you want to know what makes me feel better? The fact that you could be massacred pretty much anywhere these days! Such a relief, right? So off you go!
 
I love you.

Yes I know, I know, you’re going to be late. Just to wrap up, our country has chosen to shift all of the weight regarding your safety away from our lawmakers and gun manufacturers and instead put it squarely on the shoulders of your principal and teachers. These people who kneel down on the first day of school so they’re just as tall as you. These people who shake your hand and say, “Good morning!” and help you rehearse for the spring concert and take you on field trips to see different rock formations — they are now in charge of keeping you from getting murdered. Which really is the least they can do for all that money they make.

I love you.

Oh hey, quick reminder, tell your teacher that I’ll be picking you up at 2 o’clock for your dentist appointment.

And please don’t get murdered at school today.

I love you.

Sincerely,

Amy Beaton (mother of 4, wife of a public school teacher, voter)

Sunday, February 18, 2018

#175) I Won't Be Silent



February 18, 2018

Dear Mr. President,

There is a Buddhist philosophy that silence is the best answer to someone who does not value your words.  Only too bad for you that I'm not a Buddhist, I am a Unitarian Universalist, and what we UUs do when someone does not value our words is we organize. We roll up our sleeves, we jump in, we host community potlucks, we engage those with differing view points, and we talk and we talk and we talk firm in the belief that any problem can be solved with reasonable discourse.  This is the approach that I am taking towards gun control and I will be a thorn in your side and the side of all Congress people who are beholden to the NRA until we can have an honest conversation about mass shootings in our country.

I cannot be silent while innocent children are gunned down and the people in power say, "There's nothing we can do." Of course there's something we can do!!  We can restrict ownership of semi-automatic and automatic guns.

I am a parent.  I am the wife of a public school teacher.  My family's safety matters and I FUCKING VOTE!!

Sincerely,

Amy Beaton


     **Copies of this letter were sent to the President as well as most of the Republican leadership 

Thursday, February 15, 2018

#174) A Conversation


February 15, 2018

Dear Mr. President,

In the wake of yesterday's school shooting in Florida, you took your thumbs off of Twitter long enough to address the nation in person on camera.  Well, as a member of this nation I would like to address you right back. 

Here's the conversation that I wish I could have with you.  Your words are bolded in quotes and mine are not (just so you can follow my imaginary discourse with you.)

"Today I speak to a nation in grief."
            We're not really in grief.  We are numb because this is the eighteenth school shooting just 
            since January.  That is only 7 weeks and it is twice as many as this time last year.  This is our
            new normal.  We went through grief years ago. 

"Our entire nation with one heavy heart is praying for the victims and their families."
            Actually there are millions of us who are not praying.  We are screaming.  We are writing   letters.  We are calling our Congressional representatives.  We are holding vigils and marching and             making posters and getting angry.  It's not that we don't feel the pain of the victims and their             families, it is just that we want to stop their pain and suffering and we realize that praying will             do nothing to end this very preventable violence.

"We are here for you whatever you need.  Whatever we can do to ease your pain."
            What we really need are gun laws that will keep semi-automatic weapons out of the hands of             children!!  Don't give us your pity.  Just enact legislation that will protect us.  Our pain 
            would  be greatly eased if we knew that these weapons were not out there on the streets and    
            that anyone...and I mean anyone...can have one.

"We are all joined together as one American family."
            We are absolutely NOT joined together.  We are splintered, fractured, and dysfunctional.    
            There are those who support the NRA's position that anyone can own as many weapons 
            as they like, of any type with absolutely no restrictions or even oversight.  Then there 
            are those who think that weapons designed to be used in combat and to kill as many people 
            as possible as quickly as possible should be banned or at the very least registered and
            controlled.  A school shooting tragedy such as the one in Florida yesterday does not unite us 
            as one family.  It deepens the anger, resentment and divisiveness that is so ever present in our 
            society and that you often exploit for personal and political gain.

"No child, no teacher should ever be in danger in an American school."
            Are you joking?!  Public schools are, literally, the most dangerous places in America.  There
            are reams and reams of data showing this.  Where have you been for the past 10 years?!   
            There have been 18 school shooting is just the past 7 weeks.  More people have died in a  
            public school shooting in the past year than in all of our armed forces combined, even those
            serving in active combat areas like Afghanistan.  Every student in every school is in danger 
            every single day.

"No parent should have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye in the morning."
            I agree but the questions is this, what are you going to do about it?  How do you propose to             alleviate their fears?  Overstating the obvious is a useless waste of time and doesn't help  
            anyone.

There have been approximately 325 mass shootings since you assumed the office of President last January.  You have made public remarks about only 4 of them.  You did, however, speak to the NRA conference in April and vociferously assured them that "the assault on gun rights was over" and that you would "come through" for them because they came through for you.

You actually have the power to put an end to this madness.  You could enact legislation that would limit ownership of these weapons but you don't.  I am disgusted by you, your party, and the maniacs that are unwilling to protect the lives of innocent Americans.

Sincerely,


Amy Beaton