opinion

$4.5M to investigate Benghazi, $0 for mass shootings

Seventeen months and four and a half million dollars and nothing to show for it. These are taxpayer dollars spent to investigate Benghazi and, according to other members of Congress, undermine a Democrat candidate for president.

The Benghazi event was disturbing and sad, and four American lives were lost. Information from this committee was to be used to prevent future incidents of this nature. Four and a half million dollars is a lot of money to “investigate.” We do know that one of the causes was the congressional refusal to fund embassies to the extent necessary for better security protection. Compare that to the weekly mass shootings that have occurred in the United States to date. Has there been even one committee hearing on a problem that is killing more Americans in a month than what occurred in a foreign country noted for its instability and violence?

To be rated a mass shooting, four or more people have to be shot. In 2014 there were 116 mass shootings, 74 mass shootings just in schools since Newtown. Where is the congressional concern for the Americans being killed in the United States? Where is the money to investigate the horrible violence that we are seeing too frequently?

Perhaps we need another committee to investigate the Benghazi committee. Where did that money go? Yes, “stuff happens” (Jeb Bush), but there is a difference when frequency is factored in.

Call Rep. Devin Nunes (202-225-2523), and let him know that we need to shift priorities now. Are Republicans so fearful of their own weak slate of candidates that they can feel the Benghazi money is well spent trying to bring down a Democrat candidate? A candidate, who has offered more potential solutions than all of the Republican candidates have done in two prior debates?

It is time to address the violence of mass shootings in the United States now.

Bill Osak

Visalia