Posted on 08/28/2015 6:00:05 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Andy Parker’s morning started at 5:30 a.m. Thursday. The hours passed by in a blur of blinding TV lights — ABC, NBC, CNN.
In interview after interview, he almost broke down when the reporter asked the inevitable question: Tell us about your daughter. What made Alison so special?
But again and again, Parker fought back the tears.
"It’s what I’ve got to do," he said. "This is my new mission in life, and I’m doing it for Alison."
Alison Parker, a 24-year-old reporter for WDBJ-TV, and Adam Ward, a 27-year-old cameraman, were gunned down early Wednesday morning in an on-air attack that has stunned the community.
The shooter, a troubled man who was fired from the TV station more than two years ago, died later that day of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Shortly before, he reportedly faxed a rage-filled manifesto to an ABC News.
In the hours after the attack, Parker found himself wondering: How many more?
"You look at this, you look at Newtown, you look at the movie theater shooter," he said. "How many times does this have to happen before we take action as a country and the politicians grow some backbone and stop being lackeys of the NRA?"
"To have her life cut down in cold blood like that. There needs to be a remedy for that. It needs to stop."
Since then, Parker has talked about the often-difficult issue of gun control with anyone willing to listen. He’s done a string of interviews, frequently by remote from outside the family home in Henry County where Alison grew up.
He’s talked to Gov. Terry McAuliffe. He’s called out congressmen. He’s thrown down the gauntlet with the NRA.
"I believe in the Second Amendment. But there has to be some common sense," he said. "There has to be a means test associated with people who are mentally disturbed to keep them from getting guns."
The debate over guns in America sprang up quickly after Wednesday’s shooting. McAuliffe — who ran on a gun-control platform and thumbed his nose when the NRA gave him an F rating — started renewing his calls for legislative action that day.
The White House and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton quickly followed.
There was an equally strong backlash from those who saw politicians exploiting a community tragedy. Del. Charles Poindexter, R-Franklin County, urged officials to refrain from using the shooting for political ends.
The family of Vicki Gardner, who was wounded in the shooting and remained hospitalized Thursday, were appalled when they heard Clinton’s remarks.
"This isn’t a presidential campaign act," said Gardner’s daughter, Erin Arnold. "This is my mom and these poor people’s children."
In his own statements, McAuliffe repeatedly called for universal background checks for gun buyers. But he also acknowledged it wasn’t clear if a background check would have made a difference.
On Thursday, federal authorities said the shooter passed a background check and bought the gun legally.
Brian Coy, a spokesman for McAuliffe, argued that doesn’t mean no action is needed to combat gun violence.
"We should do everything we can from a policy standpoint to keep guns out of the hands of people who would use them for harm," Coy said.
Universal background checks remain one way, Coy contended. Other ideas may emerge as Wednesday’s shooting is examined, and McAuliffe will continue to pursue the issue. State Sen. Bill Stanley, who has known Parker for years, said it’s been heartbreaking to see what the family is going through.
"If Andy comes to me, then I’m going to do everything I can to help Andy," he said, adding he’d give serious review to any measures Parker proposed.
Stanley, R-Franklin County, has been praised as pro-gun by the NRA. But he said he felt there was common ground to be had on the issue.
"Certainly, I think we need to take a look at making sure that we’re keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill," he said.
But there are no clear or easy answers to the questions raised by Wednesday’s shooting, Stanley added.
While the attacker was clearly troubled, his history set off none of the alarms that authorities look for.
"Universal background checks would not have prevented this," Stanley said. "A background check only determines if someone has a criminal record or other legal prohibition that would prevent them from owning a gun. It can’t tell us what they’re thinking."
The conversation may be better focused on how the state deals with mental illness and issues surrounding workplace violence and hate crimes, he said.
Parker himself doesn’t yet have a clear proposal for action. He said he hopes to reach out to others affected by gun violence and formulate a plan.
One of his biggest worries now is that the issue will simply fade away from the public’s mind. "I’m not going to let that happen," he vowed. "We need to constantly keep this message going."
"This is something I’m not going to let go of. I’m going to be relentless about it. Because this is going to give Alison’s life even more meaning, and hopefully prevent the next tragedy."
I feel for this father. But did he have to show up on TV within hours of his daughters murder? Is his hatred of firearms and gun people that strong that he has to be out there before her body is cold? I only see libs grieving in public. I never see conservative types do this. The death of family and close friends is a private matter to us. Libs really are sick people.
Mr. Stanley has just ended his political career...rightly so. Buh bye....
From Facebook:
CNN Politics
The father of #AlisonParker, the #WDGA Virginia reporter killed by a former co-worker this week criticized U.S. senators in the state for not reaching out to his family. http://cnn.it/1NMtAme
“The first official to call me was [Gov.] Terry McAuliffe. I have not heard a word from Sen. [Tim] Kaine. And I have not heard a word from Sen. [Mark] Warner,” Andy Parker said.
“I see the tweets and all of that stuff that says, ‘Oh gee, we’re sorry for the family,’ and I understand that. And I appreciate that, but I knew those two guys,” said Parker, who unsuccessfully ran for the Virginia House of Delegates in 2007 as a Democrat. “They campaigned for me when I ran for the House of Delegates. And it’s very disappointing that Sens. Kaine and Warner haven’t at least given me a call and come out against this,” he said.
Hopefully Stanley’s future political career is short-lived.
Sorry for your loss - really - but how many more laws can they make that surpasses what’s been done so far?
most liberals don’t understand that making a law does not stop bad things from happening. this guy was mentally ill if was not a gun it would of been a knife. if not the reporters it would of been someone else. the only way to have stopped this tragedy would of been hospitalizing him when he started to show signs of being mentally ill. the world had years to actually act on this tragedy and did nothing.
Dear Lord, spare us this plague of blithering idiots. Amen.
I will give this guy a pass. He’s in a whole lot of pain right now.
Not all the other idiots though.
I know this may sound insensitive but is anyone else just sick of this guy..First thing he does after his daughter is killed on TV is run to the media..I am sorry for his loss but it makes me sick hearing these victims families come out and demand that MY RIGHT to have a firearm and protect myself should not be allowed. Notice the media doesn’t show the interview of Vicki Gardner’s husband who did NOT blame the gun but instead blamed the man who HELD the gun..goes against the narrative doesnt it
Poor man is still overcome by grief. I can’t imagine the pain he is feeling.
Yep. Narcissism reigns for this guy. People die. Young children die. Get over yourself and go do the grief work you need to do.
I’m sure most here know why we cannot allow a means test for a firearm purchase. according to them we are the crazies.
Memo to Andy:
Yeah.... Good luck with that!!!
And what happens next week or month. Or even tonight. When three black gang bangers are offed by three other black gang bangers in Chicago drive by shooting?
NOTHING!!!
Any sympathy I once had for James Brady disappeared once the "Brady Campaign" began.Any sympathy I might have had for this guy disappeared the moment I finished this article.
I’ll cut the guy a break. He’s looking to find a reason for this tragedy and a way it may have been prevented, but there is no reason and there is no way it could have been prevented. No one could have seen it coming.
He just can’t see or understand that right now as he’s in the throes of anger and grief.
Sorry...can't agree.Intense anger...rage...contempt...for the pig who committed the crimes is completely appropriate.Anger toward Smith & Wesson...or the NRA...or the 2nd Amendment...is bullbleep.
I admit I am Cruz 100% but Trump grabs headlines and yet again hit it out of the park when he said, “this is a mental issue not a gun issue.”
Yes, Trump hit the nail on the head in one sentence.
So here's what we knew about the guy before he went on his diabolical rampage, Mr. McAuliffe:
1. He was a black man.
2. He was a homosexual.
3. He was an Obama supporter.
4. He couldn't keep a job.
Which of these would disqualify someone from owning a gun, in your mind? When you figure that out, then draft a law and see how far that gets you.
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