Bill Straub: In wake of deadly Las Vegas shooting, expect Congress to do absolutely nothing

WASHINGTON – It was Ethel Lina White in her novel The Wheel Spins who first maintained that “Lost causes are the only ones worth fighting for,’’ which naturally brings us around, yet again, to the issue of guns and the nation’s mind-boggling refusal to address the wholesale slaughter they all too often render.

Fifty-nine people were killed and more than 500 injured – think about that for a moment, 59 dead, 500 wounded – while attending a country music festival in Las Vegas this week by, apparently, a lone gunman holed up in his suite on the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on Las Vegas Strip.

It was the worst mass shooting in American history.

The killer, Stephen Paddock, had an incredible arsenal at his disposal, 23 guns in all, as he mowed down the innocents, including 12 semi-automatic rifles converted to be used as automatic weapons, capable of firing off nine rounds per second.

If every single one of those attending the concert had been packing that evening, it still would have resulted in an untold massacre. The barrage lasted 11 minutes and the death and injury reports show just how much damage can be accomplished in such a short period of time.

So, naturally, our elected officials, horrified by the carnage and sworn to preserve and protect, are lining up, working overtime even, to deal with this insanity wrought by firearms in these United States. . .

Right?

“It’s particularly inappropriate to politicize an event like this. It just happened within the last day and half. Entirely premature to be discussing about legislative solutions if any.’’ — Senate Republican Leader Mitch “Root ‘n Branch’’ McConnell, of Louisville.

“To all those political opportunists who are seizing on the tragedy in Las Vegas to call for more gun regs…You can’t regulate evil…’’ – Gov. St. Matt the Divine, the prophet from New Hampshire.

“Praying for the victims and first responders in Las Vegas and our country right now. This shooting was a horrible and cowardly act.’’ – Sen. Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green.

“Today, my heart is heavy for the victims and families of the horrific shooting in Las Vegas. During moments like this, we must turn to God to give strength and endurance to local law enforcement, medical staff, survivors, and family members. Carol and I send our thoughts and prayers to all of those affected and hope that we can come together as one nation to overcome this unimaginable tragedy.’’ – Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington.

Cowards all.

But the prize goes to Rep. Thomas “Wonder Boy’’ Massie, R-SomewhereorotherLewisCounty, who has been valiantly vying for the title of Biggest Gun Nut in the House of Representatives since setting foot in the Capitol five years ago. He couldn’t even screw up the energy to issue the traditional, and worthless, “thoughts and prayers’’ release that most lawmakers view as their one and only obligation to address this national disgrace.

Of course the Whiz Kid has had plenty to say about guns, offering legislation, for instance, authorizing those holding a valid concealed carry permit from their state to carry a concealed weapon in Washington D.C. and posing for a photograph holding one of his AK-47s, looking ridiculous in doing so.

Nothing is going to happen. Congress, full of thoughts and prayers, will sit on its hands and after a while will act as if 59 people didn’t really die at an outdoor concert venue in Las Vegas.

It’s a sin, really. And at some point, somewhere down the line, when another atrocity occurs – and it will, this is America, you can bet your bottom dollar on that – someone is going to have to explain why McConnell, Bevin, Paul, Barr, Massie et al don’t have blood on their hands.

Regardless, only a fool would fail to recognize the gun nuts have won. Ignoring Las Vegas will only confirm that reality. The battle actually was lost, tragically, almost five years ago when a disturbed young man named Adam Lanza stepped into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, holding a Bushmaster XM15-E2S and a Glock 20SF and cut down 27 individuals.

Twenty of the victims were children between the ages of six and seven.

That incident prompted calls for tougher gun control laws, including proposals for expanding the background check system, prohibiting certain semi-automatic weapons and banning magazines holding more than ten rounds of ammunition.

Those proposals – and, really, they were as basic as you can get — went nowhere. In effect it was decided right then and there that the United States of America was willing to sacrifice the lives of 20 school children who hadn’t even made it through Dick, Jane and Sally yet in order to protect the so called right of gun enthusiasts to maintain an arsenal of hundreds of guns of various descriptions.

That’s where the gun debate ended. After losing 20 school children do you think any of these bozos in Washington or Frankfort are going to be swayed by the bloodbath of 59 country music aficionados?

No, it’s a lost cause. But if there ever was a lost cause worth fighting for, it’s this one.

Now, to be fair, it should be noted that Congress earlier this year adopted at least one gun regulatory measure — lawmakers dismissed an Obama administration rule designed to stop people with severe mental problems from purchasing guns.

Could someone please tell us all about American Exceptionalism again?

Since Dec. 14, 2012, the day of the Sandy Hook shootings, America has witnessed 1,518 acts of gun violence that resulted in at least four individuals being killed or wounded, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Those incidents claimed the lives of 1,715 people. More than 6,000 were wounded.

Nothing has been done. But don’t think for a moment that any effort to end this slaughter is futile.

Australia acted. From 1979 to 1996 the Land Down Under experienced 13 mass shootings that led to multiple deaths. So 21 years ago a law was adopted prohibiting the sale of semi-automatic weapons. The country simultaneously started a buyback program to gather those guns already in circulation.

Since that time, Australia hasn’t experienced a single mass shooting. None. Zippo.

And what is the U.S. doing? Sometime in the near future, after the scars left by Las Vegas have long been forgotten, lawmakers will consider, and likely pass, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2017. This measure, will, among other things, make it easier to import semi-automatic weapons and transport weapons across state lines.

It also would legalize silencers – pretty much prohibited since the 1930s – ostensibly to protect the hearing of those firing off multiple rounds.

Much of this, of course, is the doing of the National Rifle Association which spent more than $52 million in the last election cycle getting pro-gun candidates elected, with $30.3 million going to the coffers of President Trump. When the NRA says jump, Republicans – and some Democrats – ask how high?

But mainly it falls into the laps of the nation’s elected representatives, who are supposed to be acting to protect their constituents. Instead they’re paying homage to a group that would tuck baby in bed at night with a .357 Magnum to play with instead of a Teddy Bear.

This is what it’s come to. It’s a lost cause because of gun nut money and weak legislators. But it has to be fought. It was Mother Jones who said, “Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.’’ Those who value the living have no choice.

We learned this week of the untimely and sad death of Tom Petty, one of the nation’s top musical artists whose high twang and guitar riffs will be sorely missed. In one of his most popular songs, Petty wrote:

Well, I won’t back down
. No, I won’t back down
. You can stand me up at the gates of hell
. But I won’t back down.

That has to be the mantra of those aghast at the gun violence fraying the fabric of the nation.

Washington correspondent Bill Straub served 11 years as the Frankfort Bureau chief for The Kentucky Post. He also is the former White House/political correspondent for Scripps Howard News Service. A member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, he currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland, and writes frequently about the federal government and politics. Email him at williamgstraub@gmail.com.