Jonathan Douds – 2/22/18

This page was last updated on May 10, 2018.

Rothfus offers shameful comment on gun violence; Dr. Jonathan Douds (JD); Beaver County Times; February 22, 2018.

In his previous letters, JD alleged he lived in Nashville, TN, and BCT editor’s notes asserted “The writer is a 2004 graduate of Hopewell High School.” This letter indicates JD now lives in Brighton Township. JD signed his previous letters “Dr. Jonathan Douds.”

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center website indicates JD completed his residency in 2017.

My reviews of previous JD letters are here, here, and here.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus has disgraced himself and our congressional district by blatantly disrespecting the victims of the Parkland, Florida, shooting.”

[RWC] “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” - Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Please read my review of the Second Amendment. It addresses most of JD’s issues. I don’t know if JD understands the purpose of Amendment II.

“His morally reprehensible comments made to The Times, not even a week after this mass shooting, demonstrate a complete lack of empathy. The United States has entered a vicious and despicable cycle of these mass murders. Yet again, congressional Republicans have offered their meaningless thoughts and prayers. Time will lapse, more children will die and more prayers will be offered.”

[RWC] Readers will notice JD didn’t quote any of Rep. Keith Rothfus’ (R-12) “morally reprehensible comments made to The Times.” That’s because there were none. See for yourself.

“Our society has utterly failed to address our obsession with violent weapons of war and the ease by which we can obtain them. President Barack Obama offered numerous bipartisan solutions, only to have Republicans squash them at every opportunity while filling their campaign coffers with NRA contributions. Congressman Keith Rothfus even went as far as to rescind an Obama-era protection which made it harder for people with mental illnesses to purchase weapons.”

[RWC] I’m not sure JD knows the definition of “bipartisan.” Democrats were the Senate majority for the first six years of the BHO administration. In the final two years, Democrats needed to flip only seven Republicans. While Republicans were the majority in the House for the last six years of the BHO administration, Democrats had to flip only 17 to 30 Republicans. Yes, there are “tricks” the majority can use to get their way, but if the BHO “solutions” were truly “bipartisan,” Democrats should have been able to get them passed.

Heck, Democrats didn’t even need to be bipartisan during the first two years of the BHO regime. Democrats could have passed any gun control bill they wanted without a single Republican vote, just as they did with Obamacare; they didn’t, however. Why? Are we to believe Democrats could shove Obamacare down our throats but not more gun control laws?

Another piece of JD’s deception is referring to the rule as an “Obama-era protection;” that’s mostly false. The so-called “Obama-era protection” wasn’t even finalized until 12/19/2016, only a month before BHO left office, and would have not taken effect until December 2017. And if it had been in effect? Unless the 19-year-old was receiving Social Security disability payments and needed help to manage them, the rule wouldn’t have helped. Besides, the FBI conceded it had enough info to question the killer but dropped the ball.

Even worse, the armed “resource officer” (a county deputy) onsite for this specific situation remained outside while the shooting was in progress and he never confronted the killer. Further, it appears three other county deputies arrived and, like the “resource officer,” stayed outside behind their cars with their guns drawn. Apparently trying to provide cover for his fellow deputies, the “resource officer” claimed the shooting had stopped before the other deputies arrived. So what? The killer was not in custody and could have simply been reloading before he slaughtered more students and teachers. Even if the killing had stopped, there could have been wounded victims needing immediate medical care while these guys did nothing.

“Shame on Rep. Rothfus. Shame on the NRA. Shame on Republicans. I’m tired of your thoughts and prayers.”

[RWC] There’s a reason JD didn’t say why Congress and DT repealed the rule. In summary, the rule placed persons with certain mental illnesses on a “no buy” list without a court hearing. A person could challenge his placement on the list only after he was already on it. JD also failed to mention “the ACLU and 23 national disability groups” opposed the rule and the repeal had no effect on pre-existing laws. There’s more on this in the aforementioned Amendment II review.

Finally, this letter is entitled, “Rothfus, Toomey ignore most-vulnerable citizens.” In fairness to JD, I don’t know if the title is JD’s or was supplied by the BCT. That said, the title represents the spirit of the letter. In either case, aren’t the mentally ill also among our “most-vulnerable citizens?”